How Much Does a Gas Fireplace Cost?
Last Updated: January 19, 2022
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If a room or area of your home requires additional heating, consider installing a gas fireplace. An elegant alternative to wood-burning fireplaces and plug-in heaters, gas fireplaces provide the beauty of a roaring fire without the smoke, dust and ash. With advances in technology such as realistic looking gas fireplace logs, now is the perfect time to add the beauty of open flames to a room in your home. Continue reading to learn more information about natural gas fireplaces, including gas fireplace installation costs.
Types of Gas Fireplaces #
It is possible to purchase gas fireplaces that run off of either natural gas or propane. The choice, obviously, will depend on what type of fuel you currently use for home heating. Your other option when it comes to purchasing a gas stove, how it is vented, is a slightly more complicated decision. The three major types of gas stoves are top vented, direct vented, and ventless (or vent-free). Each is described in more detail below.
- Top Vented: Top-vented gas fireplaces vent via a chimney, either directly through an existing metal or masonry chimney, or with the help of an installed aluminum gas pipe known as a "B-Vent." If using an existing chimney, some modifications may be necessary.
- Direct Vented: Unlike top-vented fireplaces, direct vent gas fireplaces do not require a chimney. Instead, ventilation is achieved by the use of a hole in the wall directly behind or above the fireplace. A direct-vent pipe allows for more installation flexibility, as the appliance does not need to be located near a chimney. Hence, the unit is sometimes referred to as a freestanding gas fireplace.
- Ventless: A vent free gas fireplace requires neither a chimney nor ductwork. A technician merely installs a gas line to the fireplace and it's good to go. In this case carbon monoxide detectors ensure your home is safe and to provide maximum safety, it is important to select a unit that is appropriately-sized for the area it is intended to be used in. Ventless gas fireplaces not only provide for placement flexibility, but also have minimal installation costs.
Note that there are a number of popular gas fireplace accessories, including remote controls, wall switches, blowers, and wall thermostats.
Finally, homeowners who wish to convert their existing wood fireplace into a gas fireplace have a couple of major options. They choose between a gas fireplace kit (or gas log kit), which provides the look of real burning logs, or a gas fireplace inserts that are placed inside the fireplace.
Gas Fireplace Average Costs #
The actual cost to install a gas fireplace may vary depending on your location, the product selected, complexity of the installation process, additional accessories purchased, and other options.
- Top vented gas fireplace inserts cost $750 to $3,000, and installation adds another $500 to $1,000.
- Direct-vent gas fireplaces cost $1,000 to $3,500, plus $500 to $1,000 for installation.
- The cost of a ventless gas fireplace is $500 to $2,500, and while there are additional installation costs, you may pay extra for finish work (such as a mantle, marble surround, etc.)
- Some top-of-the-line gas fireplaces may cost as much as $5,000 to $10,000 or more.
- A gas log kit might cost $750 to $1,000 installed.