Our Company Blog

Open Wood-Burning Fireplaces Vs. High Efficiency Fireplaces

There is just something about a fireplace that makes a house feel like a home. Holiday festivities are more cozy with a crackling fire. Fall evenings with a book and beverage are better with a fire. Many homeowners don’t even care what kind of fire they have. In fact, some even settle for a fire channel on the television! What kind of fireplace you have DOES make a difference, however. Each type have their own benefits, drawbacks, and features.

The Traditional Masonry Fireplace

The fireplace you’re most likely to see when you buy an older home is the open wood-burning fireplace. This fireplace, when built properly, will last with regular maintenance. They put out enough heat for your needs. However, they also have their own drawbacks that cause many homeowners to choose other options.

• Heat Loss – The open wood-burning fireplace draws heated air from the room, and pulls it up the chimney. These old fireplaces can lose up to 75 percent of their heat, in fact.
• More Fuel – Since these fireplaces lose so much of the heated air, you will have to burn more wood to reach the desired temperature, and to maintain it. This will diminish your wood supply quicker than you may like. Unfortunately, if you buy your seasoned firewood, it can cost you quite a bit during the course of one winter.
• More Upkeep – Since the open wood-burning fireplace works less efficiently and requires more wood for heat, it will also require more routine maintenance. More creosote and soot will coat the flue walls and need to be cleaned away to prevent buildup and fire risk.

The High Efficiency Fireplace

Modern technology and industrial advancement and studies have come together to create an option for those who prefer wood fuel, but would like to choose a greener and safer option. High efficiency fireplaces operate as a wood stove, a completely closed unit that uses every bit of heat for the home and to vent gases up the chimney. Due to their design, they are more efficient. They do not waste heated air, and use up to 3 times less fuel than the traditional open fireplace. Unlike the open fireplace, these high efficiency options come in various styles, colors, and designs that best fit your home and personality.

Beach Stove and Fireplace sells and installs RSF High Efficiency Fireplaces and we have three in our show room! You can stop by and speak with a fireplace expert anytime during business hours. We can walk you through your options from start to finish.

Not sure if you want to convert completely to a high efficiency fireplace? We can install custom glass doors to your existing fireplace to raise efficiency. The best way to figure out what you want or need is to speak with the professionals who know the products, the benefits of each, and always puts safety and efficiency first. We care about our customers and the environment we all share. Drop into our showroom, or give us a call at 631-998-0780!

Alternative Heating Choices For Every Home

As a homeowner you have plenty of choices when it comes to how to heat your home. Homeowners make decisions based on cost, environmental footprint and ease of installation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices you have as far as heating your home, here is a basic guide to several alternative ways to heat your home.

Solar

Solar is a leader in energy production and can provide up to 80% of a home’s basic heating needs just by soaking up the sun’s energy. However, solar is expensive and if you don’t live in an area that is lucky enough to experience a lot of sun then your solar system may not be as efficient as you hoped, making your investment unwise. Before you invest in a complete, active solar heating system do plenty of research.

Pellet Stoves

Pellet stoves burn compressed wood that’s been made into small pieces or pellets. Pellet stoves are growing in popularity because they require little maintenance. The pellets are long burning and don’t need a lot of control or maintenance once they are lit. Pellets are clean burning and when cleaned properly your pellet stove will not produce creosote (harmful residue left behind in many chimneys). After installation, pellet stoves are a viable and affordable way to heat most homes.

Wood Burning Stoves

Wood burners are a classic way to heat your home, and also create a luxurious and comforting atmosphere in your house. The benefits of a wood-burning fireplace include an affordable way to heat your home (assuming you have access to quality wood at a reasonable price) and the ability to choose the style, look and feel of your fireplace. Choose from standard designs or renaissance/detailed fireplaces to completely customize the look of your home.

High-Efficiency Wood Burning Fireplaces

If you love the look of a wood-burning fireplace but are interested in something a little more efficient, a high-efficiency wood fireplace could be the perfect choice. Unlike traditional fireplaces, these act more like wood-burning stoves and provide maximum heat output, low emissions and the capability to heat an entire home.

Gas Heating Stoves

Another interesting choice is the gas-heating stove. This alternative to a fireplace is a stand-alone unit, and appropriate in spaces where a fireplace may not fit. Attractive, gas stoves put out the same warm glow of a traditional fireplace without the installation overhaul (though some installation requirements should be considered. Small and compact, these stoves are a great option if you’re looking for an alternative heating choice.

When you’re researching heating options for your home, it’s important to consider all the options and weigh the pros and cons of every choice. Consider what’s important to you when researching heating choices.

Are You Looking For Heat That Is:

• Efficient?
• Affordable?
• Requires Little Maintenance?
• Is Attractive Inside The Home?
• Is Safe?
• Is A Viable Choice Where you live?

Beach Stove and Fireplace is happy to give you a professional consultation so you can begin your research with experts you can trust. Browse our products and ask us questions about all our heating options. We’re here to help you heat your home.

Pellet Stove vs. Wood Stove

With snow already falling in many parts of the country, now is the time to figure out how to stay warm in the upcoming cold months. Effective and inexpensive home heating options are in high demand right now, and many homeowners face the question of which type to choose. For those looking to stoves to heat the home, another question comes up: wood-burning or pellet-burning stove? Both have great advantages with some downsides as well, so you should take into consideration how you intend to use it, the amount of heat you need, the availability of fuel in your area, and other factors.

How do Pellet and Wood Stoves Work?

Pellet stoves have gained popularity in recent years because they efficiently burn renewable energy. Wood pellets are made by debarking, grinding, drying and compressing wood, and then the pellets are electronically fed into the burning chamber. Wood stoves work just like any other wood-burning unit. Split logs start and maintain the fire and the heat in place of the pellets in a pellet-burning stove.

What Makes Pellets Better?

For one, pellets burn very efficiently, meaning more of the material burns and creates heat. This leads to warmer, more sustainable fires and fewer harmful emissions. Wood pellet fires can burn for as long as 16 hours without requiring a refill, which is ideal for working families who spend long hours away from the home during the day. Compared to a wood-burning stove, pellet stoves are highly efficient.

Another benefit to a pellet-burning stove is purchasing and storing the fuel. First, in the built-up Westhampton Beach area, forests and firewood are harder to come by than in more rural areas, making split wood logs scarce. Wood pellets are ideal options for this situation because they can be shipped into urban areas more easily and economically. Next, wood pellets take up one-third less space than traditional wood. A cord of wood takes up 128 cubic feet, and one ton of pellets takes up just 80 cubic feet. These volumes create the same amount of heat but take up vastly different amounts of space to store. For tight New York homes, this could be a determining factor.

What Makes Wood Better?

Conversely, wood-burning stoves have some advantages over their pellet-burning counterparts. One major factor is that wood-burning stoves do not require electricity to function. In the case of power outages, as is common in winters when ice builds up on power lines, the wood-burning stove continues to run, while the pellet-burning stove simply runs cold. Although battery back-ups can be installed, they only last up to eight hours, making this issue life-threatening depending on the length of the power outage.

Another advantage of burning wood is the cost of the fuel. On average, one cord of wood costs less than $200. Because pellets require significantly more processing, a heat-equivalent amount of pellets might start at $200. The price of fuel, in addition to the price of electricity to run the pellet stove, might make the wood-burning stove more attractive.

For more information and help deciding what type of stove best suits your home and lifestyle, contact Beach Stove and Fireplace of Westhampton Beach, New York. These experts can help you make the most informed decision.