Maybe the clean-burning benefits have you pondering the switch. Perhaps you want to minimize the cleanup involved with maintaining your current heating appliance. Or maybe you don’t have a fireplace at all, but are wondering what would be involved with having a gas-burning unit installed in your home. Whatever your motivation, converting a wood fireplace to gas is a doable (and practical) update for many homeowners.
Thinking through the ways you can make the conversion to gas – and the benefits and drawbacks different fuel types offer – can help you make an informed decision about what’s best for you. At the end of the day, your own lifestyle, preferences, and home heating needs should lead the decision-making process.
Need some extra guidance? We’re here for you – call or reach out online today.
How Do I Switch My Fireplace From Wood to Gas?
There’s more than one way to get the efficient beauty of a gas fireplace into your living space.
- Gas logs are a simple and relatively cost-effective way to go about it. These “logs” are ceramic or cement, but they’re fashioned to look like real logs. Gas logs are installed into an existing firebox, where they then have a gas line run to them. The big perk of this option? You still get the appearance of a wood-fueled fire, and you can make the conversion with minimal structural changes.
- Gas inserts are a bigger switch, but with excellent gains in efficiency and precision control. In this case, a new gas fireplace insert is installed into the existing fireplace cavity. It’s a self contained unit that uses your existing chimney, so no dramatic construction is required. This will be more efficient than gas logs and can offer additional benefits.
- Gas fireplaces typically require more installation work, depending on whether you go with a direct vent or vent-free option. Depending on the model, these could be installed in an existing fireplace opening or as standalone units – and neither requires the traditional type of chimney a wood burning unit would use.
Gas vs. Wood: Benefits & Drawbacks
As mentioned before, different fuel types come with their own perks and considerations.
Gas Fireplace Pros
- Gas fireplaces are ultra convenient, igniting with a switch or button and eliminating the need to ‘build’ a fire as you would for wood. You also won’t need to chop, source, haul, or store firewood, or wait for wood to season. You can go from work concerns to the comforts of home with the push of a button!
- Gas is clean-burning and won’t produce the soot or ash that burning wood does.
- Efficiency is also a perk, since gas fireplaces and inserts often have high efficiency ratings. That means they provide more heat with less fuel – and your energy bills just might reflect that too! Less heat is wasted and more ends up in your living space…win-win.
- Gas units offer more control over the heating process. Many units come with thermostats and remote controls. Having more precise control over the heat means you’re orchestrating the comfort of your fireside experience with ease.
Gas Fireplace Cons
- There are initial costs involved in the conversion and installation of a gas unit.
- Gas fireplace needs a continuous gas supply, meaning you’re dependent on that utility.
- Some feel that gas logs and inserts don’t give the same ambiance as wood-fueled flames, though some enjoy the appearance of gas fireplaces.
Wood Fireplace Pros
- Many fireplace aficionados simply love the traditional ambiance of a wood-burning fireplace. It appeals to all the senses with its crackling logs, flickering flames, and rich scent.
- Some like the wind-down process of building and tending a fire, as well as the rewarding self-sufficiency of chopping their own firewood.
- Wood fireplaces offer independence from utilities as they don’t rely on a gas supply and can function during power outages.
Wood Fireplace Cons
- There’s definitely some maintenance involved in owning a wood fireplace, from ash removal and cleaning to more frequent professional chimney sweeping.
- Wood appliances are also more labor intensive to use, requiring you to maintain a wood supply, build and tend a fire, and wait for it to die down before leaving the room.
- Efficiency is also a factor. Wood fireplaces are nearly always less efficient than gas ones, with lots of heat escaping through the chimney.
Why Make the Switch to Gas?
Drawing from the pros and cons, some of the advantages of gas certainly make switching a justifiable enterprise for many homeowners. Gas burns cleaner, producing fewer emissions, converts a higher percentage of fuel into usable heat, and it has a more consistent and controllable heat output. And no one can deny it’s simply more convenient to operate.
Let Integrity Lead Your Next Fireplace Project
No matter what fireplace appliance or fuel source you land on, professional installation is a must.
Professional installation ensures that all safety measures are at the forefront of installation, minimizing risks such as gas leaks. Our CSIA certified technicians are trained to handle complex systems and address potential hazards. Incorrect installation can also reduce efficiency and performance, meaning diminished performance or higher operating costs through the life of the appliance. Furthermore, many manufacturers and insurance policies require professional installation to validate warranties and coverage.
Fortunately, we’re always here and happy to help. As industry certified professionals, we’ve been extensively trained in all aspects of fireplace operation, installation, and usage. We’ll be sure your beautiful new system adheres to local building codes and regulations and is installed to operate reliably and consistently. We’re also happy to answer any questions you might have and help you understand your options. We lead with integrity, so you can have peace of mind.
Give us a call today or reach out online to delve into the possibilities!
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