To know which kind of fireplace best suits your lifestyle, heating needs and budget, here is a general guideline of features to consider:

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces can be installed virtually any where. They're light weight, portable and require no special installation experience. Models sold in the US come set up with a 3-prong plug that plugs into a standard electric outlet. Most offer both light bulb and special effects to create the look of a fire, plus an electric heater. Electric fireplaces are categorized as electric space heaters, and therefore are limited to 5000 btu. (Built-in, hard-wired electric fireplace models producing up to 10,000 btu are available but must be installed by a licensed electrician). As a supplemental heat for chilly rooms or as a primary heater for small rooms (12' x 12" or so), you may find them to be the perfect answer. Most can also be used without the heater to provide an aesthetic appeal to any room, even if it's July and all you want is the cozy look of a fireplace. Long used in Europe, electric fireplaces are rapidly gaining popularity in the US and are offered in a huge array of sizes and designs. There are absolutely no odors produced by electric fireplaces and most models don't get hot to the touch so they're safe to use around kids and pets. They offer 100% heating efficiency.

Gel Alcohol Fireplaces

This is another portable fireplace option, but really should be considered a merely decorative appliance. These fireplaces come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, and use clean burning gel alcohol to produce a small flame. These models have no venting requirements, but the slight odor they produce can be unacceptable to some users. To fuel the fire, most either use replaceable cans of gel alcohol fuel or you pour the fuel into a reservoir and then light with a match. The flame is absolutely real fire, so caution must be exercised when replacing the fuel and to keep curious pets and children at a safe distance. Most gel alcohol fireplaces will provide a general range of 3000 btu's or so of heat so they may be a great answer for emergency or supplemental heating in small spaces. These fireplaces may generally be assembled by the homeowner.

Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces may burn either natural (city) gas delivered by pipeline, or LP (liquid propane) gas that's stored in a tank in your yard. Heat output depends upon the type of appliance  and how it's installed. Gas fireplaces are a popular choice because of the realism of the fire in most models, the convenience of control with on/off buttons, remote controls, thermostats and/or wall switches with certain models. No mess, no fuss - instant fire at the touch of a button. Gas fireplaces require little interaction by the homeowner, though annual cleaning and maintenance of the gas burner is required for optimal performance and safety.Gas fireplaces should only be installed by a trained and certified technician - check local codes for requirements.

• Vent-free gas models require no chimney as they actually vent all their heat (and associated fumes) directly into the room. Considered to be 99%+ in efficiency, but safety standards don't allow them to be considered a full-time source of heat. Great for emergency or supplemental heating needs so long as there's nobody in the home that may suffer irritation or health concerns related to the fumes they produce. Vent-free fireplaces may not be installed in a bedroom or a bathroom, although wall-mounted vent-free appliances (usually a more industrial style of appliance) may be approved for such use in some areas - check local codes for details. Vent-free fireplaces - also called unvented or ventless - must be rated at less than 40,000 btu's. Vent-free fireplaces are a favorite of plumbers and gas appliance stores due to their simpler installation and high efficiency rating, though many fireplace stores and chimney sweeps are not vent-free afficianados. You may find a wide range of opinions about them based on the type of industry professional with whom you consult.
  
• B-Vent (Natural Vent) gas fireplaces are designed primarily for decorative use. Generally they produce a larger and more realistic yellow flame. B-vent fireplaces are sometimes available without a glass window, so many homeowners are attracted to this design because of the open, realistic flame effect; some models do have a glass window so the existence of a window on a fireplace does not define its product classification. Natural vent gas fireplaces use room air for combustion and vent fumes through a vent or chimney that must terminate vertically above the roof line. The key to determining whether a B-vent fireplace will meet your heating needs is to check the manufacturer's listed efficiency rating (gas consumed x efficiency = heat output). While efficient, heater-rated B-vent fireplaces do exist, many lower quality "builder grade" fireplaces have no efficiency rating and, therefore, will not supply substantial heat. In fact, this category of fireplace will often use the greatest amount of gas at the lowest range of efficiencies. If you live in a warmer climate where you want the aesthetics of a fire without much heat, this may be the appliance for you. Likewise, bedrooms and smaller rooms may be a good candidate for a b-vent fireplace, but please check building codes to see if this class of fireplace is approved in your locality or for installation in the room where you'd like to use it. Local/national codes in some areas prohibit the use of b-vent rated appliances, especially in colder climates. Be aware that very "air tight" houses can cause performance problems with b-vent rated appliances, so please consult an experienced fireplace installer who can advise you on the proper installation and use you are considering.
  
• Direct Vent Fireplaces offer the most features with respect to gas consumption, efficiency ratings and venting options. A direct vent fireplace will always have a glass window because these fireplaces are sealed systems using a double walled venting system. Combustion air enters the appliance via one section of pipe while fumes and moisture are vented through the other pipe. Most often, a double wall "pipe within a pipe" system is used. Subject to each model's requirements for distance and offsets, direct vent fireplace venting may be  terminated either horizontally or vertically. Efficiency rating will average 65% to 84%, similar to ratings on gas furnaces. Keep in mind that these appliances must "waste" some of the heat produced to create a draft of rising warm air to evacuate the fumes produced without aid of a forced air exhaust system. Think of direct vent fireplaces as a decorative furnace: the beauty of a realistic flame with high efficiency. This appliance is great for primary or supplental heating and for emergency backup heating as most work without aid of electricity. Because this is a sealed system that uses outside air for combustion, direct vent fireplaces are usually the favored choice among those in the fireplace industry because of their greater efficiency and exceptionally reliable performance.

Wood Burning Fireplaces

Wood burning fireplaces are the only choice for certain groups of homeowners. The authentic smell and crackle of firewood and the overall experience of hauling firewood, carefully arranging it, and tending to the fire is a winter time ritual for many families. The vast majority of wood burning fireplaces are designed mainly for decorative use. The fireplace primarily uses room air for combustion and damper must be open to evacuate the smoke, so often the amount of heated air escaping through the chimney results in heat being lost from the home at an equivalent rate - or even more - than the amount of heat gained from the fire.

Be aware that wood burning fireplaces will require the most interaction with the appliance on your part: proper storage of your wood to keep it dry; hauling fuel to the fireplace and frequent replenishment to keep the fire burning; cleaning out ashes and disposing of them properly, plus annual inspection and cleaning of the chimney. Burning wood creates a flammable chimney residue called creosote that can clog the chimney or even cause a chimney fire, so responsible wood burners include annual inspections as part of their home safety and maintenance routines. Burning well seasoned wood with low moisture content will produce less smoke (better for the environment) and will offer more heat per pound. Responsible wood burners select their fuel sources carefully and take special pride in proper storage techniques.

Wood burning fireplaces may be site-built masonry structures, with brick or stone the most popular material; factory-built metal wood burning fireplaces are also popular and can save thousands of dollars versus the cost of building a masonry fireplace. If you intend to heat with a wood burning fireplace, high-end prefabricated fireplace models are available that include an insulated firebox and chimney design plus tightly fitting doors that both control the burn rate of the wood and the amount of usable heat extracted from the fireplace to be transferred to the living space. When shopping for a factory built metal fireplace, pay careful attention to the type of appliance you need based on your expectations for heat. Be sure and include glass doors that can be closed when the fireplace is not in operation to help assure minimum loss of heated air up the chimney.

Be aware that in certain localities, decorative wood burning fireplaces are not allowed in new installations due to their low heating efficiency and greater contribution to air pollutants, so check local codes while in the planning stages. Non-burn days may also affect the times you can burn the fireplace due to local air quality concerns. Wood burning fireplaces should only be installed or constructed by a certified, trained technician or experienced masonry tradesman.

Coal Burning Fireplaces

Coal is generally used only in site-built masonry fireplaces, or specially designed coal burning stoves. Coal burns much hotter and longer, pound for pound, than firewood and cannot be used in prefabricated wood burning fireplaces because this concentrated heat may damage the fireplace and render it unsafe.

Coal was a popular choice of fuel in the late 1800's to early 1900's and influenced the design of small fireplaces found in homes built during that era due to the facts mentioned above: with fireplaces being the main source of heat in many homes during this era, a small load of coal could heat a room for several hours. Homes of this era commonly have 4 to 12 fireplaces, so keeping the home fires burning throughout the winter was a full time job often delegated to a servant. With the advent of furnaces, coal fireplaces were infrequently built after 1930 or so.

Coal is not readily available in all areas, and storage may present a problem for most home owners. Coal also produces fumes with a sulfuric odor and a particularly corrosive type of soot so regular inspection and cleaning of the fireplace and chimney are a must.

Conclusion

When planning the installation of a fireplace, consider your family's lifestyle, price and availability of your fuel choice in your area, the aesthetic design you desire and the amount of heat you expect from the fireplace. Above all, make sure you are ready for the commitment to safety required in your new fireplace's installation and regular maintenance based on the type of fuel used.

Article contributed by Karen Duke, Victorian Fireplace Shop