Stove or Fireplace: Which One Will Warm Your Winter?

A Practical Guide

By Alyssa Jerome

| August 28, 2025

To simplify, keep this distinction in mind:

The stove is first and foremost a piece of furniture, a standalone unit that houses a flame, providing efficient heating and a welcoming atmosphere without major renovations.
The fireplace is part of a construction project. Usually prefabricated, it’s built into a wall and finished with the materials of your choice.
The insert is designed to fit into an existing fireplace (often an inefficient masonry one), giving it a second life.

Finally, when it comes to decorative fireplaces, know that they provide a spectacular visual experience, but their efficiency remains limited. Their burn is shorter and less controlled, which allows them to come in original, imposing formats: large guillotine glass doors, sleek linear fireplaces (such as Renaissance models, for example). Their purpose is mainly recreational and aesthetic, but they can still provide supplementary heating for a short period of time.

If, however, you want to extend comfort for hours with a single load, you’ll need to choose a high-efficiency model and enjoy a true heating solution.

To guide you without jargon, here are some simple markers by appliance type. You’ll quickly identify the one that best matches your needs.

The Stove

Unlike a fireplace, a stove is not built into the house. Independent and floor-standing, it can even be moved if necessary, making it more flexible and less restrictive than built-in units.

Beyond its function, a stove is also a decorative statement. It draws the eye and highlights the flames, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. It adapts easily to modern, rustic, or classic spaces.

Validate your choice

1) GOAL

You dream of a visible, cozy fire that combines efficiency with style.
You want a decorative element that showcases the flame.
You plan to heat mainly one room.

2) SPACE & HOME

You want to enhance the atmosphere of a central space.
You see the unit as a visual focal point in your decor.

3) Installation & flexibility

You prefer a floor-standing, independent appliance with no major work.
Mobility is a plus.
You like a quick, simple installation compared to a built-in fireplace.

The Fireplace

The fireplace is integrated into the structure of the home: a permanent architectural feature that is both functional and aesthetic. Usually prefab, it’s a popular option for new builds and requires professional installation.

Its big advantage: versatility. A high-efficiency fireplace can also be connected to heat distribution systems, helping to warm multiple rooms, or even the whole house consistently.

Validate your choice

1) GOAL

You want a major architectural feature in your new construction.
You value the possibility of heating multiple rooms (or the whole home) via a distribution system.

2) SPACE & HOME

You want a wall-integrated appliance that becomes a permanent part of your home’s layout.

3) Installation & flexibility

You accept a more complex, professional installation.
The position will be fixed and permanent.
You’re prepared for a project timeline before you can use it.

What About The Insert ?

Often confused with fireplaces, inserts are actually high-efficiency stoves designed to fit inside an existing masonry fireplace or a decorative prefab fireplace with no real output.

With no legs or pedestal, their compact design slides neatly into the existing space upgrading it with modern, eco-friendly performance. In short, inserts bring new life to old fireplaces.

Validate your choice

1) GOAL

You want to renovate and modernize a masonry fireplace or a decorative prefab with no efficiency.

2) Space & Home

You want an integrated look that feels part of the wall.

3) Installation & Flexibility

Fits into an existing fireplace.
Quick installation.

Coval’s Tip

Want a stove but love the idea of whole-home heat distribution like some fireplaces offer? It’s possible.

While a compact stove is ideal for a single room, a larger one can help heat the entire house. You just need a system to circulate the warmth such as a floor register, ceiling fan, or air exchanger for comfort throughout.

Fuel Options

Once you’ve chosen the appliance type, it’s time to pick the right fuel: wood, pellets, natural gas/propane, or electricity. Each has its own advantages.

1. Wood — The Classic Choice

Loved for its authentic charm, wood seduces with natural flames, the crackle, and that unmistakable aroma, a truly sensory experience. It gives you autonomy without electricity and a deep, lasting heat. If you’re wondering whether heating with wood is still permitted in Québec, the answer is yes, only if you choose EPA- or CSA-certified appliances designed to significantly reduce emissions.

Wood is chosen for :

Immersive experience (scent, flame, warmth, crackle)
No electricity required
Long-lasting performance
Local, carbon-neutral biomass