Q: Is it worth it to put in a gas fireplace?

• <div><p>Yes, it can be worth installing a <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/gas-fireplace-guide.htm">gas fireplace</a>, depending on your home heating needs. The cost to install a gas fireplace can be much lower than the cost to install a comparable wood-burning fireplace. The convenience of starting a fire with the flip of a switch and turning it off just as quickly makes a gas fireplace a big time saver over starting and maintaining a wood-fueled fire. A gas fireplace also does not require ash cleanup or frequent chimney cleaning to remove creosote and other buildup that can lead to chimney fires. Gas fireplaces burn and heat much more cleanly than wood fireplaces.</p></div>

Question 1

How much does a gas fireplace increase your gas bill?

Accepted Answer

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The effect a gas fireplace has on your gas bill will depend on how often you use it, the size of the rooms you’re heating with it, and the BTUs of the fireplace itself, but generally speaking, it should only cost a few cents an hour to run it when it’s on. It will consume minimal energy when it’s “off” if you have a pilot light running constantly, but some modern gas fireplaces don’t require a constant pilot light.

Question 2

Do installations include gas and plumbing hookups?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, professional installations typically include safe gas and plumbing connections.

Question 3

Can you vent a gas water heater out the side of the house?

Accepted Answer

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You can and should vent the gas from your hot water heater to the outside of your home. Traditionally, these gases were vented back to other gas appliances, like stoves or furnaces, but many jurisdictions have outlawed this practice due to the risks it provides.

Most water heaters today use atmospheric venting that exhausts the gas out of the home through a pipe.

Question 4

Do you need to wrap gas pipes for winter?

Accepted Answer

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As long as a licensed professional installs your gas lines, you don’t have to do anything extra to prepare for cold weather. If there are pipes that require a wrap, your installer should have done it for you already. If you want to be absolutely sure your gas system is good to go for winter, the best option is to schedule a gas line inspection.

Question 5

Is it worth it to put in a gas fireplace?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, it can be worth installing a gas fireplace, depending on your home heating needs. The cost to install a gas fireplace can be much lower than the cost to install a comparable wood-burning fireplace. The convenience of starting a fire with the flip of a switch and turning it off just as quickly makes a gas fireplace a big time saver over starting and maintaining a wood-fueled fire. A gas fireplace also does not require ash cleanup or frequent chimney cleaning to remove creosote and other buildup that can lead to chimney fires. Gas fireplaces burn and heat much more cleanly than wood fireplaces.