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fireplaces HOME
Wood-burning: bringing the romance
"There's a romance involved with wood fireplaces," says
Koby. If you're thinking about buying one, he suggests
considering whether you plan to use it mostly for ambience
during the holidays or as an integral part of heating your
home. Wood-burning fireplaces are still popular in rural
areas of BC, but in cities they're becoming rarer "because
gas is so straightforward" and few people want the hassle
of hauling wood. Additionally, some municipalities have
bylaws restricting open-hearth wood-burning fireplaces.
Compared to zero-clearance wood-burning fireplaces that are
airtight – many of which have efficiency ratings in excess of
70 per cent – open-hearth fireplaces mostly offer ambience.
Electric: a little glow
Electric fireplaces provide a decorative element in rooms
where other fireplaces aren't an option. They can be inserted
into an existing fireplace opening, flush-mounted into a wall
or simply hung like a framed piece of art. They generally have
the heating power of a small baseboard heater, says Koby. And
while they won't replace your furnace, they're also fuss-free,
since there's no fuel or wood to worry about, they plug into
a standard power outlet and they don't require venting.
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