Fireplaces are a great feature for any home and they can add an air of class and luxury to almost any room. If you have a wood-burning fireplace that you’re looking to convert to gas, have a look at some of the benefits. Changing your fireplace over is a great decision for anyone who wants to add instant value to their home, anyone who’s looking to make some eco-friendly upgrades or anyone who wants a safer heating option for their family.
If you are thinking of changing your existing fireplace into a gas-burning fireplace then have a look at what the process entails and the fantastic benefits of switching it over. Let’s take a look at the how and why of converting your wood-burning fireplace.
Making The Switch From Wood To Gas Fireplaces
There are a few different ways you can convert your fireplace so we’re going to talk about the most common and straightforward way that an installation company would commonly do. Each home can vary and every home has different systems already in place that can be utilized so every install is different.
If you’re looking to make the switch, talk to one of the gas fireplace experts at your local fireplace installation company. They can give you the best advice on whether or not you’re going to be able to make a smooth transition.
There are a couple of styles of gas fireplaces and the installation and requirements are different for each one.
- A vented or direct vent fireplace pulls air into a sealed firebox from outside, warms it using the gas, then pumps the warm air it created into your home while the gas fumes are pumped back outside. This is the safest gas fireplace option and it’s available from most fireplace installers.
- Log sets are one of the most common styles of the gas heater based on their gorgeous looks. The faux logs look great in any room and they are very easy to install. While they don’t produce much heat, they work best when they are paired with other gas heating options for colder winter months.
One of the first things the fireplace provider will like to do is to give your chimney and exhaust system a certified inspection. This will ensure that your chimney is clean and free of buildup that might be a safety hazard in the future.
The next thing they will likely check for is the size of the existing chimney. Wood Burning fires don’t need much space to let out the smoke it exhausts but a gas fireplace requires more space for circulation. A long and narrow chimney may need to be adjusted to make sure the gas doesn’t build up.
Next, it is usually time to install a gas fireplace insert. This is a fireplace that’s essentially set in a metal box so it can be easily installed into existing fireplaces. The fireplace installer will hook up the gas and electric lines and then insert the box into the spot where the wood-burning fireplaces used to be. Removing the old fireplace won’t be necessary as the gas fireplace inserts are made to fit into the space perfectly.
Some of these steps may require some construction in between to build or connect ventilation systems, run gas lines from other rooms, or adjust the incoming voltage to make sure the fireplace is running properly but these are based on the home. Some homes will have existing lines or vents while others might need them installed so make sure you talk to the installer to get an estimate before they start working.
They will also connect the fireplace to the chimney and any other ventilation systems that it requires. Once the connection has been done and everything has been properly installed you are ready to use your new gas fireplace.
If you ever run into any issues with your fireplace, they are usually an easy and quick fix that the installation company can help you with. You should also make an appointment to get it inspected a year after it’s installed and then every year after that. An annual inspection will keep it running safely and smoothly for years to come
Eco-Friendly Fireplace Solutions
Switching from wood-burning to gas is one of the most eco-friendly decisions you can make for your home. The EPA estimates that the majority of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are outdated so they’re giving off a much higher rate of emissions than newly installed and upgraded systems.
A gas fireplace is estimated to have 99% fewer pollutants than a wood-burning fireplace, plus there’s the obvious impact of the usage of wood. Unless you’re buying or collecting wood from a sustainable source, you’re putting a dent in the forest with your wood-burning fireplace. Switching over to a gas fireplace will lower your need for wood over the year by approximately two-thirds.
Another benefit that comes from gas-burning fireplaces is the overall cost. To run a wood-burning heater that is not EPA friendly, you can spend up to $5000 while a gas fireplace will cost around $1000 in gas and electricity costs. Your gas stove might need to have a small amount of power constantly running to it due to the pilot light it needs to ignite the gas but it is a very small amount compared to regular space heaters.
Overall, there are many major economic advantages to converting your fireplace from wood to gas so if you want to make a meaningful impact on your carbon footprint, look into converting.
If you’re considering switching your wood-burning stove over to gas-burning, consider every option available and speak with an expert for some great advice. There are so many great reasons to make the change and an expert will be able to work with you and your budget to create the gas-burning fireplace of your dreams.
