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Quick Answer: How To Convert A Fireplace To Gas

What is the average cost of converting a fireplace to gas?

The average cost to convert a fireplace to gas is $3,000, with a typical range of $500 to $5,500, depending on a range of elements, including whether you choose a vented gas insert, vented gas log, or ventless gas log.

Can any fireplace be converted to gas?

Yes, you can convert an existing wood burning fireplace to gas, but it must be that — an existing wood burning fireplace. Wood burning appliances, such as wood stoves, cannot be converted to gas.

How hard is it to convert a wood fireplace to gas?

Converting a wood fireplace to gas is not as difficult as it seems, even though most experts suggest having professionals install the necessary components. Options usually depend on the type of fireplace. A wood-burning prefabricated fireplace will need a conversion kit, but masonry fireplaces have several options.

Do I need a chimney for a gas fireplace?

Ventless fireplaces fueled by gas or propane rely on indoor air for combustion, and they exhaust a low level of their combustion gases into the room in which they’re located. A chimney or flue isn’t necessary. In fact, ventless fireplaces generally are just for aesthetics and supplemental space heating.

Should I convert fireplace to gas?

Converting from a wood fireplace to gas will have a noticeable effect on improving your home’s atmosphere and cleanliness. A properly vented gas insert will also vent away most of the residue from combustion. You’ll avoid the uncomfortable greasy layer of soot that can be vented into your room from a wood fireplace.

Does it cost a lot to run a gas fireplace?

Gas fireplaces are pretty inexpensive to run. That’s primarily because the price of natural gas and propane are very (about $1.09 per 100,000 BTU) low compared to the price of electricity (about $3.87 per 100,000 BTU). Standard 20,000 BTU gas fireplace costs $0.29 per hour to run.

What’s the difference between a gas fireplace and a gas insert?

Gas fireplaces are very similar to gas inserts. They are made the same way, with the box-within-a-box setup. However, the difference between gas fireplaces vs. gas inserts is that a built-in gas fireplace doesn’t require an existing fireplace or chimney.

Does converting wood fireplace to gas increase home value?

Return on Investment A homeowner can often recover over 100 percent of the expenses associated with adding a fireplace upon selling their home. According to the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, adding a fireplace to home can increase the resale value of the home by as much as 6-12 percent.

Can a fireplace be both wood and gas?

Gas fireplaces cannot burn any form of wood, whether that’s firewood logs or wood pellets. For example, firewood logs typically used in wood burning fireplaces, wood burning stoves or multi fuel stoves, or wood pellets used in pellet stoves, can’t be used in any form of gas fireplace.

Which is better vented or non vented gas logs?

Ventless fireplaces are more energy efficient than vented fireplaces because no heat escapes up the flue, so you’ll save money on gas utility bills. A vented gas fireplace uses more gas to create the same level of warmth because some of its heat escapes through the flue.

Do gas fireplaces give off heat?

Gas fireplaces have a wide range of heat output, from about 7,000 to 60,000 Btus. Use this formula to determine which models generate enough heat to warm your room. The formula assumes that your house is well insulated and has tight windows, and that you like the temperature set at 72 degrees F.

What is a wood-burning fireplace with a gas starter?

What Is a Gas Starter? A gas starter is a metal pipe, often made of cast iron or stainless steel, with evenly spaced holes along it. The pipe typically goes underneath your fireplace grate so it’s below the logs. It helps light the fire in your wood-burning fireplace.

Which is better wood-burning or gas fireplace?

Wood-Burning Fireplace. In the battle for most efficient fireplace, gas fireplace efficiency is always going to win over wood fireplace efficiency. That’s because gas fireplaces burn more cleanly and produce fewer polluting emissions.

Can I put gas logs in a wood fireplace?

Gas logs cannot be installed in wood burning stoves or gas burning stoves. Wood stoves are designed to use far less air than wood burning fireplaces, so in most cases they have a 6″ diameter vent that is not enough to properly exhaust the fumes given off by gas logs.

Can I install gas logs myself?

Gas log installation should only be done by a certified professional. Homeowners should never install their own gas logs unless they have the tools and training to do so.

Do gas fireplaces use a lot of gas?

Depending on the age of a gas fireplace and its maximum heat output, a gas fireplace can use a relatively large amounts of gas if used at max settings for a number of hours per day. However, gas fireplaces be a very cost-effective form of heating, especially if using natural gas rather than propane.

Are unvented gas fireplaces safe?

Are Ventless Gas Fireplaces Safe? Ventless gas fireplaces emit dangerous and noxious gasses into the room they are operating. Ventless fireplaces produce small amounts of nitrous dioxide and carbon monoxide which can be deadly in large doses.

Is it OK to run gas fireplace all day?

In general, you should not run an unvented fireplace for more than three hours at a time. If you are using natural gas, you can usually run your fireplace for up to four hours before needing to refuel. If you are using propane, the limit is typically two hours.