Choosing the Correct Fuel Type for You

After selecting the location for your fireplace, you'll be ready to select a fuel type for your future fireplace. You're not just limited to basic wood or gas, either! In fact, there are six options for you to consider, though some may require consideration of availability in your area. But we'll cover that a bit more as we discuss your options.

Different Fuel Types

• Wood: Wood-burning fireplaces are the classic. Most of the time, when you think of a roaring fireplace, it's wood crackling in the fireplace. These fireplaces need properly seasoned firewood and a steady supply to keep the fire going for an extended period. A continuous wood supply might be hard to come by if you're in a more metropolitan area. For additional information, please check out our Wood Burning Fireplaces Buyer's Guide.




• Natural Gas: Natural gas is the most common non-electric fuel provided by utility companies and is the primary fuel used for residential heating. This is partially because it is lighter than the atmosphere and will dissipate quickly in case of a gas leak. For more information about natural gas and its counterpart, propane, you will find an article about the differences between the fuels here, written by an NFI-certified technician.

• Propane Gas: Propane is the counterpart to natural gas. This fuel type might be more available in rural areas where natural gas is unavailable. We recommend not using propane tanks to fuel a fireplace due to the high volume used for higher BTU models.




• Gas-Burner Not Included: You might wonder why a burner-less fireplace is among the options. These fireplaces don't include a specific burner, meaning you can create your ideal fireplace. Most burners are specific to a gas or media type (we'll cover media types later!), which limits your options on what you can do with your fireplace.

• Electric: If you're worried about smoke and fumes from your fireplace, you might be looking for an electric fireplace. This type of heater is great for small areas, rentals, and homes with children and pets. Why? Electric fireplaces can operate with or without their heaters on, meaning you can have all the visual appeal of a fireplace without worrying about hands or paws going where they shouldn't! They also tend to be less expensive since they use electricity instead of gas. Check out our article "Five Reasons You Need An Electric Fireplace" for more information.




• Ethanol: "Wait, you can use ethanol with a fireplace?" Yes, you can! Ethanol fireplaces are one of the least known, but we offer quite a selection. These fireplaces are low-maintenance, vent-free, clean-burning, AND easy to install/use. They also lean on the more modern side of appearances and don't have to be installed by a professional. Ethanol is probably the easiest fuel type there is. Learn more from our Ethanol Fireplace Buyer's Guide.

Next, we'll talk about the different types of venting. Follow the link for more information!