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If you smell gas
Leave the building right away. Don't flip light switches, use phones or light any flame inside. Once you are outside, call your gas utility or 911.
What gas fireplace installation involves
Installing a gas fireplace means more than setting a box against a wall. Each installation has three parts that have to work together: the fireplace unit, the venting that carries combustion gases outside (or a vent-free design where that suits the home), and a gas supply sized for the appliance. Controls, a wall switch or remote, and the finish around the unit complete the job.
Some homeowners want a fireplace where none exists. Others are replacing an old unit or are ready to stop burning wood. If you're still choosing a fuel, our comparison of gas and wood-burning fireplaces covers heat, upkeep and day-to-day use. If you'd rather keep your existing masonry fireplace and burn gas in it, a sealed insert built for an existing firebox is often a better fit than a full new unit.
Signs a gas fireplace makes sense for your home
- You want a fire without splitting, storing or carrying wood.
- Cleaning out ash and soot has become more chore than it's worth.
- You want a fireplace in a room that doesn't have one.
- Your current gas fireplace is old, worn out or no longer worth fixing.
- You want steady, adjustable heat from a thermostat or remote.
If your gas fireplace works but acts up, such as a pilot that won't stay lit or an igniter that clicks without lighting, a replacement may not be needed. Start with repairing your existing gas unit before you commit to a new one.
Gas fireplace installation, step by step
How the job runs
Free estimate
We look at where you want the fireplace, the wall or chimney it will use, and where the gas supply would come from. Then we talk through unit styles that fit the space.
Venting plan
We decide how the unit will vent. That might be a direct vent through an exterior wall, a run up through an existing chimney, or another route the room allows.
Gas supply
We confirm the existing line can serve the appliance or plan a new run to the fireplace location.
Setting the unit
The fireplace is framed in or placed, leveled and secured, with the required clearances to nearby materials.
Connections
The venting, gas line and controls are connected, and every gas fitting is checked for leaks.
Testing and walkthrough
We light the unit, check flame appearance and venting, and show you how to work the controls and pilot.
Unit types and parts you'll choose between
| Feature | Direct-vent | Vent-free |
|---|---|---|
| How it breathes | Draws outside air and exhausts outdoors through a sealed vent | Burns room air and has no vent to the outside |
| Glass front | Sealed glass panel | Usually open, or with a screen |
| Room air | Combustion stays separate from room air | Combustion byproducts stay in the room |
How it breathes
- Direct-vent
- Draws outside air and exhausts outdoors through a sealed vent
- Vent-free
- Burns room air and has no vent to the outside
Glass front
- Direct-vent
- Sealed glass panel
- Vent-free
- Usually open, or with a screen
Room air
- Direct-vent
- Combustion stays separate from room air
- Vent-free
- Combustion byproducts stay in the room
Beyond the unit itself, you'll pick logs or media, a trim style and a control type. If you want a different look later, glass doors fitted to the fireplace opening are a separate job we also handle.
Safety and upkeep after installation
Keeping a new gas fireplace in good shape
- Have the unit serviced once a year so burners, pilot, venting and gaskets get checked.
- Keep the exterior vent termination clear of plants, debris and stored items.
- Don't run the fireplace with a cracked or missing glass panel.
- Use a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the home and test it regularly.
- Watch for a yellow, sooty or lazy flame. That calls for service, not more use.
Booking your installation
Get in touch to set up a walkthrough. Gas fireplace and gas appliance work is offered, and we work on all major brands. Commercial and property-manager work is offered too. Request an estimate and we'll plan the installation around your room.
