Wood-Burning & Gas Stoves

Wood-Burning Benefits

• A wood-burning stove not only provides a pleasant smell of burning wood, but also acts as a zone heater. Wood stoves can be installed in areas where the majority of people congregate as well as in cooler areas of the home. A wood-burning stove also allows users to manipulate the amount of heat distributed, which makes it suitable for smaller spaces. And a wood stove does not require a connection to a gas line.

Gas Benefits

• Perhaps the main benefit of a gas stove is its low maintenance. While wood-burning stoves are designed to reduce the amount of ash produced, they must still be cleaned and re-loaded with fresh wood on a regular basis. After a gas stove is installed, users must simply activate the stove and it is operational within seconds. Environmentally speaking, since gas stoves release little smoke, excessive smoke is not sent off into the air.

Drawbacks

• One of the more notable drawbacks when it comes to gas stoves is its operational costs. This type of stove must be connected to a natural gas or liquid propane gas line. The operational cost for either gas type varies according to where you live; however, Hearth.com states natural gas may cost 30 cents per hour while liquid propane lines may be double the amount. The maintenance of a wood-burning stove is perhaps its main drawback. Because burning wood sends hazardous chemicals into the chimney, you must have the chimney swept at least once a year. A wood-burning stove also requires the removal of ash and replacement wood.

Cost

• The overall cost of a wood-burning or gas stove varies according to the installation cost, chimney price and the amount of money spent annually on maintenance. While the aforementioned can greatly alter the price of a stove, as of 2011, the price for a gas stove unit ranges from $1,000 to $3,500. The price of a wood-burning stove costs between $800 and $3,000. When purchasing either a wood-burning or gas stove, always investigate the total price with installation before buying.