
The Pros and Cons of Wood Burning, Multi Fuel, Gas and Electric Stoves and Fires
WOOD BURNING AND MULTI FUEL STOVES & FIRES
PROS:
- They are the 'real thing'. Visually superior, crackling sounds and associated ambience
- Can provide heating during power cuts
- Low running costs for those with a free or cheap source of wood
- Lower carbon emissions on balance
CONS:
- Expensive to run, particularly if buying only kiln dried logs
- Inconveniant next to gas or electric as you have to fetch fuel, light and clean the fire
- Increased amount of dust in the house
- Storage space is required for fuel
- Stoves that only burn wood don't tend to stay alight long. This is negated with a multi fuel stove burning just solid fuel or a mixture of both solid fuel and wood. Read our article Choosing Between A Wood Burner or a Multi Fuel Stove for further information
- Increased fire risk as although unlikely and virtually impossible with correct use, embers could potentially cause fire
- High particle emissions
GAS STOVES & FIRES
PROS:
- Conveniant instant heat
- Great controllability
- Can be installed virtually anywhere due to balanced flue options
- Significantly less particle emissions
- Efficient
- Can be lit during a power cut in most cases
CONS:
- Initial installation can be expensive especially if gas needs to be routed to the fireplace
- Can be expensive to run if using bottled gas
- A gas stove generally costs more to buy than a wood burning or multi fuel stove
- Non renewable fuel source
ELECTRIC STOVES & FIRES
PROS:
- Easy installation, in most cases it's as complicated as plugging it in!
- 100% Efficiency, no chimney in which to lose heat
- Can be installed virtually anywhere
- No emissions
- Easy to us, simply switch it on
- Can be taken with you if moving house
- Cool to the tough whilst operating
CONS:
- Poor heat output, most are no more than 2kw
- Noisy in operation due to the fan
- Can smell if dust gets into the heater, much like electric bathroom heaters of old
- No real flame, although effects are getting better it doesn't compare to that of a gas or solid fuel fire
- Unable to use during a pwer cut
Article written by Ryan Brocklehurst
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