# Fireplaces other than gas or wood: good idea, or waste of money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireplaces-other-than-gas-or-wood-good-idea-or-waste-of-money/431440 "2007-12-28T04:10:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireplaces-other-than-gas-or-wood-good-idea-or-waste-of-money/431440/1 "2007-12-28T04:10:58Z")
i’ve been without a fireplace for 11 years. i live in the only condo in my entire complex that doesn’t have one. damnit, after all this time, i wanna fireplace! however, having had one in the past, i know very well what heat suckers in disguise they are. although there is a built-in chimney flue and firebox behind my rear outside wall, it hasn’t been seen since the original construction 24 years ago. probably not gonna be code-ready, and i’m not really interested in a full-on working chimney anyway. rather than installing a gas fireplace (the gas line is quite close by so that part would be relatively cheap), i’ve been considering purchasing either a gel-burning or electric fireplace that has the supposedly nifty simulated flames that look real. whatever. 😛 they’re portable and can be put on any wall. some of these babies are downright salty, price-wise, and others aren’t too bad. it just depends on what style you want and what size you want as well. i don’t believe i can ID in this forum any of the on-line websites i’ve been visiting lately, but i plan to scope out these beasts in person here in the indianapolis area before i even \*consider \* buying a thing. there are several local outfits that carry them. but, before i go and do all that, does anyone here have either of these and do they live up to the hype? i await your commentaries. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireplaces-other-than-gas-or-wood-good-idea-or-waste-of-money/431440/2 "2007-12-28T04:22:28Z")
There was an old wood-burning stove insert in my living room fireplace. I’ve recently had it replaced with a new, EPA rated wood burning stove with a glass front. For me, a gas-burning fireplace is out of the question. Propane is just too expensive. Electric? Why? I have a couple of those oil-filled radiator-style electric space heaters and they work just fine. One thing I have here is a bit of deadfall. Seems there’s always something to burn. And if not, there are bundles of firewood you can buy at the store. At $5 a bundle, I’m not going to heat the house with it. But it’s rather pleasant to have a fire going, and it does heat the house pretty effectively. And it’s a handy way of getting rid of those junk newspapers that come in the mailbox every week. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireplaces-other-than-gas-or-wood-good-idea-or-waste-of-money/431440/3 "2007-12-28T05:31:07Z")
Consider a [wood pellet stove](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pellet_stove). They are very efficient, create very little creosote, will work with small flues, and you still get the dancing yellow flames of a wood fire. I used one as the sole heat for a two bedroom house in the cold winters of New Hampshire for about $6 a day.