What is a Gas Fireplace Insert?
You may ask…
Gas inserts transform an old wood fireplace into a high-efficiency gas heater that uses either propane or natural gas.
And many can be eligible for local government rebates. It would pay to find out if you are eligible in what country you are in.
From an original fireplace that has been used as a wood-burning fireplace, this time using gas instead of wooden logs.
With gas-burning inserts, you are going to have the highest level of efficient heat output which is a nice thing to know.
These gas fire inserts sit inside a metal box, which is then surrounded by a larger metal box that fits into the fireplace.
Getting confusing yet…
Anyway, the gas insert heats the air area in between these two boxes, that’s why you have the two boxes. Then it emits heat.
A decorative flange, if you are not sure what a flange is, here is the meaning: a flat surface sticking out from an object, used to fix it to something or to make it stronger.
Or you could say…
Fits around the outside edges of the insert so that no gaps appear between the unit and the sides of the fireplace.
And you will also be required to install a chimney liner.
I know…
But you do need it to carry out those combustion gases and smoke up through your chimney.
How Much Does A Chimney Liner Installation Cost?
Cost To Replace Chimney Liner…
Here we come!
For the average homeowner around the world, going and getting a chimney liner installed can cost you about $2,500. For the more expensive materials, you could be looking at about $5,000 and it could climb a little to $7,000…
Ok, a little more than a little.
But…
If you looking for an easy-to-install material such as aluminium.
Here is the good news!
If you go DIY (being the handy person that you are…) the cost of materials and equipment could bring you down in dollars as low as $625.
You can thank me later for finding that out…
How Much Does It Cost To Install A Fireplace Insert?
Your Fireplace Insert to the most realistic fireplace insert can heat 1,000-3,000 sq. ft., depending on their size. You’ll want to size your insert to the square footage, you need to heat it.
The Cost: $1,500 to over $4,500 including installation and a chimney liner.
Fireplace inserts have nice clear heat-proof glass doors.
The best designs circulate air within the firebox itself in a way that helps keep the glass clean.
Can’t ask for more than that!
No, getting on your knees and cleaning the glass doors with a rag all the time, do you?
The Inserts can heat up to 1,000-3,000 sq. ft., depending on their size of course…
You will want to size your insert to the square footage you need to heat.
You Need To Get These Measurements Right:
Measure the front OPENING of the fireplace Cavity
Measure the BACK WIDTH of the fireplace
Measure the INSIDE HEIGHT of your fireplace from the FLOOR to the LOWEST POINT INSIDE your fireplace
Measure the DEPTH of the FLOOR from BACK WALL to the FRONT of your fireplaceHow Much Energy do Inserts Save?
You’ll cut your other heating costs by 10%-40% with an insert as gas inserts lose only 20-30% of their heat.
So you can get out your calculator now…
Natural gas fireplace inserts and free-standing stoves not only help maintain the indoor air quality around you, keeping your home clean.
But they also create less outdoor pollution than wood-burning fireplaces, bringing down your carbon footprint which is nice to know.
Unlike the old decorative gas fireplaces of yesteryear, today’s gas inserts are heat-producing dynamos using propane to power or natural gas with that ever-alluring flame dancing on those fake logs, but not fake if you use your imagination…
Or… stones behind a sealed glass face and even decorative modern glass chips.
Such choices…
What Gas Fireplace Insert is available as Vented Units or Unvented Units?
Direct-vent Units Are Safest:
They are the safest because they draw in the outside air to keep the flame burning and exhaust all the combustion gases and the water vapour released by burning gas.
Ventless Inserts:
These have a higher efficiency rating being:
Ventless Inserts – 92% to 99%
Direct-Vent Inserts – 60% to 80%
Because with Ventless Inserts, no heat escapes up the chimney.
But there is one thing though…
The moisture and exhaust fumes released from burning gas do stay around in your house, which may be a cause for concern for you.
However, most ventless gas fireplace inserts are considered safe for the homeowner because they do include an oxygen depletion sensor that turns the gas off before the carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels in the room.
Though there are some states that do not allow ventless gas units so you will have to look into this in your own state.
The Capacity and Cost of Inserts
Depending on the size, a gas-burning fireplace insert can heat up to 1,000 to 3,000 square feet.
Have a talk with your insert dealer on the size of the existing fireplace in your house, so that they can give you an idea of what sort of capacity you can expect from a gas insert.
There Is A Downside However
- When it comes to pellets or good old wood, you will be spending more propane or gas than you would on the latter to get the same intensity of heat within your house.
- Propane is not a cheap heating fuel – So if you think that you will be saving a lot of money heating the whole of your house… think again.
- Compared to the natural aroma and sounds of logs burning, you won’t get that same effect as with the real thing.
Upsides to a Gas Fireplace Insert
- Needing little maintenance, the Gas Inserts do require an annual maintenance checkup of about $75 to $125 where ever you might be. I have to say this every time because I don’t know where you reside. It could be the Antarctic as far as I know… prices do vary. You’re better off turning up the heating in the room you are in at the time and lowering the thermostat to the rest of the house.
- We are on the green factor again and it’s a good one – burning with a 65% to 99% efficiency rating, which means you are doing your bit for the planet by making very little pollution or smoke in the atmosphere. Stand up and take a bow…
- These Gas fireplace inserts can be used in your prefab or masonry fireplaces; they can be vented through the chimney already existing, or for a free-standing unit, through the wall.
- With these gas-burning units, you don’t have the worry about the ash or creosote produced.
So all up, you might think.
‘I really want a good old fireplace just like my pappy used to have.’
That’s all fine, but with wood being harder to come across and you not being in the middle of a forest, acquiring the wood yourself might include you getting into your car and driving many miles to find some wood laying on the ground.
Picking it up, and finding out that some animal or many angry ants start to attack you.
The vision of you running down the road slapping your clothes and jumping all over the place is otherwise very amusing.
It might not be for you.
After all…
You could be a city person who does not know what sort of wood to get, so go down to the hardware shops to buy your little bundle of wood that only lasts you a week.
Of course, you might be the outdoors person who knows his way around a log and knows how to use an axe to chop it.
But when it comes down to deciding to turn in the old fireplace and go for a gas fireplace insert to take away the hassle of gathering firewood.
And cleaning up the ashes and mess that come with the great outdoors fireplace.
The gas fire with realistic-looking logs just might be right for you.
With its Gas Fireplace Insert of course…
You might not get the aroma of the burning logs and the sound effects of the fire crackling away.
But the atmosphere is still going to leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling.
Which one are you going to choose?