Having a Propane Fireplace in Your Home: Pros and Cons

A fireplace provides warmth, ambience, and an inviting space for the entire family to gather. If you’re planning on adding one to your home, a propane fireplace is one of the options you can consider. Let’s explore the pros and cons of propane fireplaces.

Advantages of Propane Fireplaces

Efficiency

Propane fireplaces can have Fireplace Efficiency (FE) ratings of more than 90%. Their efficiency is four to five times higher than that of wood-burning fireplaces. They have a better heat output than both wood and natural gas fireplaces.

Little Maintenance

Starting a fire in a propane fireplace only takes a few minutes. You won’t have to clean up afterward. After annual maintenance is conducted, a propane fireplace can keep going for another year.

Affordable

Once installed, the costs of running a propane fireplace are affordable.

Environmentally Friendly

A propane fireplace is safer for the environment. It produces less carbon monoxide and particulate emissions than traditional wood fireplaces. It’s also more environmentally friendly than a natural gas fireplace. The electricity that electric fireplaces use maybe generated at a coal-fired power plant, which isn’t as environmentally friendly as propane.

Disadvantages of Propane Fireplaces

Installation

The average installation costs of a propane fireplace are pricier than those of an electric fireplace. If your home already has a gas line that a natural gas fireplace can connect to, it will be harder to install a propane fireplace than a natural gas one.

Safety Hazard

A propane fireplace requires a safety pilot to keep the valves tightly closed to prevent leakage. Unlike natural gas, which rises and quickly scatters when released, the heavier propane goes downward and dissipates slowly if it seeps into one of your rooms. Consequently, it’s more dangerous with regard to being a health and fire hazard.

A propane fireplace is safe for the environment and burns cleanly and efficiently. You’ll need to ensure you take the necessary safety precautions.

We don’t sell or service any Propane appliances. But to learn more about your heating or cooling system, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We cater to all the air-conditioning and heating needs of Yuma-area homeowners.