I have been kicking this one around and have come across no great sells that would have tipped the scales. FYI it is to be used to take the chill from a room with a concrete floor.
Here is what I am debating. Wood stove is cheaper but rumored to be dirtier as far as air born particles. (according to the Asthma society). Cosmetically they are more challenging as it is half way down a wall and at one end of room.
Fireplace gives a warmer look possible better resell feater then stove. Claimed that they give off less air born particles.
My though is that the fireplace is usually a shallower fire box but has more height letting the smoke rise quicker. But the only thing that bugs me about it is they are both air tight fireboxes so I do not think it would matter.
I am question though that many fireplaces have an outside fresh air intake for the fire box and or heatalators. Many of the wood stoves to not. The issue being a higher positive air pressure by pumping the fresh air in through the heatalators. Higher internal pressure less back draft that can occur.
Any one with experience with either or both? I have an open hearth zero clearance fire place now but is does not work well and the refractory is now done so I need to replace the whole unit. The refractory is almost 700 on its own and the fireplace has no heatalator so I might be better off replacing the whole system.
Name: Jake
Comments: Wood stoves are good, but pellet stoves are the best. They require minimal work and give off lots of heat.
Yes a friend of mine just put one it it does work very well. He finds the pellets a bit more expensive then the wood but it does deliver a nice consistent heat with no mess and little work.