Much of the country is in the grips of a brutal winter with no end in site. With dipping temperatures and rising home heating costs, Americans everywhere are dreading the arrival of their monthly heating bill. To combat both the cold and rising fuel costs, consumers are seeking out supplemental home heating alternatives like space heaters, electric fireplaces and yes, even pellet stoves. When weighing what type of supplemental heating source to purchase, consumers are often torn. Here is a little side by side comparison of two popular supplemental home heating options - the gel fireplace and the pellet stove.
The Gel Fuel Fireplace:
What Is It?: Gel fireplaces offer the look and feel of a traditional wood burning fireplace, without the hassle, mess or inefficiencies. Gel fuel fireplaces are often portable, vent-less, plug-less and super stylish. Gel fireplaces run on cans of gel fuel which last from 2.5 to 3 hours each. With an average heat output of 3,000 B.T.U. per hour, that's enough to heat a small room. Gel fuel is clean burning, odorless, smoke and fume-free. Gel fireplaces are also available in a variety of styles including that of a traditional-looking fireplace or a wall-mounted fireplace. Gel fuel fireplaces are also available as energy-efficient inserts which can be retro-fitted over an existing wood-burning fireplace.
The Pellet Stove:
What Is It?: A pellet stove or fireplace is an alternative supplemental heating source that burns "pellets" instead of fuel, gas or wood. Most pellets are made from recycled sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, recycled paper or other organic, natural materials. Pellet stoves are highly energy efficient and heat efficient, producing anywhere from 8,000 to 90,000 B.T.U. per hour. Pellet stoves also produce very minimal air pollution, making them the cleanest of all solid fuel-burning residential heating appliances. With combustion efficiencies of 75 to 85 percent they are exempt from the EPA's smoke-emission testing requirements. Powered by electricity, pellet stoves do make a little noise while running. Additionally, pellet stoves are not available in as many styles as gel fireplaces, however pellet inserts are available for you to fit over your existing fireplace.
Why Choose One Over the Other:
Whether you opt for the gel fireplace or the pellet stove is up to you, but both have their own benefits and drawbacks. The biggest benefit that gel fireplaces have to offer is their fume/odor-free burning, while their biggest drawback would probably be their heat efficiency. Many gel fireplaces are more decorative accents than fully functional heating alternatives. Additionally, each can only burns for about 3 hours which requires more maintenance and won't last the whole night should you have one in a bedroom.
The biggest benefit pellet stoves have to offer would probably have to be how highly heat efficient they are. Depending on which model you purchase, a pellet stove will heat up a bigger space than a gel fireplace. The biggest drawbacks would have to be the simple fact that they require electricity to run, which could drive up your electric bill. Additionally, you're fairly limited when it comes to styles and finishes. Gel fuel fireplaces feature considerably more finish and style options when it comes to decorating your space.
This winter, consider your options when shopping for the right supplemental heating source for your home. Each option has its own list of pros and cons but if you have a specific space in mind in your home, and have an idea of how much you want to spend you should be fine. Knowing your space is crucial, as gel fireplaces only release so much heat, making it impossible to heat a larger room, whereas pellet stoves provide a great deal more warmth.
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