Converting A Gas Fireplace To Burn Wood
If you have a standalone built-ingas fireplace that was put into your home as a bespoke installation, then it may not be so easy to convert that gas fireplace to burn wood.
Due to the different venting arrangements required between different types of fireplace that burn different fuels, it can be more difficult to convert from one to another without more significant work required.
Wood cannot be burnt in any form of gas fireplace, including built-in gas fireplace installations.
In such situations it can be best to leave the gas fireplace as is and have a separate wood burning fireplace or stove installed elsewhere in the house
However, many gas fireplace installations are often found as gas fireplace inserts put into existing masonry open fireplaces.
As part of a gas fireplace insert installation, a new gas line would have also been installed, alongside any other installation requirements such as capping the damper to ensure it stays open.
In this scenario it can be possible to convert the gas fireplace insert installation back to a wood burning fireplace by removing the gas insert, capping or removing the gas line and have the chimney and fireplace inspected by a professional ready to burn firewood.
Weve recently removed an existing gas fireplace insert to use it as a wood burning fireplace again.
Electric Fireplace Installation Cost
An electric fireplace costs $100 to $2,200 or more, and the installation labor ranges from $0 to $365. Labor costs will only come up if you need to install a new outlet, for about $150, or if it needs to sit in or be attached to a wall.
A handyman charges $50 to $65 per hour with a minimum service fee of $50$125. Otherwise, you can just plug it in. If you wish to place an electric firebox into a masonry fireplace, youll close off the chimney and the damper and add a frame and trim around the new firebox.
Electric Fireplace Prices Without Labor
| Model | |
|---|---|
| NAPOLEON Allure 100″ Wall-Mount Electric Fireplace | $2,199 |
Electric fireplaces are safe and more practical than traditional open-hearth fireplaces. Electric fireplaces run on 1,500 watts of electricity, which costs $0.15 per hour on average. They require no clearance between combustible materials and themselves, because they maintain a cool exterior.
Also, electric fireplaces don’t require a chimney or hearth and can add a high aesthetic value to a room. They are better at heating rooms, as their heat does not escape up a chimney.
The Benefits Of Each Choice
Which gas fireplace will be the best choice for your family? Whichever option you choose, give our Summit County, Davis County, or Salt Lake County team a call for your gas fireplace installation. We also provide repair and maintenance services for your existing Croft fireplace. Were more than happy to do our part in keeping your home warm and safe!
Bountiful, Utah
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Cost To Install Gas Fireplace
The cost to install a gas fireplace ranges from $2,280 to $4,030. The labor cost alone for a vented gas fireplace installation ranges from $2,500 to $2,800 while labor for a vent-free fireplace will cost about $1,200 less.
The installation cost can cost a lot more if you have no existing gas line to the house, but a local gas company might be willing to cover that cost to get your business.
The overall maintenance of a gas fireplace is relatively low. There is no soot or ash to scrape out, therefore requiring no cleaning. It burns the most efficiently out of all the choices, heating a room with less energy, and it only costs about $60 a year to run a gas fireplace.
Also, gas is a much better choice of fireplace if you live in an earthquake-prone location. Some sample prices for a direct-vent or vent-free gas fireplace without labor costs are:
Gas Fireplace Installation Cost
| $1,322 |
Cost to Install a Propane Fireplace
The average cost to install a ventless propane fireplace is $1,200, and the cost to convert a gas furnace to a propane furnace is about $25 to $100. The difference in price between a gas-fueled and propane-fueled fireplace is in the fuel cost. Less propane is needed to provide the same amount of heat as gas. Both are considered to burn clean, but natural gas burns cleaner.
Gas Fireplace Cost Per Hour
- Natural gas burns at $0.70 an hour
- Propane burns at $2.30 an hour
Gas Log Installation Cost
Gas Log Insert Prices
| NAPOLEON 30″ Vent-Free Natural Gas Log Set | $1,129 |
Vented Vs Ventless Gas Logs
Gas logs come in vented and vent free varieties. A vented gas log set provides an attractive flame appearance, while a ventless gas log set prioritizes heat in order to produce more warmth for your home. Vented logs require your fireplace damper to always be open a certain amount, so if you purchase them, make sure to use a set of glass doors to help prevent heat loss.
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How Does A Blue Flame Log Lighter Work
A blue flame indicates that the burner is providing an air-fuel mix with sufficient oxygen for complete combustion right out of the nozzle. The flame burns the fuel completely to carbon dioxide and water. One house we lived in had a couple of decorative gas fireplaces which contained two different sets of burners.
Gas Valve Key And Escutcheon
Next, youll also need an escutcheon and a valve key for your fireplace or fire pit gas log lighter. An escutcheon is a decorative gas valve cover that uses a gas valve key instead of a gas valve handle to start the supply of fuel to your log lighter. Instead of turning a handle every time you want to use your wood fireplace or fire pit fire-starting device, you insert your gas valve key into the escutcheon and give it a turn.
Gas valve keys are another important piece of hardware for installing a log lighter in a fireplace or fire pit. The valve key fits into your escutcheon and is used to turn the gas supply on and off. Your valve key should be kept in a safe location close to the gas valve and escutcheon in case you need to quickly start or stop the flow of natural gas or propane gas to your fireplace.
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How To Choose A Log Lighter For Your Wood
If you havent settled on the type of log lighter you want to use for your fireplace, then youll need to start here. To choose a log lighter, youll first need to know if you plan to use natural gas or propane as your fuel source. Installing a fireplace gas starter pipe starts with choosing the right device to fit your wood-burning fireplace or outdoor fire pit. Youll need to choose between natural gas or propane and also determine what size log lighter you need for your feature.
Only those homeowners without an existing natural gas or propane fuel source have a decision to make regarding the type of fireplace gas starter to use natural gas or propane. Otherwise, it just makes sense to install a gas log lighter that runs off of the fuel source already connected to your home.
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It usually consists of small combustible pieces that can be easily lit and give off enough heat to get the wood or charcoal in your grill going. The gas is turned on with a keyed valve that is typically located near the fireplace, and lit with a match. With a connection to a professionally installed fuel line and the turn of a valve key, gas is delivered into the pipe.
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Q: How Do Log Lighters Work
Log lighters are handheld devices that generate little flames. They are mostly used to start fires by burning paper, wax, wood and other flammable materials. The log lighter is filled with various combustible materials, which burn up, producing heat for lighting fires.
They generate sparks by running an electrical current via the wire mesh screen to produce ionized air. This ionized air then makes contact with the flint that produces small flames.
Nothing Is Quite As Warm And Cozy As A Crackling Fire In Fall But Before You Touch Match To Kindling Take A Good Look Around Your Fireplace And Chimney To Make Sure You’re Following These Essential Guidelines For A Safeand Warmseason Poorly Maintained Fireplaces Can Cause House Fires Or Other Dangers So It’s Important To Take Precautions Now Before The Season Really Kicks In Whether Your Fireplace Is Gas Or Wood
Arrange a yearly inspection: All chimneys should be inspected and cleaned by a chimney cleaning professional at least once a year, or about once every 80 fires. A thorough cleaning will remove any buildup of creosote, an oily and highly flammable byproduct of burning wood, giving you a safer fireplace.
Check for cracks and damage: Check for cracks and loose joints of the firebricks inside the fireplace, and check the exterior masonry for damage. Hire a professional mason to do any repairsnever try to repair firebrick with regular mortar, as the mixture cannot stand up to high heat.
Inspect the chimney cap and damper: Make sure the fireplace damper is working properly and that there is no debris preventing it from opening and closing. Confirm that the chimney cap is firmly attached and in good condition. The cap should include protective screening to keep birds, squirrels, bats, and other pests from entering the chimney.
Clear away tree limbs: While you are outside checking the chimney cap, prune any overhanging tree limbs that may be encroaching on the chimney. Not only do tree limbs present a fire hazard, they can also restrict the proper draft of the chimney and damage the cap.
Clean out ashes: Clean out the firebox once a week, or whenever ash is more than an inch deep. Coals can remain hot for up to three days, so make sure everything is completely cold. Sweep or vacuum the cold ashes and dispose of them outsidewood ashes are perfect for garden beds and compost piles.
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Fireplace Masonry & Customizations Cost
Customizations usually include adding a decorative mantel or brickwork around the opening. Masonry work will be the most expensive customization you can do to improve the overall aesthetic and is not typically done by the professional installing the firebox.
A small fireplace hearth is about 4 8 thick and usually extends 16 in front of the fireplace with 8 more on each side. A larger fireplace extends approximately 20 in front and 12 more on each side. To find the square footage around your fireplace, measure the space across the top of your fireplace and then the space on each side of it. Add these three numbers together to get the total square footage of the front of your fireplace.
Fireplace Masonry & Customizations Cost
Shop Fireplace Doors Online For Log Lighters And Other Fireplace Accessories
A log lighter is more than a decorative fireplace accessory for your home. Log lighters serve a real purpose in your firebox and help make your life easier and your fireplace or fire pit more enjoyable to use. Fireplace Doors Online carries natural gas and propane log lighters, gas valve kits, decorative escutcheons, replacement valve keys and more!
Browse our online selection of stainless steel and cast iron log lighters designed to make starting wood fires quick and easy. Upgrade your fireplace further by shopping our variety of other hearth accessories such as fireplace log grates, decorative firebacks and fireplace toolsets. Shop for all of your fireplace needs right from the comfort of your mobile device or computer at the Fireplace Doors Online store. We even offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders within the continental US!
Need help finding the right size log lighter or other accessories to fit your fireplace or fire pit? Our team of professionals is standing by ready to help you find everything you need to design the fireplace of your dreams.
Contact us online, use our snapshot quote tool or give us a call at and well be more than happy to help you find exactly what youre looking for!
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Natural Gas Log Lighters
Natural gas log lighters are designed to run off of a natural gas source. If your home is already equipped with natural gas lines, then this decision isnt too hard for you youll use a natural gas log lighter. Contact a certified gas professional to come out and connect your fireplace to the natural gas lines already running into your home.
Can You Burn Wood In A Gas Starter Fireplace
Yes, you can! A gas starter fireplace only uses gas as the initial fuel to get the fire going and also so that the real wood can catch fire easily. Once that is done, you can turn off the gas and keep adding the firewood as you please.
Burning wood in a gas fireplace can damage your fireplace as well as your house. A gas fireplace is not meant to handle smoke, heat, and ash build-up from burning wood.
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Floor Mount Vs Wall Mount For Your Fireplace Gas Valve And Escutcheon
When your gas professional comes out to connect the gas lines to your fireplace, youll likely be presented with the option of mounting your gas valve and escutcheon on the floor or the wall. Sometimes, the way your home and fireplace are designed dictates where your gas valve and escutcheon can be mounted, but be prepared to choose between a floor mount or a wall mount when the technician arrives to install your fireplace gas lines.
For example, your fireplace area may not have room for a floor mount, so a wall mount is your only option. Likewise, the areas around your fireplace walls may not have enough room to support mounting a gas valve and escutcheon, so mounting your hardware on the floor is the only option. A certified gas professional is trained to identify the spot where you should mount your fireplace gas valves and escutcheons.
Once youve settled on a spot to mount your valve and escutcheon and your fireplace gas lines have been professionally run and connected, its time to start using your new log lighter device. Always be sure to thoroughly read the manual and instructions that came with your log lighter before firing it up for the first time.
If youre installing a log lighter in a wood-burning fire pit, then this process is just a little bit different and youll need to make a few extra considerations for the outdoor setting.
Q: Why Should I Buy Log Lighters
Log fire starters are important because they allow for easy log fire lighting. They are efficient and will not make your work difficult as compared to using matches. Log lighters can be used in different weather conditions and do not cause any environmental hazard because they emit no harmful smoke or gas.
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Why You Cant Burn Wood In A Gas Fireplace
In Gas Fireplaces by James O’KellyJuly 21, 2021
Gas fireplaces are commonly found installed as inserts within existing masonry open fireplaces, which in turn are often used to burn firewood to help create a real fire experience in a home.
Gas is the source of fuel for gas fireplaces and a gas line must be provided to the location of the gas fireplace in a home in order for it to work.
A gas fireplace is unable to burn firewood as the fuel, either alongside gas or by itself, as gas fireplaces arent setup to burn wood safely and effectively. Many gas fireplaces have logs in the firebox but these arent real. A gas fireplace would need to be converted to a wood burning fireplace or stove to burn wood.
As with all other gas fireplaces, our own gas fireplace isnt able to burn wood.
Weve explained in more detail below exactly why our gas fireplace isnt able to burn firewood as fuel, including what you would need to do in order to be able to burn firewood in your home by converting your gas fireplace.
Can You Burn Wood In A Gas Fireplace
For people who are not aware of how gas fireplaces work, it can be a tough nut to crack if wood can be burned in the same fireplace. Lets take a look if you can use firewood in a gas fireplace and if not, how you can.
You should not put actual wood in a gas-powered fireplace. Most of the wood which you see in gas fireplaces is fake wood which does not catch fire. Gas fireplaces cannot handle the smoke, ash, or heat produced by burning wood.
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Q: Log Lighter Vs Flint Which Is The Best
Log lighters are the best because they allow you to start fires in all weather conditions easily. Log fire starters also do not emit toxic fumes, which make them safe to use indoors. They come with a variety of features that make them easy and efficient to use. Log fire-starters do not require any special knowledge for you to get your log fires lit up, unlike the flint. These devices also fit all weather conditions as they work in windy and rainy conditions thanks to quality construction.
Vented Vs Ventless Fireplace
On average, a ventilation system for a fireplace costs $1,200 installed, with prices ranging from $200 to $3,000 depending on the location of your vent system and any local regulations. A direct vent is installed in the form of a flue or chimney, unless youre installing a ventless fireplace.
Choosing a proper venting option is critical to the efficiency and safety of your fireplace. Venting is essential to clean the smoke or polluted air out of your living room. Each manufacturer issues specific venting requirements it has determined based on several factors. Certain types of pipes and vents can only be used on certain parts of the fireplace. If you’re converting a fireplace, it’s likely the old pipes and vents won’t be used at all.
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