Spring isn’t just cleaning season, it is also home improvement season. If you have been thinking about how nice it would be to stay warm beside a blazing fireplace and lower your winter heating bills next year, you can take action now. The design options for a fireplace are almost endless. Zero clearance, energy efficient fireplace models can be installed easily in almost any area of your home.
Fireplaces offer many benefits. These are the top reasons why homeowners prefer a fireplace:
Higher Resale Value
Installing a fireplace is a smart investment. A fireplace can increase the value of your home by up to 12% or between $1,000 and $15,000. Home buyers consistently list a fireplace as one of the top amenities that they are looking for. Along with increasing your home’s resale value, a fireplace can also help your home sell faster. A collection of research has demonstrated that homes with a fireplace do not stay on the market as long.
Cut Energy Costs
If you choose a high efficiency fireplace, you can turn your home’s thermostat down and comfortably zone heat areas of your house to reduce your heating costs. Within a few winters, you may earn back the money you invested through your energy savings.
Sustainable Lifestyle/Environmentally Friendly
Wood burning and gas fireplaces have a low environmental impact. Wood is a carbon-neutral, renewable resource. Today’s wood burning fireplaces produce low emissions. Though gas is not a renewable resource, it is clean burning. Vent-free gas fireplaces release zero emissions. If you are concerned about your carbon footprint and looking for ways to live more sustainably, installing a fireplace is a great step.
Stylish & Relaxing Home Addition
When you hear the word fireplace, the adjectives that come to mind are probably words like “cozy,” “comfortable,” “welcoming,” and “homey.” Even when no fire is blazing, a fireplace makes a house feel more like a home. Whether you choose a traditional fireplace with a brick façade or a sleek, modern unit, it will be an attractive and inviting addition to your home. You can customize the design to complement your home décor or make a statement.
Along with these general benefits of having a fireplace, gas and wood burning fireplaces offer unique benefits.
Wood Fireplace Benefits
If you choose a wood burning fireplace, you will be able to enjoy:
– The comforting crackling and soothing aroma of burning wood
– Spending less on fuel
– Knowing that even when the power is out, your fireplace will keep you warm
Gas Fireplace Benefits
If you choose a gas fireplace, you will be able to enjoy:
– Turning your fireplace on with the touch of a button and having the ability to completely control the height of the flames and heat output
– Customizing the look of the fire display
– Using your fireplace without the hassle of gathering fuel or making a fire
– How low maintenance it is since you don’t have to clean out ashes or worry about creosote