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Deciding whether to buy a prebuilt fireplace kit or build one from scratch comes down to aesthetics, available space, and budget. Many homeowners like the convenience and lower cost of prebuilt options—around $1,500—versus the involved planning and construction of a larger fireplace. Another bonus: you can usually move prebuilt units. Custom projects are more common when homeowners have access to a larger budget and more area in the yard to place the fireplace.

Your state, city, or even homeowners insurance company may have requirements on how far the outdoor wood furnace should be from the house, so be sure to abide by those regulations. In general, you should install an outdoor wood furnace or boiler as few as 30 feet or as much as 500 feet from the house or any other building.

You shouldn’t remove a fireplace yourself. Before beginning this job, you’d need to know whether or not you have a load-bearing fireplace. To do that, you’d need help from a structural engineer. Plus, fireplace removals require permits and often involve working with gas lines or electricity, which can be dangerous. For all of these reasons, it’s best to hire a pro for this project.

No, there are no ventless pellet stoves. Because pellet stoves burn wood pellets, they produce wood smoke—which contains carbon monoxide. This harmful substance needs to be vented out of your living area. That said, there are vent-free and ventless fireplaces that run on natural gas and propane. These offer the heating and ambiance of a fireplace without the need to vent thick and hazardous wood smoke.