"A fireplace can sell a home". A sweeping statement, and yet at this time of the year, with the wind howling around the chimney pots, it can hold true. Whether you have a climate that brings lashing rain, gently floating snow, or just cooler temperatures, there is nothing as cozy as a glowing fireplace.

Adding a gas or wood fireplace can increase the value of your home by twice as much as the cost of the fireplace.

Based on the size of your home, it would probably be tough for one fireplace to adequately warm the entire space. In these cases, experts say that homeowners should utilize the fireplace with other heating sources such as the furnace in the home. The combination of the two units could allow for a home to be well heated for half the cost.

With a gas fireplace, chimneys are not a worry at all. Gas fireplaces are installed with a tube that is vented through an outside wall. Without the hassle of having a chimney, the cost of maintenance and upkeep on a fireplace goes down dramatically. Also, operating a gas fireplace can be as simple as flipping a switch on the wall. And while installing a fireplace in your home can cost you big bucks up front, the value that a fireplace brings to a home can be returned shortly there after.