Gas vs wood fireplaces.

Gas fireplaces are comparatively quick to install. Most units run on LPG bottles (very common in SA) or piped natural gas where available. A SAQCC-registered gas installer must sign off the work and issue a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) — non-negotiable for insurance. Flue requirements are minimal: balanced-flue and power-vent options can exit through an exterior wall, which is perfect for apartments and existing homes without a chimney.

Wood fireplaces need a proper insulated flue running straight up through the roof, plus a non-combustible hearth and adequate clearances. Retrofits into homes without an existing chimney are a bigger project — often involving roof penetrations and structural checks. Closed combustion units are dramatically more efficient than open fireplaces and are increasingly the SA standard.

Gas running costs depend on LPG price (currently around R35–R45 per kg in most of SA). A typical 8 kW gas fireplace burning for 4 hours uses roughly 2.3 kg of LPG — about R80–R100 per evening. Convenient, but it adds up over a long Cape winter.

Wood running costs vary wildly by region. Bluegum or kameeldoring in Gauteng runs around R1,800–R2,500 per cubic metre delivered; in the Cape, expect R2,200–R3,000. A well-sized closed combustion unit will burn 3–6 m³ over a full winter — often cheaper per kWh of heat than gas, especially in colder inland regions.

Modern gas fireplaces deliver 70–85% efficiency with precise thermostatic control. They reach setpoint quickly and cool down just as fast — great for the typical SA evening where you want warmth from 17h00 to 22h00 without overheating.

Closed combustion wood fireplaces hit 75–80% efficiency and radiate stored heat for hours after the fire dies down. For open-plan or larger homes — and especially during load shedding — a properly sized wood unit will out-heat almost anything else gram-for-gram.

Choose gas if you want minimal fuss, clean air quality, instant heat and no wood storage. It's the natural fit for sectional title, coastal homes (less corrosion risk than electric) and anyone who values convenience.

Choose wood if you have the space, love the ritual, and want a heating source that keeps working when the power and the gas pipeline don't. For farm houses, larger free-standing homes and serious winter performance, wood is hard to beat.