Installing a Fireplace Yourself or Hiring a Professional?
Who doesn't dream of having a beautiful fireplace at home?
For a gas fireplace or wood stove, a chimney is necessary. Installing a chimney is a complex, expensive, and not exactly a do-it-yourself task. Besides the cost, a chimney cannot be installed just anywhere, and it takes up a significant amount of space in the house.
If environmental standards become stricter in the future, it's expected that harmful smoke gases will no longer be allowed to be expelled outside without additional filters. Alongside the costly installation of a gas fireplace or wood stove, maintenance will also become considerably more expensive.
Ultimately, there's a solution for every problem. New homes are no longer connected to the national gas grid, and existing gas connections are gradually being phased out. Installers can place two gas cylinders as an alternative in a separate space outside the house, allowing us to continue enjoying a gas fireplace. For wood-burning fireplaces, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has already introduced a "stookalert" (burn alert). The use of this type of heating by enthusiasts can still continue for now, but is it justifiable today to install such a fireplace anew?
If we genuinely want to improve our air quality, we need to stop expelling harmful smoke gases through a chimney. It's also completely unnecessary. There's a much better solution for both the environment and our wallets.
A decorative fireplace produces no smoke gases and therefore doesn't need to be connected to a chimney. A decorative fireplace is primarily intended for ambiance and coziness. The heating function of a decorative fireplace is limited. The fireplace can work well as supplementary heating, for example, in combination with underfloor heating. Heating a smaller space can often be achieved, but for larger rooms, a primary heating system needs to be installed.
A decorative fireplace is not only the better choice for our environment and our wallets but also offers many more applications. You are no longer limited by the location where a fireplace needs to be placed. Create your own design and bring it to life as a do-it-yourself project, or if you're not so skilled with a saw and drill, seek assistance from a professional. Xaralyn offers a wide collection of electric decorative fireplaces and bio ethanol decorative fireplace. Feel free to visit our showroom.
