Highlights
You can build a gas fireplace into a wall as a brand new installation.
You can also opt for an insert that slides into an existing fireplace frame.
Freestanding models sit on a platform or feet, minimizing installation costs.
Modern gas fireplaces have special features such as thermostat control, LED lighting, and flame adjustment.
Without burning wood, clean-up for a gas fireplace is minimal.
If you’re a fireplace enthusiast but soot-averse, it’s time to explore the gas fireplace. With many models boasting features that make it easy to turn your fireplace on or off and control its temperature, you can enjoy the warmth and charm of a fire without the work that comes with a wood-burning one. From built-in models to freestanding ones, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about buying and installing a gas fireplace in your home.
Pros of Gas Fireplaces
In case you’re still on the fence, here are a few reasons to install a gas fireplace.
Affordable, Quick Installation
Compared to wood-burning fireplaces, getting a gas fireplace installed is a simple process. Your local fireplace contractor will need to cut out the area for the fireplace to be installed, run electric and gas lines to the location, build a vent (unless you’ve opted for a ventless model), and install a mantel. In addition, they can be installed anywhere you can run a gas line. On average, installing a gas fireplace costs $2,300 to $10,000.
Instant Gratification
With the touch or flick of a thermostat, remote, or switch, you can turn your fireplace on or off. There’s no learning curve, either: you don’t need to know how to burn kindling or when to keep adding logs to keep the fire going.
Minimal Maintenance
Since you aren’t burning logs, cleanup is minimal. You should, however, schedule annual maintenance tasks such as inspecting and cleaning the vent and checking the valves for any leaks.
Cons of Gas Fireplaces
Nothing is perfect. Read on to learn the strikes against a gas fireplace, as opposed to a wood-burning one.
The Cost of Propane
Propane is more expensive than wood, so you’ll spend more to enjoy your fireplace than you would with a wood-burning one. Natural gas is a bit less expensive, but not available everywhere.
Lack of Ambiance
You probably associate fireplaces with the crackling sound of embers on wood. With a gas fireplace, because there is no wood, the audio associations and the smell of burning wood won’t be present, which can lessen the experience for some.
Types of Gas Fireplaces
If you’re sold on the idea of installing a gas fireplace, make sure to choose a style that works best for your home.
Direct Vent
Direct vent models use one exterior opening to both clear out combustion gas and pull fresh air in, via two pipes in the vent. The vent can be placed horizontally or vertically up a flue or through an opening in an exterior wall, options that come in handy if you don’t already have a fireplace opening and chimney. Since direct-vent fireplaces don’t use your home’s air, the front is usually a sealed glass panel. To encourage heat transfer, models often come with a blower that moves hot air from the fireplace into your house. Direct vent fireplaces cost between $1,700 and $12,500.
Natural-vent (or B-vent)
Natural-vent (also known as B-vent) fireplaces pull air from inside your home to feed the fire. The combustion gases are then vented out through a chimney, similar to a wood-burning fireplace. Because of the similar structure, you can convert an existing wood fireplace to a natural-vent gas one relatively easily. Confirm that the model you purchase has a sensor to extinguish the fire in case exhaust gases change direction and return down the flue into your home. A natural-vent fireplace is priced similar to a direct vent fireplace, between $1,700 and $12,500.
Ventless
Without a flue to worry about, a ventless fireplace can be installed in almost any location. Some people even like to hang them on the wall, as you would a painting or television. Because these models don’t release combustion gases, ventless fireplaces are designed for an extremely clean burn, reducing the level of pollutants as low as possible. Many models have an oxygen sensor, causing them to shut off if the oxygen level in the room dips below 18%. That said, several states, including California, ban ventless gas fireplaces. Check the laws in your city and state before purchasing one. Ventless fireplaces cost between $800 and $2,600.
Fireplace Inserts
Built-in styles are installed where no fireplace has lived before, but gas fireplace inserts sit inside existing fireplace openings, helpful if you’d like to update an old gas fireplace or turn a wood-burning stove into a gas model. Inserts are available with or without vents, and cost between $1,200 and $4,000, installed.
Freestanding
Standalone gas fireplaces do not fit into a wall. Instead, they sit on a platform or legs. Coming in both vented and ventless models, they look like wood-burning stoves and need to connect into a gas line—the only limitation to where they can live in your home, though vented models will need to be next to a wall or soffit for vent access. On average, the cost for a freestanding gas fireplace is between $1,200 and $2,200, with installation.
Log Set
A log set provides a kind of trompe l’oeil: a pile of ceramic logs that sit in a firebox, with flames that jump around the logs, imitating the look of a real wood fireplace. Log sets are intended to be placed inside existing fireplaces, and many use them in their wood fireplaces as an easier-to-clean-and-control option, though they don’t emit much heat. Because they are installed in existing fireplaces, they vent into the existing chimney. Log sets cost $400 to $1,000 with installation.
Smart Fireplace
If the rest of your home is already controlled by your smartphone, why not throw your fireplace into the mix? A smart fireplace can be turned on, off, up, or down with a tap on your device. Several new fireplace models are compatible with apps like the Intellifire app, and will cost an extra $200 to $250 to enable the WiFi that adds this functionality.
Outdoor
The cost of a prefabricated outdoor gas fireplace ranges from $750 to $6,000. Typically, you will need to have a gas line installed, which will add about $25 per linear foot. Some propane models hook up to a dedicated propane tank; the propane tank will cost $100 to $500 every year, and you’ll still need a gas line to get to the tank.
Features to Look for in Your Gas Fireplace
As you shop around for a gas fireplace, look for these features that can elevate your enjoyment.
Flame Adjustment
Choose the level of heat—and size of flame—you need, from a low-level ember to a full fire that dazzles.
Electronic Ignition
Turn on your fireplace with ease and eliminate the need for a pilot light with electronic ignition—all you’ll need is a remote control connected to the fireplace. With this feature, you could save up to $10 a month on propane.
Fan
A blower or fan will help push out the fire’s heat to the home quickly, ideal after a cold winter day spent outside.
Thermostat Control
A remote, smartphone, or wall thermostat should let you set the maximum temperature you want your fireplace to reach.
LED Lighting
Special lighting features can create the illusion of flickering, dancing flames or simply be decorative, with multiple colors to choose from.
How Many BTUs Are Right for Your Home?
When purchasing a gas fireplace, you should make sure to buy one that will adequately heat up the room in your home where it will live. To calculate how many BTUs you will need, first calculate the square footage of the room where you want to install the fireplace. In a 20-by-10 room, that’s 200 square feet. Next, we’ll take the square footage and multiply that by 30 to get the initial number of BTUs necessary. Using our example, we’ll need 60,000 BTUs to heat a 200-square-foot room.
This calculation needs to factor in your location and home’s insulation, however, as older homes with less efficient insulation might require higher BTUs, as do homes in cold climates. Those who live in old homes in cold climates should multiply the square footage by 60, while those who live in new constructions in cold climates should multiply the square footage by 50 to arrive at the necessary BTU.
Installation Considerations
While the average cost to install a gas fireplace is roughly $2,000, watch out for these factors that could drive up the final price.
Gas line: While you likely have a gas line in your home, you need to confirm that the one you have will lead to your new fireplace. If you need to install a gas line, expect to pay a minimum of $200, as well as $100 to install a propane tank. If your house gas line needs to be connected to the street line, this can cost between $500 and $2,000.
Assembly: Basic assembly costs about $600, with the price rising for any customization work.
Ventilation: The cost to install a vent varies based on the vent’s location and any local laws and regulations; the price should start around $200.
Chimney health: If you’re using your existing chimney as a vent for the gas, you’ll need to have your chimney liner checked for cracks or other kinds of deterioration; replacing a chimney liner costs $2,500.
Designing the Fireplace’s Surround
The area around your fireplace is called the “surround,” and can extend just a few inches around the unit or take up the entire wall where the fireplace has been installed. Some prefabricated fireplaces have a surround already, but many do not and you can customize your own, if you wish. Explore several looks and ideas for your gas fireplace’s surround before committing.
Wood
Wood can lend a rustic feel to any room, and is a classic choice for a surround to bring visual warmth to a gas fireplace. Ranging from $9 to $75 per square foot, wood surrounds can be constructed from large pieces of carved wood or small reclaimed wood pieces. The wood should be treated—stained or painted—so no heat or condensation damages it.
Tile
Coming in a wide range of colors, shapes, patterns, and materials, tile runs between $7 and $200 per square foot. Choose from ceramic, glass, terracotta, or porcelain. Consider mixing and matching colors, sizes, and shapes to create a completely unique surround, specific to you and your home.
Natural Stone
Stone is a striking option, with no two cuts being completely identical. Ranging from $10 to $300 per square foot, you can choose from solid slabs or blocks to create more variance in patterns. Material choices include granite, travertine, limestone, marble, and slate, all of which will require sealing and speciality cleaning products that are pH-neutral.
Metal
A common choice for prefab models that lean towards contemporary style, a custom metal surround will run you $10 to $50 per square foot; copper or bronze will be more expensive than stainless steel or iron. You can opt to use sheet metal or metal tiles to create a variety of designs.
Log Substitutes
Logs have a classic look, but they aren’t the only option out there. With a gas burner, you can select from:
Glass: Costing about $4 per pound, glass shimmers and looks elegant in any fireplace setup.
Ceramic Coal: The dark ceramic coal lumps against the flames offers a romantic look; expect to pay about $40 for a basket of 25.
Stone: Smooth ceramic rocks, costing $250 for 32 pieces, look appropriate in a home with a rustic, outdoorsy vibe.
Gas Fireplace Maintenance
Have your gas fireplace serviced by a local fireplace professional once every year. For about $150, they should inspect all the parts of the fireplace—burner, fan, pilot light, and thermostat—and make sure everything is functioning properly. In addition, they might also clean the glass. If you have a vented model, hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect and clean the vents once per year.
