The answer to “Can you burn wood in a gas fireplace?” is a resounding NO! That is, if your setup is a true gas-only fireplace . In this type of installation, burning wood is extremely hazardous. With other kinds of gas fireplaces, you might be able to burn wood, but only under the right conditions.
How do I know if I can burn wood in my gas fireplace?
Many gas fireplaces in older homes were once designed to burn wood, but later converted by adding a gas line . In either case, a fireplace installer can determine whether your fireplace can be converted to a wood-burning version. If it can be converted, the gas line is capped.
Can a fireplace burn wood and gas?
To sum things up: never burn wood in a gas fireplace , especially if it’s a gas-only fireplace. There are some types of gas fireplaces that might allow wood burning, but you have to talk to a professional before trying to light up logs on your own.
Which is cheaper gas or wood fireplace?
In general, a gas fireplace will be about three times cheaper to use than a wood one. Paying for the amount of gas it takes to heat your home with a fireplace is much less than the cost of paying for wood. It goes back to the efficiency question, as well as the simple cost of these resources.
How much does it cost to change a gas fireplace to wood burning?
Cost of Converting Gas Fireplace to Wood-Burning Stove
Homeowners typically pay between $100 and $300 to convert a gas fireplace to wood. It’s not possible to convert if you don’t have a flue. This can cost just a few hundred dollars, but the price truly depends on extra work that’s needed.
Can you burn a gas fireplace without logs?
gas inserts is that a built-in gas fireplace doesn’t require an existing fireplace or chimney. So, if you don’t have an existing wood-burning fireplace, this is your only option. ... Similar to gas inserts and gas logs, gas fireplaces come in vented and vent-free models.
How do I know if my gas fireplace is vented?
Turn on the fireplace. If the flames reach above the gas logs and the look like a wood burning fireplace , then the logs must be vented. If the flames are small, an have a blue cast, the fireplace is vent-free.
How do I know if my gas fireplace is safe to use?
A properly operating gas fireplace will have a safe and secure glass enclosure, will ignite without delay, have a clean blueish color flame and will vent properly out through a termination cap that is clear from debris or obstruction.
How many hours can you run a gas fireplace?
The 3 basic gas fireplace types
Vent-free gas fireplace – these gas fireplaces work similarly to ovens and don’t exhaust their fumes outside of your home. That’s why they should never be left running for more than two or three hours at a time and the rooms they are in should always be well-vented themselves.
Which is safer gas or wood burning fireplace?
The safer option between gas and wood-burning fireplaces varies based on a number of factors but leans in favor of gas units . Wood units might be considered more hazardous for those not keen on physical maintenance. Ashes and soot can also accumulate without regular cleaning, which can lead to out-of-control fires.
Is it cheaper to run furnace or gas fireplace?
Operating a furnace for one hour at 75,000 -100,000 Btu cost a homeowner $1.12 – $1.49 based on last month’s national average natural gas rate. By comparison, a natural gas fireplace running at 30,000 Btu per hour cost only 45 cents.
How expensive is it to run a gas fireplace?
The average price of natural gas in the US in 2020 was around $11 per thousand cubic feet 1 , equating to about $1.06 per therm. That means that a 38,000 BTU gas fireplace costs approximately $0.40 an hour to run.
Is wood or gas fireplace better?
In the battle for most efficient fireplace, gas fireplace efficiency is always going to win over wood fireplace efficiency. That’s because gas fireplaces burn more cleanly and produce fewer polluting emissions.
Does a gas log fireplace need to be vented?
Traditional gas fireplaces, like their wood-burning cousins, require an exhaust flue (vent) to remove harmful fumes from the home . When possible, an existing chimney is used to run a new flue, but in a home without a chimney, the high cost to install venting can sideline the project permanently.
How long do gas fireplace logs last?
Q: How long do gas logs last? A: In the average home, a well-maintained vented log set with ceramic logs will last 10 or more years . A well-maintained vent-free log set with ceramic logs can also last a long time, but, if heavily used, will begin to wear in 3-5 years.
Does log placement matter in a gas fireplace?
Logs are designed by the manufacturers of each fireplace brand . They give specific recommendations for how they should be arranged so they don’t interfere with the flow of gas.
