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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.

You should not use Windex or any other ammonia-based glass cleaners when cleaning the glass doors or glass front panel of a gas fireplace. Instead, remove the glass and lay it on a soft surface, like a drop cloth or towel. Then clean it using a specialty fireplace glass cleaner purchased at a hardware store or online. If the glass is relatively clean, you can get away with a vinegar and water solution, but tougher stains will require a specialized cleaner.

Yes, removing a chimney is a difficult and major undertaking. Chimneys often provide structural support to a home, so if it's a load-bearing structure, you'll need to take extra precautions to maintain your home's integrity. A project of this complexity typically requires a structural engineer, a masonry contractor, and a demolition crew. The removal process may involve taking the chimney out brick by brick from inside the walls. The cost for chimney removal can range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the job's complexity. Due to the difficulty and cost, some homeowners opt to remove the fireplace and seal the chimney at the top and bottom, sometimes also removing the visible exterior portion at the roofline.

Wood-burning fireplaces typically make homeowners insurance more expensive, simply because they increase the risk for a fire in your home. Gas and electric inserts are less likely to bring up your insurance rates, but you should always speak with your agent to understand how installing any type of fireplace will affect your premiums.