MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA HOME HEATING FIREPLACE ALTERNATIVES.
FIREPLACE FUELS, GAS, PROPANE OR WOOD? DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION, BUILDER AND PERSONAL PREFERENCE. In most homes the fireplace is either decorative or a secondary source of heat. Of course, there are many rural homes, small homes whereby the only heat source is the fireplace.
Maryland and Northern Virginia are areas with "moderate" weather. Our normal daytime high temperature is usually about 43 F. This year, however, we've been lucky to get to 30 F during the daytime. Night time lows have been around 15 F. For us, that's cold. Moderate winter temperatures mean that the fireplace can often be used as the only source of heat if folks are gathering "around the fireplace". The ambiance is friendly and warm.
One result of the unusual cold this year has been more home buyer interest in the heating systems available in homes of interest.
"Is it gas heat?" buyers ask. Or, "We MUST have gas heat". Of course, they usually mean municipal gas lines for natural gas. However, if the home buyer insists on gas heat, if they buy in rural areas, they will have the option of Propane, Oil, Electric, or Heat Pump. However, once folks get consider rural areas and want to buy a home with acreage, it's going to be rare for the municipally supplied "gas" to be available. Hence, the popularity of the high efficiency heat pumps, oil heat and Propane (natural gas with on-site storage).
Home buyers' stated preference is usually
Gas Heat -So many folks don't believe that a home is being "heated" unless they feel really warm air coming from the heating ducts/grates. If they are in urban areas, it will be municipal supplied natural gas. If they are in a rural area, the choice will be Propane.
Heat Pump. The high efficiency heat pump is popular in smaller homes, town homes and condos. It has gained in popularity with engineering improvements in the past 20 years or so and with the fluctuating cost of natural gas.
Electric Heat - Not very popular because the electric furnace simply heats air and blows it out. Expensive.
Fireplace. In most homes, the fireplace will be a secondary source of heat.
The beauty of the fireplace with the decorative exterior and hearth is possible with a masonry or pre-fab.
WHAT ABOUT THE FIREPLACE? Is it going to be a masonry fireplace with a full masonry chimney? Or, will it be a pre-fabricated fireplace "insert" that burns wood. Or, so popular in recent years for homes with gas heat, the gas fueled fireplace that is an excellent heat source for the level and offers "ambiance" of a wood burning fireplace.
The gas fireplace is easy to use, provides heat, ambiance and easy to operate with the flip of a switch.
The wood burning fireplace will require a supply of fuel, wood. You may find that the purchase, storage and use of a wood burning fireplace is work intensive, but nothing beats the ambiance.
Sooner or later, that pile of firewood will need to go into the Firewood box. Just keep it dry.
Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail. Serving home buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
A LOUDOUN COUNTY REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY HOME BUYERS. To search homes for sale in Loudoun County, visit the Homefinders.com "Search Listings" site. Enjoy your search and contact us to visit new or resale homes for sale in Loudoun County, Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers' REBATE. 1% cash back to you when you work with Lenn to find and buy a new home in Loudoun County. We know Loudoun County homes. We can help. Lenn Harley, Broker, New Homes Specialist, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. 
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