There are several different types of indoor fireplaces you can purchase, but they basically fall into the broad categories of wood burning, gas burning, ethanol burning or electric fireplaces. Choosing the right design and type of fireplace is key to ensuring it doesn’t become an underutilized element in your home.
Also Read Electric Fireplace vs Gas Fireplace: Which is Preferable and Why 2019
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7 Different Types of Indoor Fireplaces
There are various types of indoor fireplaces you can purchase. We’d be listing 7 basic types and we would be giving you their advantages/Pros alongside their disadvantages/Cons to enable you choose you preferred option effectively.
1. Wood-burning Fireplace
A traditional wood-burning hearth typically made of stone or brick, is what most people think of when they picture a fireplace. There are a number of options in this category of type of Indoor fireplace, and they can differ in terms of how easy they are to install, how much heat they put out and how cost-efficient they will be for you to operate. If you do not already have a fireplace in your home, it will require a fair amount of construction work to put in both the opening itself and the chimney for proper ventilation.
Pros
- It is valued for it’s aesthetic – you can’t beat the look and sound of a wood fire.
- They create a cozy, rustic atmosphere in any space
- Most people like the smoky scent they give off
Cons
- It’s expensive to install and to maintain
- It is high-cost maintenance
- It spits out burning embers at intervals, so screens are needed to ensure safe use
2. Gas-burning Fireplace
This is a very popular alternative to traditional wood-burning fireplaces. Opt for a free-standing gas fireplace that utilises a pipe which enables you to install your fireplace in any room. Direct-vented models require a chimney for ventilation, either a pre-existing chimney or a new chimney can be constructed.
Pros
- Can create more heat at a lower cost
- Requires less construction or reconstruction to install
- Burns natural gas instead of wood and is easy to use
Cons
- Despite burning clear, they still pose a slight risk of emitting contaminants
- You need a line installed between fireplace and fuel source
- It may not offer the same feel as though the wood-burning version
3. Ethanol-burning Fireplace
Fireplaces that burn ethanol have become the current trend for their ease in installation as well as their contemporary design. Most contain a burner that can be filled with the bioethanol fuel for easy repeated use.
Ethanol fireplaces are safer than wood stoves because they do not emit the same byproducts that come from burning wood mass. Think of all the ashes and fumes you smell sitting around a campfire and around the hearth. Ethanol is a clean biofuel that does emit Carbon dioxide but it is IMPOSSIBLE for a fire to burn without turning oxygen into carbon dioxide.
Pros
- They are more environmentally friendly and odourless
- It requires minimal installation
- You can adjust the temperature and are easy to turn on and off
Cons
- It provides less heat than gas fireplaces. Plus, they won’t heat up your entire home
- It requires refilling and maintenance.
4. Electric Fireplace
Easy to incorporate into space and are quickly catching on as the most popular fuel type available. They create warmth by heating interior coils with electricity. Most models come with an internal fan to better distribute heat throughout your home. Given that there is no real flame inside an electric fireplace, they employ a “fake” flame to give them a lifelike look and feel.
An electric fireplace is a heater that uses electricity to work, rather than a traditional fireplace that burns coal, wood, or natural gas. These Type of Indoor Fireplace is present in many modern homes, as it is better for the environment while also just as effective and aesthetic as the traditional counterpart.
Electric fireplaces plug into the wall, and can be used to make a room more welcoming by simulating flames, the crackle of a fire, and giving off heat
Reading through the scientific jargon, ethanol fireplaces and wood burning fireplace do in fact produce C02 but this is a byproduct of ANY real fire. Fire needs oxygen to burn, and this is just the same with an ethanol-fueled fire. The only option that releases zero byproducts is an electric fireplace
Pros
- The electric fireplace is the most cost-effective option to install
- It enables you to turn the heating function on or off while maintaining a fireplace-like ambiance
- Low maintenance and safest option for a home with kids and pets
Cons
- It is less attractive and does not give that authentic fire feel. This depends on what you want as an ideal fireplace design.
- Its energy consumption is high and will increase your electricity bill.
- They are not permanent fixtures so they are not likely to add value to your home
5. Table-top Fireplace
These come in different sizes, enabling you to make use of them in a variety of settings.
Today, people have lots of options as to how they enjoy their fire. They may choose to own a large, built-in fireplace or a smaller, movable fireplace. Their fireplace can be the traditional wood-burning type, or electric or ethanol-powered. A modern option is the tabletop fireplace.
Think of it as somewhere between a traditional fireplace and a large candle. It’s less voluminous than a fireplace, easily moved, and produces none of the soot and ash. It’s warmer than a mere candle. Plus, many of these tabletop fireplaces are designed with such artistry, they serve as beautiful décor in their own right, even without the dancing flames ignited.
Pros
- Very portable, often usable both indoors and outdoors
- Simple, easy and safe to use
- relatively cost-effective
Cons
- It’s heat output is lacking so it should be used only as supplemental heat sources, alongside other heat sources.
- It lasts only for a few hours
- You need to make sure the tin cans are fully intact to prevent a hazard from happening
6. Wall-mounted Fireplace
There are two subtypes of wall-mounted fireplaces, those that need to be connected to a chimney and those that don’t. The type you get depends on what type of fuel you use. Many people use a wall-mounted fireplace as the focal point of their room.
Pros
- It saves space which is alongside other option for those with small homes or apartments
- Self-contained wall-mounted fireplaces can even be moved from room to room as needed.
- It is less messy since it runs on either gas or electricity.
Cons
- It gives off less heat
- It often looks faux, depending on the manufacturer of the unit.
- No added value – is portable. It will not add value to the home.
7. Wood-stove Fireplace
Modern stoves come in steel as well as cast iron. There are many, many different styles of fireplaces to choose from, ranging from traditional style stoves all the way to contemporary double-sided fireplaces heat radiates from all surfaces of the fireplace rather than large volumes of air escaping the chimney-like with an open fireplace.
Pros
- It is very safe, has a glass door that traps the flames inside. This ensures a higher level of safety when the fire is in use.
- It is fuel-efficient, extremely eco-friendly as far as efficiency goes.
- It requires little to no maintenance or effort.
Cons
- You will need a dry place to store wood
- The upfront, capital cost of building a sizeable wood energy facility can be high
- When wood burns, it releases hazardous gases (e.g. nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide) and soot.