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Electric fireplaces give off more heat than you might think. Because they don’t lose heat through a ventilation system, which is required for wood-burning and gas fireplaces, they’re able to disperse more heat into the room. However, many electric fireplaces are limited to a max of 5,000 or 5,200 BTU heat output, and you can get more from traditional fireplaces.

You don’t need electricity for a wood-burning stove unless it has a blower fan. Some wood-burning stoves include blower fans to help with heat distribution, but blower fans have a motor and use electricity to power the fan. You can still operate a wood stove without using the blower fan, so it’s a good source of heat if you have a power outage or are looking to lower your electric bill during winter.

Installing a fireplace outside could be more affordable, but that depends on several factors. If you’re only considering an outdoor fireplace to save on installation costs, you may be surprised once you start receiving quotes. On average, an outdoor fireplace costs around $3,000 to install, but the price can vary significantly depending on how ambitious your outdoor design plans are.

Yes, if your gas fireplace has a flue, you typically need to open it when using the fireplace. Although gas fireplaces don’t produce the type of smoke and soot that wood-burning ones do, they still release combustion gasses like carbon monoxide. Opening the flue ensures these gasses safely exit your home through the chimney. Not all gas fireplaces need a chimney, however. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific gas fireplace model, as some newer models may have different ventilation requirements.