Is it cheaper to run a gas fireplace or the furnace?

Operating a furnace for one hour at 75,000 -100,000 Btu cost a homeowner $1.12 – $1.49 based on last month’s national average natural gas rate. By comparison, a natural gas fireplace running at 30,000 Btu per hour cost only 45 cents.

How inefficient are gas fireplaces?

Gas logs installed in a chimney fireplace are very inefficient as a heat source. They burn gas with less waste and send more heat into the room than simple gas logs, especially if equipped with a blower to circulate it.

Do gas fireplaces save you money?

Gas fireplaces can reduce your yearly heating costs. Gas fireplaces can also help you save on heating costs by providing warmth during unpredictable or “in-between” weather when it’s not cold enough for the central heat, but you still need some warmth. 3. New gas fireplaces are incredibly efficient.

Does a furnace or gas fireplace use more gas?

While some fireplaces may have a lower efficiency rate than a furnace, they usually use less fuel. Therefore, if gas is more expensive in your area, a fireplace may be a more cost-effective option. TemperaturePro DFW also says that a fireplace is great if you want your heat localized in one area.

How expensive is a gas fire to run?

Gas fires will typically cost around 5 pence per KW to run – which when compared to electric may cost around 15p per KW. Considering its high fuel efficiency and speed at heating a large room, this makes a gas fire extremely cost-effective.

What is the most efficient gas fireplace?

Direct-vent gas fireplaces are recommended for their efficiency; 70 percent of the heat they generate remains in the house. Direct-vent units are much easier and less expensive to install than traditional wood-burning or gas masonry units, and there’s greater flexibility in placement.

What is the best brand of gas fireplace?

Top 5 Gas Fireplaces Reviews and Buying Guide

#1 American Hearth Boulevard Linear Fireplace.
#2 Empire Comfort Systems Tahoe Premium Fireplace.
#3 Pleasant Heart Compact Vent Free Fireplace System.
#4 Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Freestanding Fireplace.
#5 Cal Flame Propane Gas Outdoor Fireplace.

Does using a gas fireplace use a lot of gas?

For the equivalent in a gas insert or gas fireplace, a large could use about 40,000 BTU/hour and in this case would cost about $0.40/hour to operate for natural gas and about $1.31/hour for propane.

Which is more efficient a fireplace or a gas fire?

When we talk about a fire’s efficiency, what we mean is how much of the heat generated goes into heating the room compared to how much is wasted. The more heat that goes into making a room warmer, the more efficient a fire is.

How can I improve the efficiency of my gas fireplace?

Swapping a standing pilot light for an electric on-demand ignition is one of the easiest ways to improve gas fireplace efficiency. This simple step can save you about $10 per month in energy costs, according to This Old House.

How does a fireplace affect your energy use?

A fireplace’s impact on energy use depends on a lot of factors: type of fireplace, energy prices, and fireplace use and placement. Not all fireplaces are energy efficient by nature. Each type of fireplace has a different energy efficiency rating, measured by the amount of heat the fireplace produces that is lost.

What’s the efficiency of an open hearth fireplace?

A fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat energy you’ve paid for goes up in smoke. Heated room air is drafted up the chimney as well, so your main heating system actually works harder to keep the house warm. Glass fireplace doors raise the efficiency somewhat but only to about 20 percent.

What type of fireplace is the most efficient?

Wood pellet fireplaces, which have combustion efficiency that rates between 75 and 90 percent, are considered the cleanest, most efficient of all the solid-fuel systems typically used for household heating.

Which is gas heat more efficient, furnace or fireplace?

The question is, which way is cheaper to heat our house, the fireplace or the furnace? A: Nominally, a newer gas forced-air furnace (78 percent to 94 percent efficient) is almost always going to be more efficient and comfortable than a direct-venting gas fireplace (most range from 65 percent to 82 percent.).

Do gas fireplaces heat homes?

Gas fireplaces work as home heating when you use them as part of a “zone heating” approach, which focuses on heating only those parts of your home that you use often. Simply install gas fireplaces in the most commonly used rooms of your home, such as your living room or game room, and then decrease the temperature in other rooms by a few degrees.

How energy efficient is your fireplace?

A fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat energy you’ve paid for goes up in smoke. Heated room air is drafted up the chimney as well, so your main heating system actually works harder to keep the house warm. Glass fireplace doors raise the efficiency somewhat but only to about 20 percent.