Whats a Gas fireplace cost?

[Homerboy]

We live in an old (60yrs) cap code house, and sadly it doesn't have any working fireplace. It DOES have one of those kick-ass electirc plug in fireplace things though

I was wondering if anyone has any idea what a gas, side exhaust fireplace approximately costs + isntallation? The build out is already there for the fake one, it would really be pretty simple install from my eyes.

Also any idea of what the limitation on the side exhaust is? It would end up fairly close to our neighbor's driveway, so I'd worry about if it could even be done

 

[Rubycon]

With natural gas you can go unvented. The burner/log assembly (30MBH) runs about $300 and then you have your finish -mantle, etc. Hire a competant installer to run a 1/2" black-i line although copper will suffice with flared fittings.

 

[Homerboy]

unvented?
Like no outside vent?

 

[DeadByDawn]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
unvented?
Like no outside vent?

correct

 

[Homerboy]

hmmm well damn that makes things interesting (and likley much cheaper). So those little side vents I see on houses are for wood fireplaces? We'd REALLY prefer a wood fireplace, but I simply thought it would be cost and structurally prohibitive (build a chimney etc)

 

[DeadByDawn]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
hmmm well damn that makes things interesting (and likley much cheaper). So those little side vents I see on houses are for wood fireplaces? We'd REALLY prefer a wood fireplace, but I simply thought it would be cost and structurally prohibitive (build a chimney etc)

Have you considered a pellet stove?

 

[DougK62]

Those "unvented" fireplaces are really misleading. They DO vent. They vent right into the room. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not have my house filled with burnt gas byproducts, even if they claim it's safe.

 

[Homerboy]

Have you considered a pellet stove?

Not particularly. We want the ambiance of the fireplace 1st and the warmth 2nd.

Edit: Let me edit that. We already have the "buildout" for a fireplace in the living room. It is a ~18" projection from the wall, tile floor, matel etc. Just now it has an outlet in the back with a 60yr old electric log to plug in

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn

Originally posted by: Homerboy
unvented?
Like no outside vent?

correct

Yea

Like "Death trap"

I feel for anyone that has one......

 

[Kelemvor]

If you want it for heat, get a wood burning stove. You put some wood in there, close it up, and it heats your whole house for hours. I love ours.

I hate gas fireplaces because they look fake, smell fake, sound fake, etc. Some people I know have normal fireplaces that have a gas pipe in them too. They load up the whole fireplace with logs, start the gas starter up, wait 15 minutes or so, and turn off the gas. Much easier than using newpaper and stuff.

 

[woowoo]

www.hvac-talk.com has a fireplace forum
It's a slow forum with a couple of pro's hanging out.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Expect a pretty high gas bill. Run it all day for a couple days and watch your gas bill double!

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
If you want it for heat, get a wood burning stove. You put some wood in there, close it up, and it heats your whole house for hours. I love ours.

I hate gas fireplaces because they look fake, smell fake, sound fake, etc. Some people I know have normal fireplaces that have a gas pipe in them too. They load up the whole fireplace with logs, start the gas starter up, wait 15 minutes or so, and turn off the gas. Much easier than using newpaper and stuff.

We have a real fireplace. Nothing compares.

There are some really awesome high-end gaslog fireplaces that really do deliver a decent ambiance. They still aren't wood, but they're 100% efficient and bring up the humidity in the house in the winter time.

 

[Rubycon]

Unvented as in they do not vent outside of the occupied space.

These units are safe but do follow guidelines for allowance of fresh air. Burning natural gas cleanly is safe and adds moisture unlike other methods of heating. If the oxygen is depleted below 15% a switch will disengage the valve and shut off the heater. Too little oxygen will contribute to production of carbon monoxide which as you know is deadly.

Properly functioning indoor gaslogs are very safe. (much safer than a fireplace and much less maintenance than wood and pellet burning appliances)

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: C6FT7
Unvented as in they do not vent outside of the occupied space.

These units are safe but do follow guidelines for allowance of fresh air. Burning natural gas cleanly is safe and adds moisture unlike other methods of heating. If the oxygen is depleted below 15% a switch will disengage the valve and shut off the heater. Too little oxygen will contribute to production of carbon monoxide which as you know is deadly.

Properly functioning indoor gaslogs are very safe. (much safer than a fireplace and much less maintenance than wood and pellet burning appliances)

No
No they are not
Things break, switches fail
They are not safe.

Your pumping CO into the living space
How could this be safe?

Good thread on vent free

 

[Rubycon]

You are NOT pumping CO into the living space.

If these were not safe the UL would not list them.

Stop spreading FUD.

 

[Homerboy]

well #1 we'd want real wood, but thats simply cost prohibitive. We'd have to build a whole damned chimney for it, hearth etc.
We mainly want this for ambiance, if heat is a by product so be it. It would NEVER be on 24hrs, maybe a few hours a night while we watch TV, and me and the misses *ahem* by it... you know the drill

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
well #1 we'd want real wood, but thats simply cost prohibitive. We'd have to build a whole damned chimney for it, hearth etc.
We mainly want this for ambiance, if heat is a by product so be it. It would NEVER be on 24hrs, maybe a few hours a night while we watch TV, and me and the misses *ahem* by it... you know the drill

This is EXACTLY the purpose.

Folks that bend and break the rules become the headlines. Using one as a primary heat source is quite foolish. Of course people do foolish things like store gasoline in their house too!

You will be fine. Sure it doesn't have the smell and crackle of wood but it doesn't have the mess on the floor and hassle of starting either.

 

[woowoo]

Sounds like he might have the mess on the floor....

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Sounds like he might have the mess on the floor....

no way dude! That bear skin rug will absorb anything!

I guess I should just go in and talk to the pros. I'd LOVE to get a wood one, its its nominally more I'd poney up that cash I guess.

 

[woowoo]

Homerboy,
Find two companies that install gas logs and get estimates.
I would stay away from pool,seasonal type stores.
I would also avoid the big box stores.

Just find two or three medium sized dealers and see what they say.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Homerboy,
Find two companies that install gas logs and get estimates.
I would stay away from pool,seasonal type stores.
I would also avoid the big box stores.

Just find two or three medium sized dealers and see what they say.

Yeah thats the gameplan I guess. I wouldn't screw around with something like this, I'd go straight to the seasoned professionals, not the part-timers.