Pros and Cons of a Natural Gas Fireplace

Summer’s over and you’re already thinking about the winter cold that’ll come nip at your ears? To keep your home warm and cozy, you might want to consider getting a natural gas fireplace installed. To help you make an informed decision, here's a rundown of the pros and cons of this heating system.

The Benefits of an Indoor Natural Gas Fireplace

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Runs on a natural source of energy

First and foremost, let’s point out the fact that a natural gas fireplace produces fewer CO2 emissions than electricity. In terms of this energy source, natural gas is generally more powerful than electric fireplaces.

As for rather more practical reasons that could motivate the purchase of a natural gas fireplace, the most striking aspect is the space-saving nature of this energy source, which is an intrinsic part of this heating method. As such, there’s no need to free up floor space to fit it like it’s the case with a wood or pellet stove.

As far as the gas's efficiency goes, let's just say that it's constantly the same, in the sense that the gas' uniformity guarantees a predictable yield. In contrast, firewood is only as good as its condition, which is highly unpredictable. So it's safe to say that a gas fireplace offers continuous, steady heat.

Lastly, using gas completely eliminates any residues that could soil the house, more precisely wood chips, bark, ash, or smoke from the wood burning. Also, it rather facilitates the installation process if a chimney isn’t needed.

Low-maintenance investment

Another advantage of having a gas fireplace is that it’s low maintenance. In fact, you just need to clean the burner every 5 or 10 years, and the fireplace’s glass panel from time to time. The gas’ clean-burning nature renders it a low-maintenance investment. More so, it’s devoid of hazardous particle emissions, meaning it’s not harmful to one’s health. Furthermore, note that your gas fireplace won’t need to be replenished unless your town isn’t linked to a gas supplier. 

Programmable thermostat

On another note, bear in mind that most gas fireplaces are equipped with an electronic igniter which turns off the pilot light immediately after use. Energy savings manifest in another way: You can manage the temperature throughout the whole house thanks to a wireless thermostat. Now that’s pretty useful to avoid overconsuming energy. 

What’s more, you can program a gas fireplace to turn on at a specific time and set a maximum temperature limit, thus ensuring optimal energy efficiency and maintaining a comfortable ambient temperature.

Concerned about the consequences of a power outage?

A gas fireplace can run on batteries, which is especially useful in such circumstances. 

Downsides of a Natural Gas Fireplace

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According to public opinion, there's nothing like the scent of wood and the sound of crackling embers. Naturally, with a gas fireplace, you'll have to do without all that rustic ambience so typical of wood-burning fireplaces.

After that, of course, there's no getting away from the fact that gas is more expensive than wood, which is certainly a drawback worth noting. Then there's the fact that, although gas emits very few pollutants when burned, it still produces greenhouse gases, as it’s a fossil fuel.

As a final thought, let's not forget that gas flames just aren't the same, look-wise, and differ from one fireplace to the next. Therefore, it's important to consider this aspect when buying a gas fireplace, otherwise, the visual aspect of this energy source may be somewhat disappointing.

How much does a natural gas fireplace cost?

Have you made up your mind yet? Before you take your wallet out, you may want to know how much these go for nowadays. To answer your question, let’s say that you’ll need to spend between $4,200 and $6,000 for a gas fireplace, connection and installation included.