As electric fireplace specialists, we help our clients to compare electric vs. gas fireplace inserts almost every day. Even after all these years, there is still a lot of misunderstanding about the differences between gas and electric fireplaces, although a lot more clients are better educated than ever. As they say, the only constant is change, so there’s no such thing as a dumb question. The way we build our homes is changing, to make them more energy-efficient. Electric flame technology has been changing, to make the most realistic electric fireplaces ever. The rules around carbon emissions are changing, in response to a warming planet. All of these changes make it challenging to know whether a gas or electric fireplace is best for your home. In this post, we’ll bring you up to date with the latest information, so you can compare electric vs. gas fireplace inserts.

Fireplace heat output

One of the biggest misconceptions about electric fireplaces is that they don’t have heat. In fact, 99.9% of all electric fireplaces do have heaters in them. The heat output on an electric fireplace is determined by the electrical connection. On 120 volts, a typical electric fireplace will produce 5000 BTUs and warm up a space of about 400 square feet. There are some electric fireplaces that can also connect to 240 volts, and produce up to 10,000 BTUs, to warm up a larger space. Either way, this is enough heat for most rooms in your home, and you can turn the heater off without turning off the flames. On the other hand, the heat output on a gas fireplace is determined by the burner, and how much gas is being consumed. A small gas fireplace might produce about 20,000 BTUs, which is enough to warm up a much larger space than an electric fireplace, possibly too much heat for your space. A large gas fireplace with a larger burner will produce even more heat. If you turn down the gas to lower the heat, you also lower the flames. If you don’t want any heat at all, the only solution is to turn the gas fireplace off.  

Fireplace wall materials

There is no combustion or live flame inside electric fireplaces, which means that they may be safely installed with any wall materials. They are considered zero-clearance. This gives you lots of design and construction flexibility when creating your fireplace wall. Inside a gas fireplace, natural gas or propane is being burned, so there is obviously combustion happening. That means that there are restrictions on putting flammable materials around the fireplace, which may limit your design options.

Fireplace installation

To fuel a gas fireplace, there must be a gas line connected to the fireplace. Because there is burning gas inside a gas fireplace, carbon monoxide and other noxious gases are produced. These must be vented to the exterior of the home, and this venting may limit the placement of the gas fireplace to exterior walls only. The gas line and venting also make the installation of a gas fireplace more complex and more expensive than an electric fireplace. By contrast, electric fireplaces are vent-free because they don’t burn anything, so they can be located anywhere. The flames on an electric fireplace are an illusion that is created with LED lights, and possibly video projection or mist. There must be an electrical line to the fireplace, preferably on a dedicated circuit to support the heater. If the flames are created with mist, then a water line will also be required.

Fireplace carbon emissions

Any appliance that burns natural gas or propane will produce carbon emissions. We all know by now that carbon emissions are responsible for climate change. Because electric fireplaces do not burn gas or any other substance, they do not produce carbon emissions, nor contribute to climate change. As more municipalities and provinces legislate carbon emissions and put restrictions on new construction, you may find that your new home doesn’t have a gas connection. Or, you may be restricted to one or two gas appliances. Regardless of local building codes, many homeowners are opting to install carbon-free electric fireplaces out of concern for the environment. For these reasons, electric fireplaces are becoming more popular, while gas fireplaces are in decline. The good news is that fireplace manufacturers are doubling down on electric fireplace design, to create electric fires that can compete with gas fireplaces for realism and ambiance. You will now find deeper electric fireplaces with even more natural-looking flames, and possibly sound effects.

Fireplace safety

Every year in North America, hundreds of children are seriously burned when they come into contact with the hot front glass on a gas fireplace. Carbon monoxide poisoning is another risk with gas fireplaces. As noted above, electric fireplaces don’t burn anything, and therefore produce zero harmful emissions. And because the flames on an electric fireplace are not a source of heat, the front glass will never get hot enough to burn someone. Electric fireplaces are the safest of all fireplaces.

Fireplace cost

Historically, electric fireplaces have been less expensive to purchase than gas fireplaces. Now, there are more options and better realism, so there’s a much wider range of prices for electric fireplaces. In some cases, a top-quality electric fireplace may be on par with the cost of a gas fireplace. However, the majority of electric fires are still less expensive to purchase than gas fireplaces. Because there is no need for venting or gas lines, and there’s no need for non-combustible wall materials, it is also less expensive to install an electric fireplace than a gas fireplace. Because there is no combustion inside an electric fireplace, the maintenance is less costly than for gas fireplaces, where burners and pilots need to be maintained for safety and efficiency. When it comes to operating costs, many homeowners are surprised to learn that it actually costs less to run an electric fireplace vs. a gas fireplace, in many parts of the country. To figure out the costs of operating an electric fireplace in your area, grab your electrical bill and head over to Napoleon’s Electric Cost Calculator.