The Cost of Firing Up Your Fireplace

Colder winter weather is on its way to the Hamptons, turning thoughts to warming yourself by a toasty fire. But how to determine the cost of that warmth, and what type of fireplace is most cost efficient, is going to raise questions. Our friends at Ashwood Hearth & Home Energy Center have the answers.

The Question: How much fuel do fireplaces consume and how much do they cost to operate?

The Answer from Ashwood Hearth & Home Energy Center: This is easily calculated provided that you have the local price of the fuel to be used: 1 cubic foot of natural gas will produce *1000 BTU per hour, 1 litre of propane will produce *29,059 BTU per hour and 1 U.S. Gallon will produce *110,000 BTU per hour. (*values may vary slightly, depending on location)

The BTU of the fireplace is divided by the BTU value of the fuel to determine the amount of fuel consumed per hour. Example: A natural gas fireplace that has an input of 30,000 BTU per hour consumes 30,000 / 1000 = 30 cubic feet/hour. If the price of natural gas is .35 cents ($0.0035) per cubic foot then 30 cubic feet x .35 = 10.5 cents ($0.105). Therefore the cost of operating one of our 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Fireplaces or Stoves for one hour is 10.5 cents.

Have your own questions about a fireplace, stove or home-heating? You can contact Ashwood Hearth & Home Energy Center at (631) 569-4515 or info@ashwoodfireplace.com. You may even see your question answered right here at Ask the Expert.