Heating Products at-a-Glance: What's Right for You? While people agree that a fire on the hearth makes their house a home, choosing from the many options can be confusing. The following questions are intended to help you identify the right unit for your home or outdoor living room. Remember that the starting point is you, your home, your tastes and your lifestyle.  From there, our trained hearth products pro's can help you choose the best heating fuel and the ideal product. Fireplaces BENEFITS Most fireplaces are engineered and pre-built.  Factory-built fireplaces are available in a range of sizes and can be open on one, two (“see-through” and corner models), three (“peninsula”) or four sides (“oasis”). Brick, stone, marble and other facing materials can be combined with your choice of mantels to suit your décor. INSTALLATION Factory-built fireplaces are surprisingly inexpensive, use a safe, lightweight chimney and do not need any additional structural support. Because they have fewer limitations than site-built masonry fireplaces, they can be easily and safely installed in almost any room. Gas vent-free fireplaces require no chimney or flue modification. Electric fireplaces simply plugin to an electrical outlet. FUEL USE/TYPE Fireplaces burn wood as well as natural gas or propane. Electric fireplaces offer amazing realism. COST* INCLUDES ESTIMATED PRICE OF AVG. PRODUCT AND INSTALLATION Typical cost of post construction (remodel) of an EPA certified wood-burning fireplace: $3,000-$5,000. Typical cost of post construction (remodel) of a gas fireplace: $3,000-$5,000 (assumes no gas line work). Electric fireplaces are the easiest to install as no venting or chimney is required. The typical cost: $500-$3,000. ESTIMATED EFFICIENCY**EFFICIENCY IS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY FOR DIFFERENT FUEL TYPES Factory-built fireplaces (EPA Certified) are heater-listed and can be 60 - 80% efficient. Heater-listed direct-vent gas fireplaces are 58 - 80% efficient. Vent-free gas fireplaces are 92 - 99% efficient. Condensing gas fireplaces, an emerging technology, are 82 - 94% efficient. Electric fireplaces with heating elements are up to 99% efficient.  Stoves BENEFITS The most versatile hearth product, stoves are available in a wide selection of sizes and styles, and can be made of steel, stone or cast iron. INSTALLATION A stove can be installed almost anywhere in the home. As stove construction is extremely air-tight and durable, clearance to walls could be as little as six inches. Vent-free gas stoves require no chimney or fire modification. FUEL USE/TYPE Freestanding stoves burn wood, natural gas propane, coal, wood pellets, oil or run on electricity. COST* INCLUDES ESTIMATED PRICE OF AVG. PRODUCT AND INSTALLATION Typical cost of a freestanding wood stove with new chimney: $3,000-$4,200. Pellet stove: $3,500-$4,000. Gas stove: $3,000-$4,000. Electric stoves offer easy installation and require no venting or chimney. The typical cost: 100-$600. ESTIMATED EFFICIENCY**EFFICIENCY IS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY FOR DIFFERENT FUEL TYPES Wood stoves (EPA certified) are 60 - 80% efficient. Pellet stoves are 50 - 80% efficient. Corn stoves are 40 - 75% efficient.*** Heater-listed direct-vent gas stoves are 58 - 80% efficient. Vent-free gas stoves are 92 - 99% efficient. Electric stoves are up to 99% efficient. Inserts BENEFITS Fireplace inserts are heating units that retrofit into an existing fireplace (masonry or factory-built). Inserts are used to change an existing non-efficient fireplace into an efficient room heater. INSTALLATION Inserts utilize the existing chimney, though a flue liner or other modification may be necessary. Vent-free inserts for gas, electric or propane require no chimney or flue modification. Most have blowers to circulate the heat. FUEL USE/TYPE Fireplace inserts burn wood, natural gas, propane, wood and corn pellets, or run on electricity. COST* INCLUDES ESTIMATED PRICE OF AVG. PRODUCT AND INSTALLATION Typical cost of a wood, pellet or gas insert into existing fireplace with new liner: $3,000-$4,000 (assumes no gas line work). Electric inserts are simple to install into an existing unused masonry fireplace. The typical cost: $100-$300. ESTIMATED EFFICIENCY**EFFICIENCY IS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY FOR DIFFERENT FUEL TYPES Wood inserts (EPA certified) are 60 - 80% efficient. Pellet inserts are 50 - 80% efficient. Heater-listed direct-vent gas fireplace inserts are 58 - 80% efficient. Vent-free gas inserts are 92 - 99% efficient. Electric inserts are up to 99% efficient. Log Sets BENEFITS A set of logs may be the most convenient way to have flames at your fingertips.Log sets provide dramatic realism from the ceramic logs. INSTALLATION Log sets can be inserted into an existing fireplace, though modifications may be necessary. Vent-free gas log sets require no chimney or fire modification. FUEL USE/TYPE Log sets use natural gas, propane or run on electricity. COST* INCLUDES ESTIMATED PRICE OF AVG. PRODUCT AND INSTALLATION Typical cost of vent-free gas log sets: $400-$1,000. Typical cost of electric log sets: $100-$300. ESTIMATED EFFICIENCY**EFFICIENCY IS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY FOR DIFFERENT FUEL TYPES Vent-free gas log sets are 92 - 99% efficient. Electric log sets are up to 99% efficient. * Accessories such as remote controls and gas line work may add to the estimated cost. **Efficiency Notes: 1) Vent-free gas appliances:  Some sources use 92-99% depending on how efficiencies are measured. 2) Electric appliances: The energy efficiency measured on this chart does not take into account getting electricity to the house.