When people think of a fire on the hearth, they think of burning wood, which is natural. Wood is the traditional fuel. It grows locally, is abundant in most areas and is one of our few renewable sources of energy. For many, nothing beats the warmth and beauty of a true wood fire.
A traditional wood burning fireplace, whether factory-built or masonry, is the type currently found in many homes throughout North America and is most frequently associated with the concept of a wood burning fireplace. The two newer, high efficiency fireplaces, Clean Burning and EPA-certified, are more technologically advanced and offer more benefits to the user.
Because fireplaces are often a gathering place within a home, it's important to spend the time to choose the right wood burning fireplace based on expectations about performance. If the fireplace needs to provided amount of heat, the best choices are EPA-certified or Clean Burning. These wood fireplaces are insulated, closed combustion systems (glass doors need to be closed for proper operation) that burn wood more efficiently and generate a substantial amount of heat. Due to economics of firewood, these fireplaces are also good choices in areas of frequent or sporadic power outages, or where the cost of home heating is an issue. In contrast, Traditional fireplaces are open combustion systems (no glass doors needed for operation) and are perfect for occasional fires that produce ambiance, warmth and a little snap, crackle and pop!
Before you make your final decision, visit Behr Necessities for expert advice. We can help assist in creating the right look for your home, as well as provide reliable installation and service.