If fireplaces are in demand in your area, they can significantly boost your home's resale value. However, if you live in a warmer climate where a fireplace may not be a necessity, the cost and maintenance involved may outweigh the benefits.
Con: May Not Be Environmentally Friendly
Wood fireplaces aren't environmentally friendly. They produce a decent amount of heat, but a significant amount gets lost up the chimney. Additionally, they produce a lot of pollutants that can hurt the air quality.
Fireplaces are changing, however, because of energy codes and construction practices. Houses are tighter than they used to be, which means there isn't enough free air to provide a proper draw in a traditional, open, naturally-vented fireplace. Traditional masonry fireplaces are expensive and impractical.
Removing a fireplace can impact home value depending on location and market demand. In areas where fireplaces are desirable, removing one might decrease the property's value.
According to the National Center for Real Estate Research, fireplaces can increase the value of the average home by up to 12 percent!
They Can Be Energy-Efficient
Most modern fireplaces run on gas or electricity, but traditional wood burners or an open fireplace are also popular. If you do use a wood burner or open fire for heating, it will only provide warmth in the room it's in, but it can save you pounds on your energy bills.
Local bans on wood burning are becoming more common in areas where air pollution is a concern. If your area has instituted restrictions or an all-out ban on using wood-burning fireplaces, it makes little sense to hold on to one.
In short, having a fireplace can be cozy and inviting during the cold winter months, but they aren't a good option when saving money on your utility bills. It's more cost-effective to use your fireplace to enjoy on occasion, not as a supplemental heating source for your home.
In the past, fireplaces were the primary method of keeping homes warm. However, with advancements in technology, more efficient and convenient heating options have emerged. Nowadays, houses are equipped with various modern heating systems such as wood stoves, gas heating appliances, or even alternative fuels.
Modern appliances, radiators, and central heating have replaced the functional benefits of a fireplace. However, it still remains a prominent part of home designs and an in-demand feature.
The conclusion that we've come to is this: fireplaces aren't going anywhere. Though the numbers are lower at the moment, the trends show that they will eventually rise to new heights, with outdoor fire pits helping to push those numbers even higher.
A fireplace serves many purposes, both practical and aesthetic; it acts as a supplemental source of heat, creates a focal point for a room, and ties together a room's overall decór. A fireplace can also add value to a property upon its resale.
Unfortunately, wood fireplaces are inefficient. Just 25% of the heat from your fireplace stays inside your house because the remaining heat follows the smoke outside. In some instances, you can lose up to 90% of the heat produced by your fireplace.
For many, the biggest drawback of an electric fireplace is its inability to replicate the authentic experience of a wood-burning fireplace. The distinct sound of crackling wood and the characteristic smell of burning logs are conspicuously absent in electric models.
Yes. A house with a fireplace will likely increase home insurance costs because having a fireplace correlates with a greater risk of fire. Certain insurers will charge higher rates due to the increased risk of the peril of fire based on having a fireplace.
The majority of real estate agents believe indoor or outdoor fireplaces add $1,000 to $5,000 to the resale value of your home.
In Short, Yes. A fireplace can heat a whole house. Everyone wants to live in a warm home, especially during the winter—and the right fireplace can help accomplish exactly that!
Whether to use a fireplace or not is a controversial topic in building science. The main problem is that a typical wood-burning fireplace actually has a net cooling effect on a home. (And that applies also to when they're not in use if the damper stays open.) Then there's the effect they have on indoor air quality.
So when it comes down to it, is taking out your fireplace a smart move? Our experts says that, in most cases, you should just leave your fireplace be. In the thousands of homes Greenberg has shown over the years, he's had buyers who said they must have a fireplace and buyers who didn't care either way.
More than half of all homeowners (57 percent) have some type of fireplace, wood-burning stove or other hearth product in their home. And usage is high during peak season.
Primary Suite Addition
Adding a primary suite that includes a large primary bathroom and walk-in closet is not only a functional and smart choice for day-to-day living, it's a good investment. This type of addition brings, on average, a 63% return.