Compare Fuel Types
Understanding Energy Efficiency
BTU (British Thermal Units): Measures heat energy. Higher BTU = more heat, but efficiency matters more than raw BTU. Wood has high BTU (~8000/pizza) but much of it escapes as smoke. Gas is more efficient at converting BTU to pizza heat.
Environmental Impact: Not all fuels are equal. Wood pellets and hardwood are carbon-neutral if from sustainable sources (trees regrow, absorbing CO2). Gas/propane releases fossil fuel CO2. Electric depends on grid source - renewable energy makes electric nearly zero-emission.
Convenience Factors: Electric wins: plug in, set temp, done. Gas is close: turn knob, instant heat. Pellets require hopper filling but auto-feed. Wood demands constant attention, feeding logs, managing airflow, removing ash. Convenience costs time.
Total Cost of Ownership: Consider more than fuel cost. Wood needs storage space and time investment. Electric may need electrical work. Gas requires tank storage/exchange trips. Pellets need dry storage. Factor in your time value and lifestyle.