What Are The Benefits Of Having a Woodburning Fireplace?

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Millions of Americans have a wood-burning fireplace in their homes. If you’re thinking about adding a fireplace and hearth to your home, you might be surprised to learn the many benefits they offer.

Heat When The Power Goes Out

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When cold weather hits, the last thing you want to happen is the power to go out. However, sometimes ice and snow collect on trees and bring down power lines. When the power quits, you cannot heat your home with electricity.

But when you have a fireplace, you can heat at least part of your home to stay cozy until the power comes back on. If you have a lot of firewood stocked up, you can keep a roaring fire going to heat much of the house.

Having heat when the power shuts off is enough reason for many of us to opt for a wood-burning fireplace.

Centerpiece Of The Room

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When you put in a fireplace and hearth, you’ve provided a focal point for the room. When you and your loved ones spend time in your family room, your fireplace is a natural gathering spot. Many wonderful family memories can be had by spending time by a warm fire.

Lower Electric Costs

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Many Americans’ bills increase in the winter to heat the home. Whether you have electric or gas heat, central heating systems are expensive to operate. But you can save some money if you have a wood-burning fireplace.

Instead of turning up the heat in the entire house, you can heat the part of your home you spend a lot of time in with your new fireplace. Just remember to have plenty of firewood on hand, and you can save substantially on your monthly heating bill.

Lovely Aroma

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There are benefits to a gas fireplace, but there is nothing quite like the aroma that wafts from a real wood-burning fireplace. Plus, different types of wood give off different smells. For instance, cherry smells fruity and sweet. On the other hand, hickory firewood has a rich odor that many enjoy.

As far as which type of wood is best for that perfect aroma, it depends on what you like. Many Americans enjoy the scent of cherry, but others like oak and hickory. There’s no way to know for sure until you try different woods in your fireplace.

Higher Home Value

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When you want to sell your house, you could get higher offers if you have a wood-burning fireplace. Surveys done by the National Association of Realtors suggest that a fireplace may boost the value of your home by $1200! In some sales, buyers didn’t mind paying $2000 more for a house with a fireplace.

It seems clear that many home buyers value the functional, economic, and aesthetic benefits of having a wood-burning fireplace.

Lighting Effect

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A wood-burning fireplace offers a lovely lighting effect in your family room. Instead of using harsh overhead lights, you can light the room partially with your fireplace. Many families enjoy watching a movie in the family room, with the only other light coming from the cozy fireplace.

It’s Green

Some homeowners may wonder if burning firewood is good for the environment. You can be assured that it is. Whether you burn cherry, hickory, or oak, wood is a renewable resource. Many hardwood species become mature in only 20 years.

Companies cut down the trees and make them into seasoned firewood. Then, new trees are planted. This is a sustainable method that makes your fireplace part of the environmental solution for a sustainable planet.

Also, if you compare firewood to natural gas or oil, wood is gentler on the environment. When you run your central heat on a cold day to stay warm, you may use power made from burning coal or oil. When wood burns, it doesn’t emit as much Co2 into the earth’s atmosphere.

And, trees take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when they grow. If you care about the environment, you can feel good about using a wood-burning fireplace in your home.

Less Expensive Than Gas

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Gas fireplaces have their benefits, but generally, a wood burner costs less to run. While natural gas prices have decreased for several years, it’s still more cost-effective for many people to use wood.

Think about it this way: A gas fireplace uses gas the entire time you run it. For instance, if you run the fireplace for eight hours, you are charged for eight hours of natural gas. Your wood-burning fireplace only requires you to buy wood from time to time. High-quality wood is cheaper than using natural gas all winter.

Energy Independence

Who wants to rely less on power companies? Many of us. Millions of Americans have gone solar in their homes, and using a wood-burning fireplace is another way you can control your energy use. There are many ways to get firewood in your community. If you own land, you may be able to cut down mature trees yourself.

If you want to season your firewood, you need to cut the wood pieces shorter and split each end so that the log can dry out. Next, store the woodpile off the ground in an area with plenty of ventilation. Make sure it won’t get rain and snow. Experts recommend a small shed with a sturdy roof and open ends. When the wood is stacked, let it season for six months before use.

Inexpensive To Maintain

You might think that you have to spend a lot to maintain your wood-burning fireplace. However, most of the time, you only need to shovel out the ashes after every fire. It’s also recommended to have the chimney checked every few years to ensure it’s clear. But other than that, your lovely wood-burning fireplace requires little maintenance.

Hopefully, you’re convinced that a wood-burning fireplace is just what you need in your home. You’re sure to enjoy many warm, cozy nights with your family next to your fireplace.