
Ambiance Inspiration 29 Gas Insert
Are Gas Fireplace Inserts Worth It?
Is that old, non-functional fireplace in your living room serving as a mere decorative piece? Perhaps it’s adorned with candles, baskets, and creative craft projects, or maybe you’ve pushed a couch against it to ward off the cold air seeping into your home. If this scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and there are solutions worth exploring. But, before you make a decision, let’s delve into whether these options are worth your time, energy, and investment.
So, what exactly is a gas fireplace insert? Essentially, it’s a purpose-built fireplace designed to fit snugly into an existing wood-burning fireplace. This existing fireplace could be an old, traditional open-burning masonry fireplace or a factory-built, zero-clearance fireplace with bi-fold doors.
Friendly Fires offers various sizes of gas inserts designed to slide seamlessly into your old wood-burning fireplace, delivering efficient heat and ease of use. Whether you opt for LPG or natural gas, a gas fireplace insert offers substantial improvements in efficiency compared to an open wood-burning fireplace. Moreover, it seals the chimney, preventing cold air from infiltrating your family room.
Gas inserts are lauded for their convenience. You can control the heat output, fan speed, and overall comfort from the comfort of your recliner with just a remote click. Unlike burning wood in a fireplace, this convenience comes without the hassles of bugs, bark, dirt, ashes, and burnt specks on your carpeting. In summary, a gas fireplace insert offers ease of operation, a cozy ambiance, high efficiency (often exceeding 80%), chimney sealing benefits, and enhanced home value, making it a worthwhile investment.
What Gas Fireplace Insert Should I Buy? Which Is the Best?
Determining the “best” gas fireplace insert is subjective, much like choosing the best Beatles song or the best movie of all time. Individual preferences, needs, styles, and product features all play a role. However, most would agree that “value,” encompassing reliability, dependability, performance, and aesthetics, is the key consideration.
How Much Does a Gas Fireplace Insert Cost?
The cost of a gas fireplace insert project can be divided into four main components. First, there’s the insert itself, along with any optional features you desire. Various insert sizes, decorative fronts, and other options can influence this cost. Secondly, there are expenses related to venting components required for proper chimney relining. Next, you’ll need to budget for extending electric and gas supply lines to the firebox. Lastly, factor in labor and installation charges.
Taking all these costs into account, you can anticipate a gas insert project falling within the range of $4,500 to $6,500. Most projects can be completed in a single day for your convenience.
How Much Does It Cost to Operate a Gas Fireplace Insert?
The cost of operating a gas fireplace insert is determined by the amount of gas consumed. You can adjust the gas consumption manually or with a remote control. Most gas inserts allow for adjustments between 15,000 to 40,000 BTUs per hour. Higher gas consumption results in taller, livelier flames and more heat in the room.
In the USA, assuming a burner set at approximately 30,000 BTUs/hour (a common input for many gas inserts), each hour of operation costs around 50 cents for natural gas and 67 cents for propane (LP).
For Canadian consumers using the same example, the 30,000 BTU burner uses approximately 0.83 cubic meters of gas per hour, costing about 17 cents per hour at a rate of 20 cents per cubic meter. For propane (LP), the burner uses about 1.25 liters per hour, equating to an hourly cost of approximately $1.25 at $1 per liter.
A few additional points to consider:
- Most people do not operate their gas fireplace insert 24 hours a day.
- Some remote controls can automatically adjust the gas consumption based on the thermostat’s heating demands.
- Fuel rates may vary monthly, and gas companies have fixed charges and other adjustments that affect the final fuel cost.
How Do I Know If I Need to Replace My Gas Fireplace Insert?
Gas fireplace inserts are designed to last for many years, especially those sold by Friendly Fires. However, there may come a time, typically after 15-20 years or more, when replacing an older insert with a new model makes sense. If your fireplace insert experiences frequent component failures and requires frequent service visits, an upgrade might be warranted.
Additionally, you may want to explore the latest technological innovations and decorative options offered by new models. These upgrades can breathe new life into your family room and provide greater control over your comfort.
Gas Insert vs. Wood Burning Insert: Which Is Better?
The choice between a gas insert and a wood-burning insert often comes down to lifestyle preferences. It’s a personal decision based on the convenience of gas versus the effort involved in burning wood.
The saying, “Wood heat will heat you four or five times,” reflects the effort involved in handling wood, from cutting and splitting to hauling and burning. Consider factors like access to a wood supply, the equipment needed for wood preparation, and the time and energy required for wood burning. Health considerations are also important. While burning wood can save money on heating costs, convenience and ease of use may prompt you to opt for a gas insert, leaving more time for leisure activities.
In conclusion, the decision between a gas insert and a wood-burning insert depends on your lifestyle and priorities. Weigh the convenience and effort involved in each option to determine which aligns best with your preferences and needs.