Gas inserts are retrofitted wood-burning fireplaces that operate using gas. Inserts sit inside a metal box surrounded by a larger metal box that fits into the fireplace. The gas insert heats air in the area between these two boxes and then emits heat from its firebox.

What is the difference between a gas fireplace and a gas insert?

A gas insert is installed within an existing masonry, wood burning fireplace. A gas insert is smaller than a gas fireplace to allow it to fit inside of the opening of an existing wood burning fireplace. … A gas insert can get much hotter on the outside (no, not that hot) than a gas fireplace.

Do gas fireplace inserts work without electricity?

In addition, all direct vent gas fireplaces are sealed, keeping emissions out, and are vented to the exterior of your home using the natural buoyancy of warm air (warm air rises), meaning no electricity is needed to operate your gas fireplace or gas fireplace insert safely.

Are gas fireplace inserts worth it?

A gas fireplace offers a range of benefits over burning wood in your home, including the ability to instantly turn on, control and turn of the heat from the fire. The advantages of having gas fireplace can outweigh the disadvantages in many scenarios, making a gas fireplace a worthwhile investment for your home.

Does a gas fireplace insert need to be vented?

Traditional gas fireplaces, like their wood-burning cousins, require an exhaust flue (vent) to remove harmful fumes from the home. When possible, an existing chimney is used to run a new flue, but in a home without a chimney, the high cost to install venting can sideline the project permanently.

Do gas inserts heat well?

Natural gas fireplace inserts and free-standing stoves not only help maintain indoor air quality, keeping the home clean, but they create less outdoor pollution than wood-burning fireplaces. … Highly efficient natural gas fireplace inserts, for example, can heat up to 1,000 square feet of living space at low cost.

Do gas fireplace inserts have blowers?

All gas fireplace inserts supply radiant heat, but a blower provides an instant, powerful heat boost. Turn your blower on, or turn it off, it’s your choice! You can’t use a fireplace blower if you don’t have one. All inserts deliver radiant heat, but blowers provide an instant, powerful heat boost.

What is the average cost of installing a gas fireplace?

How Much Does Gas Fireplace Installation Cost? The average cost to install a gas fireplace is about $4,500 with average prices ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 in the US for 2020 according to Thumbtack.

What is the average cost of a gas fireplace insert?

A gas fireplace inserts costs about $2,000. The price of installation runs from $2,300 to $10,000, depending on factors like personal style, extra gas plumbing and necessary duct work. Need a fireplace taken out? The cost to remove a fireplace or chimney ranges from $4,000 to $10,000.

Can I install a gas fireplace insert myself?

To make this upgrade to your existing fireplace, you can install a gas fireplace insert. Since this process requires working with vent pipes, electrical, and the gas supply, we recommend working with a professional instead of doing it yourself.

Article first time published on

What is a vertical pilot on a gas fireplace?

If you have a gas fireplace with a vertical pilot, it will light during a power outage because it does not require electricity to start the pilot flame. Most gas fireplaces incorporate a self-generating millivolt system using a thermopile.

How long can I leave gas fireplace on?

In short, you really shouldn’t let a gas fireplace on for too long—specifically more than three hours at a time.

Do gas fireplaces need to be cleaned?

While gas fireplaces don’t produce creosote, they do still need annual cleaning. Both propane and natural gas are clean burning gas fuels, so they don’t produce the same byproducts as wood, but they can still produce buildup that needs to be cleaned away.

Does a gas fireplace need a chimney liner?

Homeowners with gas or electric inserts most likely do not need a new liner because those types of fuel don’t produce enough heat to damage a masonry chimney.

Does a gas fireplace dry out the air?

Gas fireplaces make the air dry and create moisture–that is the answer to the question. Gas fireplaces create moisture in the air, while simultaneously drying the air out. Of course, to fully understand what that means, we’ll have to dive in deeper. Let’s actually start with traditional wood-burning fireplaces.

Can you run gas fireplace without blower?

Yes, you can run your fireplace without a blower. … During a power outage all wood and direct vent gas fireplaces, Inserts and stoves will continue to work safely producing radiant heat without the need for a fan.

How is a gas fireplace vented?

In a direct vent gas appliance, fresh air is drawn from the outdoors into the hearth unit, and expelled air is sent outside via a flue system that terminates outside. Most direct vent gas fireplaces are vented to the outdoors horizontally (through the wall), but they can also be routed vertically (through the roof).

Can a gas fireplace insert heat a room?

Direct vent gas fireplaces burn efficiently with up to 70 percent of the heat they generate remaining in the house. Direct vent gas technology allows gas fireplaces to install in virtually any room of the home at a fraction of the cost of a masonry fireplace. This makes them an ideal choice for zone heating.

Can a gas fireplace heat a whole house?

Gas Logs are normally installed inside an open masonry fireplace. They may radiate heat in front of the fireplace, but they will not be able to heat an entire home.

Do gas fireplaces use a lot of gas?

In short: Gas fireplaces are quite inexpensive to run. This is primarily due to the low cost of natural gas and propane. On average, 100,000 BTU worth of heat costs $1.09 if you use natural gas and $3.87 if you use electricity.

How do you measure for a gas fireplace insert?

1. Measure the front opening of your fireplace.
2. Measure the back width of your fireplace.
3. Measure the depth of the floor from back wall to the front of your fireplace.
4. Measure the inside height of the fireplace from the floor to the lowest point inside the fireplace.

How long does it take to install a gas fireplace insert?

Installing a fireplace can be completed as quickly as one day or as long a one week. Our technicians do their best to complete jobs as soon as possible, without sacrificing the safety or quality of the workmanship.

Can you put drywall around a gas fireplace?

This homeowner renovated his fireplace and put sheetrock or drywall up around the front of his fireplace. Unfortunately, this is highly flammable and is not an appropriate or safe fireplace surround.

Should a pilot light always be on?

Generally speaking, it is safe to leave your continuous pilot light on at all times, assuming it stays lit (more on this in a moment). While it does cost more to keep your pilot light on in between uses, it can actually have some benefits to your system.

Does gas turn off when pilot goes out?

This is because all modern gas appliances with pilot lights have a fail-safe device that closes off the gas to the appliance in the case when the pilot may go out. … If the pilot light goes out for any reason, the current stops, the valve closes, thus preventing any gas from leaking.

Do you need to open a window when using a gas fireplace?

Your gas fireplace can introduce large quantities of water vapor inside your house while it is burning. Water vapor is a large by-product of burning natural gas. So opening a window can help introduce oxygen and fresh air.

Can you manually light a gas fireplace with electronic ignition?

It’s easy to know how to turn on a gas fireplace with an electronic ignition wall switch. Many gas fireplaces come equipped with a wall switch control panel for activating the unit and adjusting the level of the flame. Simply push the “On” button and the pilot should ignite.

Do gas fireplaces produce carbon monoxide?

Yes, gas fireplaces are one potential cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. … An improperly maintained or ventilated gas fireplace can create incomplete combustion, creating carbon monoxide, and causing this toxic gas to linger—putting those inside at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Can I run my gas fireplace all day?

You can run a vented gas fireplace all day with little concern for anything other than gas usage.

Can you sleep with gas fireplace on?

There is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when you sleep in a room where a conventional coal or gas fire, a log burner, a cooker, or a back burner is left on overnight. You cannot feel the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, so it is important that you protect yourself.

Is it cheaper to run a gas fireplace or the furnace?

Is it cheaper to run a gas fireplace or a furnace? … A modern furnace is more efficient in turning gas into heat than a gas fireplace. This means that although a furnace costs more to run per hour than a gas fireplace, it turns more of that energy into heat and can warm a whole house rather than a single room.