Let's talk gas fireplace conversions

[puma1552]

We have the original 1978 wood burning fireplace in our house with an external brick chimney. Our house is a 3 level split with the fireplace in the lower level (so basically half underground).

We moved in two years ago and have not used it, as we've been remodeling the house, including the lower level living room where the fireplace is, which we are now about ready to use. When we bought the house, we as buyers opted to do the chimney inspection, which we finally had done today.

Ultimately I am awaiting an exact estimate which I will receive later tonight but the ballpark is going to be $3500-$4500, due to cracked clay tiles all the way up and therefore needing a stainless flue liner, along with a new crown/damper/some rebuilding of crumbling brick up at the chimney top. The inspector suspected there was a chimney fire in there at some point based on all tiles being cracked all the way up.

So, based on this price, my wife is hard core angling for a gas conversion because she doesn't want to spend that kind of money on a wood burning fireplace (personally I don't care, I grew up with wood burning). I did ask the inspector what would no longer be needed from today's repair docket if we went gas instead, and he said we would no longer need the liner (since they would just run gas pipes up through the chimney instead), but the rest of the stuff would still be required (crown/damper/brick work). He does not do gas fireplaces, but will be providing information for a company he works with and recommends.

My understanding is gas fireplace conversions are freaking expensive, like $5k-$7k if everything else is in tip top shape (which ours clearly isn't given the stuff up top that needs to be addressed). I also know there are a few different types of gas fireplaces - direct vent (out the side of the chimney/house I guess), the type that route pipes up the chimney like he mentioned, and vent free. Vent free are not allowed in my city by code, so that option is out.

So those of you who have converted to gas, what type did you go with, and what did it cost? Is one method considered substantially cheaper/crappier than the other or does it really matter which type you go with? Obviously I'll need to get some estimates but would like to get a better grip on options.

 

[MacNut]

You also need to decide on gas or propane, If you have a gas line already that answers that question. Since you have the chimney I would go with the pipe up the flue.

 

[puma1552]

You also need to decide on gas or propane, If you have a gas line already that answers that question. Since you have the chimney I would go with the pipe up the flue.

itll be gas, but a line will need to be run from the furnace about 20ish ft away

 

[D.T.]

Funny, my BIL with a new build started with a conventional, wood burning fireplace, and when the house was about 50% or so finished, changed his mind and went with what I _believe_ is a propane setup (vs. gas, all their appliances are electric as far as I know). Anyway, with new construction, and some slightly better access to the hardware, it wound up being like $3500[?]. I think.

Again, he had the advantage of a new, known build, some unfinished construction that I'd assume made it easier.

This was a decade ago, and a late night discussion at a Christmas visit that was highly liquor fueled I cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this post.

 

[Huntn]

I have only had gas fireplaces (enclosure) in my homes. I like the ambiance of a wood fire, but gas is more convenient, clean, and with a fan, puts more heat into the room. For the fireplace I installed myself, I purchased a direct vent, enclosed gas fireplace from a local Menards (similar to Lowes or Home Depot) and spent half the cost of purchasing from a fireplace speciality store.

It would depend on where you live (obviously) on how much heat you want in the room. And open gas/wood fireplace, most of the heat goes up the chimney.

Since the one I installed myself was in the basement in basically an in-law suite (house in Minnesota) and was a primary source of heat, I connected a wall thermostat switch on it so when the room warmed up, it would turn off, so as not to roast the occupant. Working with flexible copper pipe and tying it into the the main gas line was easier than I thought. Natural gas comes into the house in a very low pressure. The inspector had me run the line to where it would be installed, put a gage on the line, pressurize it, close off each end, to see if any of the pressure leaked out in 24 hours. If concerned about gas leaking, you can (should) brush specialized liquid on the fittings to see if it bubbles. You can substitute a mixture of dish washer detergent and water to do the same thing. I believe the gas fireplace will be more expensive, but maybe compare that to the repairs on the chimney, that maybe you would not have to do if you used a direct vent, or stacked a vent up the chimney.

 

[0388631]

I've got natural wood fireplaces. The idea of doing a conversion has come up and they're affordable. Though the word affordable depends on your budget(s). I like natural wood fireplaces because they're what I grew up with. And, yes, they do take more upkeep than gas variants, but it's so worth the effort to dry your wood and hear it crack.

Though, and here's where I feel stupid, just how does a gas variant keep and radiate its heat? Also, propane vs gas? Which one is actually cheaper in the long run? Where is the tank/storage unit? I'll be honest here. I just want to know. We get maybe 1 good week of fireplace burning through the entire year. More if we've got cold, wet weather to deal with. I use the rest of my dried wood for BBQ'ing and smoking. I sometimes sell it off to a neighbor if I've got more than I need for the year. Or trade the wood if they've got something I'd want. Apple wood for oak wood, for example. Since I hate smoked foods done with apple wood.

Edit: No, this isn't correct. The second home we bought has one natural fireplace and one natural gas one. With the fake logs. I'm not even sure what the logs are made out of.

Gravel fireplaces are a new trend. Narrow and wide. I don't like two story homes, so if I were to rip our old fireplaces out, switching to gas or propane wouldn't incur as much of a cost. Plus, I could probably reuse the bricks for something else since they'd be worth quite some dough compared to new bricks. When we remodeled our house, I was able to salvage 95% of the materials I used years prior and sell it off for a quarter of what I paid for them originally. It takes more work, but if the material is good and taken care of, it should go to another home or whatever. No point in throwing perfectly good wood and stone into a landfill.

We'll probably do another remodel in 2020 or 2022.

 

[USAFA2008]

I have only had gas fireplaces (enclosure) in my homes. I like the ambiance of a wood fire, but gas is more convenient, clean, and with a fan, puts more heat into the room.

That is my thoughts as well. Gas is too convenient and you don't have to keep adding logs to the fire.