When its cold outside, the last thing you want to be doing inside is struggling to keep warm. When it comes to heating your home thoroughly and efficiently, there are a few things to consider. One major consideration is exactly how you want to heat your home. Although that may seem like a straightforward question, finding the answer that is right for you requires a fair bit of consideration. Before you make your decision, be sure to consult this helpful article which will directly compare the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a gas furnace or gas fireplace to heat your home for Maple Ridge weather.
Efficiency
Comparing efficiency of a gas fireplace with a gas furnace is somewhat difficult due to the variables that are associated with the two appliances. To begin your comparison, you can start by taking a look at the BTU consumption listed in an owner’s manual, or on the appliance itself. You will find two numbers that indicate the amount of gas your furnace or fireplace uses in an hour. One number indicates how much gas is used at the lowest heat setting, and the other shows the consumption rate at its highest setting. This is a good place to start your comparison, but it won’t give you the full picture.
For a furnace, you must also consider the heat extraction rating given by the manufacturer. A higher rating in this category means that most of the fuel used by the furnace is converted into heat that you can actually feel. Before you compare this to your fireplace however, it is important to be aware of the affect your duct work can have on this efficiency rating. Homes with more extensive air ducts, or with insulation issues will cause heat generated by your furnace to become lost. This means the actual efficiency rating is not always accurate in terms of the amount of heat you actually feel coming from your furnace. A fireplace doesn’t often encounter such factors, meaning you can get a more accurate efficiency rating based on the numbers provided by the manufacturer.
Heat Allocation
When choosing between a fireplace and a gas furnace, it really comes down to what kind of heating you require, and where. A new furnace is the best choice when you are in need of an appliance that will heat your entire home in the most efficient way possible. At High Demand Heating we offer a number of energy efficient gas furnaces that will provide heat to homes of all sizes. Our Silver ZI Furnace is among the most efficient models available on the market. It can convert up to 95% of the fuel it consumes into heat, while maintaining low greenhouse gas emissions. A furnace like the Silver ZI model is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a better way to heat your entire house. Whole home heating also helps you avoid running into problems like frozen pipes in the winter. If you’d rather allocate heat to a more focused area however, then a gas fireplace is likely the direction you want to go.
In addition to our quality selection of gas furnaces, High Demand Heating carries a number of attractive and highly efficient gas fireplaces to choose from. Our basic single sided traditional model comes with multiple trim options to suit any colour and design scheme. You can also choose a more ornate model such as our peninsula or transparent linear designs that will immediately stand out to guests as an attractive feature in your home while providing comfort to a specific area.
Once you have considered your own needs in terms of efficiency, design and heat allocation, it should become much easier to decide between a furnace or a fireplace. To learn more about the wide range of furnaces and fireplaces we offer at High Demand Heating, or to get a free quote on installation, be sure to contact us via telephone or our website today!
