How Much Energy Does a Gas Fireplace Use?

Gas Fireplaces

As the name might suggest, gas fireplaces run on a steady supply of natural gas. These fireplaces have a pilot light, much like a gas powered oven does, which will ignite the gas and create the fire. One advantage gas fireplaces offer is that they can be used in times of electrical failure. These types of fireplaces are being installed with greater frequency in new homes, and wood-burning fireplaces are also being converted to gas burning fireplaces by many homeowners who want to save energy and money on their heating bills.

Gas vs. Wood

Comparatively speaking, gas burning fireplaces are a great deal more energy efficient than wood burning fireplaces are. Due to the nature of a wood-burning fireplace, most of the heat and energy created by the fire is sucked up the chimney instead of going into the room. Gas fireplaces deliver this heat into the house with much more efficiency--only 20 percent of the energy is wasted, compared with 60-percent wasted energy in wood-burning fireplaces. In terms of money, a 20,000 BTU gas fireplace will cost a homeowner roughly $19 to run for 100 hours (assuming a natural gas cost of .329 per m3). A wood burning fireplace would cost $200 to produce the same energy in the same 100 hours (assuming a cord of wood costs $200).

Expenses

However, when considering a gas fireplace there are lots of factors to keep in mind. One is the actual cost of natural gas, which can fluctuate. Another expense is the cost of the unit and having it installed, as well as having it cleaned and serviced annually. While gas fireplaces may be a great deal more efficient than wood-burning fireplaces, if a homeowner can get wood for free, then they're saving quite a bit of money despite the low efficiency. Additionally, wood-burning fireplaces can be cleaned by anyone, regardless of their skill or knowledge, unlike gas fireplaces which are hooked into a natural gas line.

References

• About Gas Fireplaces