The Benefits of a Charcoal BBQ

There are at least 6 benefits of a charcoal BBQ over a gas BBQ that cannot be ignored. Those benefits are: overall value, ease of transporting, lower repair costs, hotter burning, greater control over heat, and last, but by no means least – taste. A brief explanation of each benefit of a charcoal BBQ is presented below.

charcol bbq

Value – The price of a charcoal BBQ is much lower than for gas. This is a definite plus for the cost-conscious consumer. A charcoal BBQ may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive gas BBQ’s, but they remain an excellent cooking apparatus.

Ease of transporting – You can transport a charcoal BBQ very easily. In fact, you can usually put your bag of charcoal right inside the BBQ and take off. There are no cylinders to drag around. You don’t have a bunch of racks to deal with when moving around. Freedom of movement can mean much in outdoor cooking settings.

Lower repair costs – A charcoal BBQ does not have any moving parts. You may have to replace a top rack or ash catcher, but that is about it. You will find replacement parts much cheaper than gas BBQs. This benefit is a major plus for charcoal BBQs.

Hotter Burning – Plain and simple charcoal produces much more heat than gas. More heat aids in the searing of meat to hold juices in. You can also cook more items such as vegetables.

Greater control over heat – When you stack coals on a charcoal BBQ, there are open spaces away from the direct heat. You can move an item being cooked closer or farther away from the heat as the item required. This type of flexibility in your cooking must be a great benefit.

Taste – While this may be a highly subjective claim, most BBQ enthusiasts will tell you the smoky flavour of a charcoal BBQ simply tastes better than anything cooked with gas or pellets. The proof is in the taste, compare for yourself. More than likely, you will find yourself in the majority of those favouring the taste of charcoal BBQ over gas BBQ. Home Fires provides a wide selection of quality charcoal BBQs.

Gas or Electric Fireplace?

Fireplaces have been in vogue for millennia. Even in the old days, every castle used to have large fireplaces around which people gathered for the sake of getting warm. Nowadays, fireplaces are added to homes for two particular reasons. The first one is to warm the place and the other is to enhance the home’s value. Fireplaces are seen not just as a way of heating the home but also as an interior décor item. This is part of the reason why the wood-burning fireplaces are slowly growing out of fashion. They can be difficult to deal with and aren’t available in many styles and designs. Gas or electric fireplaces have taken over as they are more versatile, flexible and cost-effective than wood-burning fireplaces. So, which of the two should you get? Gas or electric? Let’s find out.

Home Fireplace

Heat Production

You want your fireplace to be producing enough heat to warm the entire room. A gas fireplace does that effortlessly even at low settings. It can generate a lot of heat within a small time duration. You can easily warm a large room with your gas fireplace within minutes. While electric fireplaces can produce ample heat as well, their capacity for heat production falls well short to that of gas fireplaces. An electric fireplace might be a good option to use for heating a small room but it won’t be sufficient for warming up large spaces. With a gas fireplace, you won’t have to install multiple fireplaces in your home. A single gas fireplace would be enough to provide the heat you need.

Visual Appeal

Electric fireplaces are energy-efficient and don’t produce any harmful emissions. However, they don’t produce real flames. Since the electric fireplaces don’t combust a fuel but rather rely on generating heat using electricity, they look fake. You won’t get the same visual appeal with an electric fireplace that you can get with a gas fireplace. In gas fireplaces, natural gas is used as the fuel for combustion. This produces real flames and you can see them dancing inside the fireplace from far away. These flames can catch the eye of the people when they enter the home and garner their attention. Thus, if you are looking for visual appeal then a gas fireplace is the clear winner.

Fuel Availability

As mentioned above, gas fireplaces run on natural gas while electric fireplaces are operated using electricity. You will need a gas connection to get the gas fireplace working and supply of electric power for using the electric fireplace. While both fuels are readily available, natural gas is a more reliable fuel source than electricity. If there is a storm in your area and the power got cut, you will lose your ability to operate your electric fireplace. However, since gas supply doesn’t get cut during a power outage, you can still use your gas fireplace to warm your home. Moreover, you can even use propane gas tanks to power up a gas fireplace but you can’t operate an electric fireplace without electricity.

Home Fires is an established name in the residential and commercial heating industry in Australia. Feel free to contact us if you can’t decide between an electric and a gas fireplace.

ESCEA HEATERS

Escea is a trusted brand in heating. They have been developing quality fireplaces for the past 15 years, and are the leading manufacturers of fireplaces in the Australasian market. Two of their best models undeniably include the Escea DF960 and the Escea DS1400. Both are designed with home renovators in mind, as they are made for quick and easy installation in walls and existing fireplace cavities. No walls? No problem. The flue can be configured to run in any direction so that you’re able to achieve your vision. Both models deliver complete design flexibility so that you’re renovation runs as smoothly as possible, and so your finished result looks impeccable. Both models can also be operated from the touch of a finger with Escea Smart Heat, which connects to your smartphone. So, which one should you pick for your home? Read on to learn more about each model.

Escea DF960

The Escea DF960 is the slightly more compact model of the two (870mm x 470mm), meaning that if you don’t have the greatest amount of space, this might be your best option. Its size is perfect for making any area look larger, as it doesn’t consume as much surface area and most wide modern fireplaces. The design is also the perfect accompaniment to any textured surface thanks to its Zero Rated clearance. This means the surrounding materials doesn’t have to be expensive fire-rated construction material. To make this fireplace absolutely perfect for your home, you have the option to customise its fascia from slim to stretch, in titanium silver, stainless steel and volcanic black. You’ve also got the choice of logs, coals and NZ river rock as your fuelbed, to get the exact look you want.

Escea DS1400

If wide and sleek is exactly the look you’re going for, then the Escea DS1400 is for you. If you’re not into the look of a fascia, then this is also your ideal fireplace as the frameless display really lets the flames shine. The minimalist look lets you add a touch of luxury and interior design to any space without the worry of having items clash. Despite being simplistic, the 1360mm x 141mm glass display is an eye-catching statement that is sure to attract the attention of your house guests. Another cool (or should say warm) feature of this model is that it can be installed one-sided or double-sided. If you’re looking to add appeal to a partition, what’s more interesting than a stylish fireplace?

Worried about little fingers around the hot glass? A mesh-wire feature is also available to add another layer of protection to the fireplace, and of course, yourself.

So, which should you choose? Ultimately, it depends on the size of your space, and the overall look of the space. The DF960 is perfect if you’re space is more compact and you’re looking for that extra touch of luxury with the fascia selection. The DS1400 is perfect for the minimalists out there, and if you want to use the double-sided feature for attention-grabbing design.

Homefires is Australia’s leading retailer of fireplaces, BBQs, fans and outdoor kitchens. If you’re thinking of updating your home and adding a fireplace, enquire today.