For many, the ideal winter Sunday is curled up, relaxing beside the fireplace. Yes, the time is coming to get that part of your house working again. The houses that have stood the test of time tend to have the traditional wood-burning fireplace. However, today there are many more options in the market.
Why Change From Wood Fireplaces?
Besides the extra work involved to get the fire started, there are many other reasons to plan a fireplace remodel different from the classic style.
Time Taken To Heat Up
This type is said the be the best among all, producing the most heat. But that is not always the situation. In houses with an improper chimney, the fireplace the outlet of warm air, leaving the place colder.
Irritants
If you have someone with respiratory disease in the house, you will understand this part quickly. Burning of wood is not complete combustion, it leaves residues like ash and suspends minute particles in the air. These particles cause situations like asthma or other allergies to worsen just by being in that room.
Pollution
The wood fireplaces were common in the old days. But with new times, we must consider changing this system. This type of fireplace promotes wastage and contributes to increasing pollution in your city. In the age where people are switching to options that help in saving the environment, keeping one that does the opposite is a bad call. There are many other home improvements to tackle health threats in polluted cities.
High Maintenance
The fireplace and the mantel itself require repairs after not being used during other seasons. But it is the chimney that often goes unnoticed because of not being exposed to the naked eye. There is a build-up of soot and even creosote in the chimney. While the former just looks bad, the latter could even help in causing house fires!
What Else To Consider?
According to your need, preferred style, and your location (city or countryside), you can choose any of the following options to switch to.
Gas Fireplace
This uses gas as a source of heat instead of wood. It does not harm the environment and can easily be installed into your existing fireplace. Additionally, it has adjustable flames which give you total control over the temperature you want to set. Installation is easier if you have an existing gas line in your house. If not, you can use LPG cylinders.
Electric Fireplace
A great option if you stay in a city apartment with no existing fireplace in your home. An electric fireplace can be installed without any extra fittings. This is because it uses coils to heat the air in the house. There is no physical fire present in this system. It relies on an LED screen to display and mimic the look of fire.
No matter which option you choose, it is always better to hire a professional to work on it. This gives you more freedom while ensuring that the work is done exactly how you want it to be. Here are ways to assess your contractor in a 60-minute interview.
Any type of remodeling project can turn out to be financially draining for you. We at EZFin provide secured loans up to $100,000 to help you go forward with your plan.
