How Much To Install A Gas Fireplace?

The average cost to install a gas fireplace in the U.S. is about $4,500 in the year 2023. Prices will range from $2,300-$10,000, according to Homeadvisor.

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Gas Fireplace?

Gas fireplaces are an enticing and energy-efficient way of heating up a room in your home. Gas fireplaces are installed easier than wood-burning alternatives and usually cost less to run, which makes them great retrofit for homeowners who desire a fireplace in a room that doesn’t have one existing. Installing a stone gas fireplace to a room that doesn’t already have one typically costs around $6,550 for a pre-built fireplace, its installation, and finish work.

Other Cost Factors

• Vented or ventless installations
• Gas logs cost
• Gas logs installation cost
• Gas fireplace inserts

Fireplace Cost Comparisons

Gas fireplaces and inserts aren’t the only choices for installing a fireplace in your home. Wood-burning and electric fireplaces are also alternatives to think about:

Labor Costs

Labor costs for a gas fireplace installation range widely depending on a couple of factors. Direct-vent models will cost more to install due to a vent pipe needing to be added. If you don’t currently have a gas line to your home, you will have to install one, this will increase the cost.

Using a built-in unit as compared to an insert also increases the cost. The average costs related with installing a gas fireplace will include $600 for firebox installation, $750 for the vent pipe, $2,750 for the complete installation and finishing work, and around $150 to $800 for the gas line, depending on how far it’s required to run.

Improvements and Enhancement

Every gas fireplace installation is going to be different. There are a lot of other improvements and enhancements you may want to think about adding to the fireplace, which can influence the scope of the project.

Installing A Chimney

A real chimney can improve the curb appeal of your home and may increase its value. While not needed for a gas fireplace, some homeowners may still want to have one install. This can increase the cost of the project by $60 to $95 a square foot of chimney added.

Artificial Logs

Artificial logs, sometimes called faux logs, are an option some people choose to enhance the appearance of the flames. Bear in mind that they need to be kept clean, and they increase the maintenance of the fireplace. They also add $100 to $400 to the overall cost.

Mantel

A mantel frames the fireplace and enhances its appearance. Mantels can be made of a lot of materials, including wood and stone, and can add around from $500 to $5,000 to the cost of the installation.

Enclosures

The majority of gas fireplaces have glass doors, but in a lot of cases, they need to be added separately. If this is the case, anticipate paying an additional $300 to $500.

Blower And Fan

Installing a blower and fan to your fireplace will help the heat circulate more quickly, warming up the room faster. Typically added during installation, this can increase the cost by about $100.

Gas Fireplace Benefits

Here are three of the many benefits of installing a gas fireplace:

• Fireplace appearance
• Energy-efficient 
• Required maintenance

Fireplace Appearance

It’s nearly impossible to mistake either a gas or electric fireplace for any sort of traditional wood-burning unit, but there is a wide range of designs that both models can come in. If you are looking for the closest look to an authentic fireplace, you can’t beat a gas model. A gas fireplace will actually produce the flame and come as close as possible to replicating a wood-burning fireplace.

Electric versions may not produce flames, but they will certainly generate heat. Electric fireplaces will project imagery of burning logs; and this image can be enhanced to your liking depending on which model you choose. LED lighting or even videos can accompany your electric unit. Wall mounting is another popular option when you choose electric over gas for your home.

Energy-Efficient

Energy efficiency may be the biggest difference one can find between gas and electric versus wood-burning fireplaces. Depending on the size and model, the energy efficiency can vary widely. Most gas fireplaces come in around 70-90% in terms of converting energy to heat. The typical operating cost of a gas model is $60, per year.

Costing only about $25 per year to run, electric fireplaces offer another option for homeowners looking for extra warmth during the cooler seasons. A gas fireplace may warm the entire surrounding area more efficiently, but electric models do convert their entire energy into heat. Whether you are looking for energy efficiency or just trying to warm up the home, either of these units will prove invaluable.

Required Maintenance

We know the typical costs of the unit and the expense of installation, but what about general maintenance? Well, the good news is you will likely save money when opting for a gas fireplace over the traditional offerings. Gas fireplaces require considerably less general maintenance for homeowners. Check valves from time to time, just to make sure they are running properly. Electric fireplaces require no regular maintenance at all.