The numbers that describe fireplaces and home heating in America, gathered in one place and sourced. Natural gas heats 47 percent of US homes and electricity 42 percent. About 2.5 million households heat primarily with wood and another 9 million use it as backup. Heating equipment causes about 65,000 home fires a year, and failure to clean is the leading factor. Every figure below carries its source and date, and we update this page each fall.
The headline numbers
- 47% of US homes heat mainly with natural gas, 42% with electricity (EIA, 2024 data)
- 2.5 million households (2.1%) heat primarily with wood; 9 million more (7.7%) use it as secondary heat (EIA)
- 65,000 home heating fires a year, causing 430 deaths and $1.1 billion in damage (NFPA, 2019 to 2023 averages)
- ~25,000 chimney fires a year, over $125 million in property damage (CSIA)
- 18.83 cents per kWh, the average US residential electric rate (EIA, April 2026)
- December 31, 2025: the day the federal 25C stove tax credit ended (HPBA)
How America heats its homes
Natural gas and electricity split almost the entire market, 47 and 42 percent as main heating fuel per the EIA’s 2024 residential data, and electricity keeps gaining, especially in new construction and the South. Counting any use, not just main heat, 61 percent of homes use natural gas and 12 percent burn wood somewhere.
The secondary-heat numbers are where fireplaces live: portable electric heaters lead among homes that supplement their main system, with gas and wood fireplaces next. That backup-heat role, taking the edge off one room while the furnace idles, is exactly the zone-heating math our cost guides keep landing on.
Wood heat by the numbers
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Households heating mainly with wood | 2.5 million (2.1%) | EIA |
| Households using wood as secondary heat | 9 million (7.7%) | EIA |
| Cords burned per season, full-time EPA stove | 3 to 5 | Manufacturer and owner data |
| Wood stove efficiency, EPA certified | 70 to 77% | EPA Burn Wise |
| Pellet stove efficiency on premium fuel | 85 to 95% | EPA / manufacturer specs |
| Open masonry fireplace efficiency | ~10% | Industry consensus |
Fire safety statistics
Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the US. The NFPA’s 2019 to 2023 averages: 65,000 fires, 430 deaths, 1,530 injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage per year, with space heaters driving the majority of the deaths and failure to clean equipment the leading ignition factor. The CSIA counts roughly 25,000 chimney fires annually, fueled almost entirely by creosote, causing over $125 million in damage.
The prevention math is lopsided: the $250 annual sweep and inspection addresses the leading cause of the fireplace share of those fires. Full guidance lives at the NFPA’s home heating fire research.
What heating electricity costs in 2026
The April 2026 US average residential rate is 18.83 cents per kWh, with North Dakota cheapest at 12.35 cents and Hawaii highest at 46.62. That prices a 1,500 watt electric fireplace at about 28 cents an hour on high nationally, 19 cents in North Dakota, and 70 cents in Hawaii, the spread that makes “it depends” the honest answer and a calculator the useful one. Our running cost guide works the monthly math.
The FireplaceIQ 2026 price index
Our own compilation: the 2026 national price ranges we verified across Angi, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, and Fixr while building this site’s cost guides, cross-checked in July 2026 and refreshed each September. Nobody else publishes these in one table.
| Project | 2026 price range | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney sweep | $150 to $375 | ~$250 |
| Chimney liner | $1,500 to $5,000 | ~$2,500 |
| Chimney repair (single job) | $200 to $4,000 | $300 to $1,200 |
| Gas fireplace install | $2,300 to $10,000 | ~$3,600 insert |
| Gas fireplace repair | $150 to $1,000 | $150 to $600 |
| Wood-to-gas conversion | $300 to $5,000 | logs low, insert high |
| Wood stove installed | $1,000 to $8,000 | $2,000 to $5,500 |
| Pellet stove installed | $1,500 to $5,000 | $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Fireplace removal | $500 to $7,500 | $3,000 to $6,000 full |
| Electric fireplace unit | $150 to $1,200 | $250 to $600 |
Lifespan and maintenance numbers
- Gas fireplaces: 15 to 25 years, with thermocouples and thermopiles replaced at 8 to 12
- Electric fireplaces: 10 to 20 years, nearly maintenance-free
- Pellet stoves: 15 to 20 years, weekly cleaning required
- Wood stoves: 20 to 30 years for quality steel and cast iron
- Chimney cleaning trigger: 1/8 inch of creosote (CSIA); inspection annually (NFPA 211)
- Annual gas service: $80 to $250 in 2026
Policy: the tax credit that ended
The federal 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement credit, worth 30 percent up to $2,000 on qualifying wood and pellet stoves, ended December 31, 2025, cut from its planned 2032 sunset by the 2025 budget law, per the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. Installations completed in 2026 get no federal credit. State and utility change-out rebates, often $500 to $3,000, are now the only incentive layer, and half the pages ranking for the credit still describe a program that no longer exists.
Sources and method
Heating fuel shares from the EIA’s residential energy data (2024) and April 2026 electric rates. Fire statistics from NFPA research reports (2019 to 2023 averages) and CSIA published figures. Efficiency ranges from EPA Burn Wise and manufacturer certifications. Price index compiled by us from the 2026 published guides at Angi, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, and Fixr. Tax credit status from HPBA, confirmed July 10, 2026. Corrections welcome through our contact page; this page refreshes every fall before the heating season.
Fireplace statistics FAQ
What percentage of US homes have a fireplace?
Census construction data has put fireplaces in roughly half of new single-family homes in recent decades, though the share has been sliding as builders cut costs. Tens of millions of existing homes have at least one, most used as secondary heat or ambiance.
Do fireplaces add value to a house?
Real estate surveys consistently value a working fireplace in the $1,000 to $5,000 range depending on market and type, with gas units carrying the most appraisal weight as a heat amenity.
What causes most chimney fires?
Creosote buildup, per both CSIA and NFPA data, and the leading contributing factor across heating fires generally is failure to clean the equipment. The annual sweep exists because of this exact statistic.
Is wood heating growing or shrinking in the US?
Roughly stable as main heat at about 2 percent of households, with regional strength in the Northeast and rural areas. Secondary wood use is far larger, about 9 million households, and tracks energy prices.
How often is this page updated?
Every fall before heating season, with electric rates and cost ranges rechecked. Figures carry their source and vintage so you can judge freshness line by line.