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Some cities or states may require you to have an earthquake gas shut-off valve. Your insurance provider may also have requirements for installing this valve. Even if you don’t have to have one by law, it’s wise to have a natural gas plumber install one anyway. These devices can be lifesaving and prevent fires or explosions in the event of a gas leak.

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.

Only yellow Teflon tape is approved for use on gas lines. Also called yellow PTFE tape, it is thicker and specifically rated for use on natural gas and propane connections. Standard white Teflon tape is not safe for gas applications. If you have questions about sealing gas line connections, contact a pro like a gas line contractor or plumber who installs or runs gas lines.

Because of the potential danger associated with incorrectly capping the gas line that serves the gas fireplace, many people will choose to hire a professional to do the work. Some homeowners may choose to hire a pro to only handle the gas line for them. They then may attempt to remove the actual insert on their own, which is a challenging—but not impossible—DIY project.