Fireplaces have a special place and purpose in people's homes that goes far beyond just providing heat. They also give a home style and provide a reason, besides a cozy atmosphere, for people to gather together. With the variety of fireplaces available, those thinking of purchasing one need to give serious consideration as to which is best suited to their needs.

Gas fireplaces provide the warmth, of more traditional fireplaces, without nearly as many of the hassles. As they use gas, there is no need to go through all the labors of splitting, storing and transporting wood. Also, as gas does not produce all the soot and dirt wood fireplaces do, they do not require the hassles of chimney cleaning that comes with burning wood.

Gas fireplaces are also easy to install. Since they can be installed with little more than a slight hole in a wall for exterior venting, they are some of the easiest fireplaces to set up. To get the feeling of having logs on the fire, gas fireplaces now have ceramic logs that resemble real wood logs burning. While this is not for everyone, many people are willing to sacrifice some of the realism for the convenience of a gas fireplace in busy times.

For people who want the real thing, only a traditional fireplace will do. For them, nothing equals the feeling of seeing real logs burning in a fireplace, and the work associated with keeping a fireplace going is often part of the charm and appeal of having one. Traditional fireplaces are normally made from brick, marble or stone, and the openings are covered with glass or metal screens.

These fireplaces tend to be expensive to build and take up a significant amount of space. However, their look and feel can really add a lot to the room and the experience of sitting around the fire. Traditional fireplaces also have the advantage of not using fossil fuels. For those with access to a lot of wood, they can be a great way to save money. Still, they are actually not very energy efficient and steps should be taken to improve efficiency. For example, glass doors will keep warm air in and radiate heat from the fire out.

Cast iron fireplaces are able to be used as inserts in traditional fireplaces or stand alone fireplaces. As cast iron is so sturdy, it can take a lot of use and abuse before it requires any maintenance. Furthermore, these fireplaces can be configured to use wood or gas depending on the needs of the owner, and their flat surfaces also allow them to do double duty and stoves. They come in various sizes and are available in in both indoor models and outdoor models. The smallest models can be used on camping trips and other outdoor activities.

So, before going head and purchasing a new fireplace, spend a little time thinking about how much you are willing to spend, how much space you have available, and how much time and effort you are willing to put in to the maintenance of it.