Do You Need A Fireplace? Here Are 5 Questions To Help You Decide!

At this point, there are millions of homes throughout the United States that were built without a fireplace. The reason for this is that their construction was performed after 1973, a point following which the integration of the fireplace in a home was rendered obsolete by the numerous other more effective and less dangerous heating systems. Yet, the vast majority of US homeowners desperately want one. Granted, a fireplace will certainly bring a sense of grandeur and charm to your home. However, before you rush in and install the fireplace you've always wanted, first you need to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Will it respect your local building codes?

The wide variety and types of fireplaces you can acquire nowadays might lead to believe that it's practically impossible not to find a model suitable for your home. However, most of the times you have to look beyond these options and consider the installation requirements and whether they subscribe to the building codes in your area. Essentially, there are aspects like emissions, storage room for the wood/gas, chimney height, the clearance around the pipes and numerous other prerequisites to inquire upon before you purchase a fireplace.

2. Where would you place it?

While you probably want the fireplace installed in the living room, that may not be an option for you if you have limited space or a weird-shaped room. As a rule of thumb, the best location to install the fireplace is an area where it can efficiently serve multiple purposes. If it can't do that, then you might never be able to enjoy a full payback.

3. Can its energy efficiency compete with modern heating systems?

More often than not, when thinking of a fireplace most people like to envision the traditional wood-burning units. While they have an unique appeal, the issue with them is that they require indoor air for combustion and most of the heat dissipates through the chimney. Therefore, if you don't want to empty your bank account to pay immense heating bills during winter, it is best to go for the sealed units with thermal loss control features and outdoor venting systems.

4. Does your budget allow you to make such a large investment?

This might be a demoralizing, but did you know that the full costs of installing a fireplace can easily add up to over $20,000? And that's not the only expenditure you should expect, as they require annual cleaning/maintenance services from a professional. In addition, you will be paying for the wood, oil or gas out of your own pocket. Speaking or gas fireplaces, you also need to contact a licensed contractor for the installation of a dedicated gas line.

5. How long until you recuperate the initial costs?

In the eventuality that you plan to sell your home at some point, the fireplace will certainly be a desirable feature for potential buyers. However, according to real estate agents, no buyer is willing to pay more than $1,200 on average just for the fireplace, a sum which is quite low considering the up-front costs of your investment.