Gas logs, a gas insert, or a full conversion from wood, each suits a different home and a different goal. We explain the real differences, handle the venting and gas connection correctly, and leave you with a fireplace that lights on the first press.
Homeowners usually arrive knowing they want gas and not much beyond that. There are three genuinely different routes, and they differ enormously in cost, heat output, and how much work is involved.
Which one is right depends on what you already have. If you have a sound masonry fireplace, logs or an insert are usually the answer. If you have no fireplace at all, see fireplace installation for the broader planning picture first.
Not sure which fits your home? Call (214) 225-8874.
This is the decision that generates the most confusion and the most bad advice. Both types exist for good reasons, and neither is universally correct:
These burn with the damper open and exhaust up the chimney, exactly like a wood fire. They produce the most realistic flame, and because combustion byproducts leave through the flue, indoor air quality is not a concern. The trade-off is efficiency, since much of the heat goes up the chimney with the exhaust.
These burn without a flue and release heat and combustion byproducts into the room, which makes them far more efficient as heaters. They run with an oxygen depletion sensor that shuts the unit down if oxygen falls too low. The trade-offs are a less realistic flame, added indoor moisture, and restrictions in some jurisdictions, so we confirm what applies in your city before recommending one.
These are sealed units that draw combustion air from outside and exhaust outside through a dedicated vent, with the firebox isolated from room air behind glass. They are the most efficient and the most flexible on placement, since they do not require an existing chimney.
Gas work leaves no margin for shortcuts. Talk it through with us first, call (214) 225-8874.
Gas installation combines three trades: the fireplace itself, the venting, and the gas connection. Each has to be right. Here is the sequence we follow:
We establish whether you want ambiance or real heat, which narrows the choice between logs, an insert, and a full unit immediately.
We measure the opening and inspect the existing flue, since both determine what will actually fit and vent safely.
We confirm whether a suitable gas line exists or what running one would involve.
We recommend vented, vent-free, or direct-vent based on your goals and what your home and municipality allow.
You get an itemized quote covering the unit, the venting work, and the gas connection, with no surprise additions.
We install the unit, complete the venting and gas connection, and verify clearances throughout.
We test ignition and operation, check for leaks, confirm the venting draws correctly, and show you how to run it.
Find out which gas option fits your fireplace, consultations across DFW, 7 days a week.
(214) 225-8874The questions that come up on nearly every gas conversation:
Gas logs sit in your existing open firebox and mainly provide ambiance. A gas insert is a sealed unit that fits into the fireplace opening and is far more efficient, capable of genuinely heating the room. Logs cost less; inserts deliver more heat.
In most cases yes, either with a gas log set in the existing firebox or a full gas insert for higher efficiency. What decides it is the firebox condition, the flue, and whether gas can be run to the location, all of which we check first.
Gas log sets typically run $500 to $1,500 installed depending on the set. Inserts cost more because the unit itself is a sealed appliance, and a full new installation more again. Running a new gas line adds to any of them. We quote after seeing the space. Request your Free Online Quote.
Vent-free units are manufactured with an oxygen depletion sensor that shuts the unit off if oxygen drops too low, and they are widely used. They do add moisture to the room and are restricted in some jurisdictions, so we confirm local requirements and room sizing before recommending one.
If your system vents through the chimney, yes. Gas produces less residue than wood but the flue still needs annual inspection, and gas appliances have their own service needs, see gas fireplace repair and service. Get started here.
Gas fireplaces sit at the intersection of gas fitting, venting, and hearth work. We do all three every day, which matters more here than on almost any other job in the house.
A gas system venting through an old flue is only as safe as that flue. We inspect it as part of the installation rather than assuming it is fine, see chimney inspection.
Not everyone needs an insert. If you want the look of a fire and not a heat source, a log set costs far less and does the job. We will say so rather than quoting the bigger unit.
Leak testing, clearance verification, and confirming carbon monoxide detection are part of every gas installation we complete. They are not extras.
Log sets fitted, inserts installed, wood fireboxes converted to gas, browse real before-and-after photos from projects across Dallas Fort Worth.
View the Before & After GalleryA gas system is only as good as what surrounds it. These are the conditions we verify, and the work that sometimes has to happen first:
We check all of it before installing, because discovering a flue problem after the unit is in is the expensive way to find out.
From our home base in Plano, our gas installation crews cover 98 cities throughout the DFW metroplex, including:
+ 78 more DFW cities! See our full service area list, or call (214) 225-8874, chances are we serve your neighborhood.
"Very pleased with the professionalism and promptness of service. The chimney sweep was done quickly and efficiently at significantly less cost than the first quote I got from another company. Happy to recommend Lowes Chimney Sweep to anyone in Plano!"
"Outstanding chimney sweep service from start to finish. They were punctual, courteous, and left our chimney spotless with no mess in our home. I won't use anyone else for chimney services in Dallas TX!"
More reviews from homeowners across the metroplex are on our reviews section, or learn more about our team before you book.
Gas logs sit in your existing open firebox and mainly provide ambiance with modest heat. A gas insert is a sealed unit fitted into the fireplace opening, considerably more efficient and capable of genuinely heating the room. Logs cost less, inserts deliver more heat.
Usually yes, either with a gas log set in the existing firebox or a full gas insert for higher efficiency. The firebox condition, the flue, and whether gas can reach the location determine which is possible. We check all three before recommending.
Gas log sets typically run $500 to $1,500 installed depending on the set. Inserts cost more because the unit is a sealed appliance, and a full new installation more again. Running a new gas line adds to any option. Request your Free Online Quote.
Vented logs burn with the damper open and exhaust up the chimney, giving the most realistic flame but sending much of the heat outside. Vent-free logs burn without a flue and heat the room far more efficiently, with a less realistic flame, added indoor moisture, and restrictions in some jurisdictions.
They are manufactured with an oxygen depletion sensor that shuts the unit down if oxygen falls too low, and they are widely used. They do add moisture to the room and are restricted in some areas, so we confirm local requirements and correct room sizing before recommending one.
A sealed unit that draws combustion air from outside and exhausts outside through a dedicated vent, with the firebox isolated behind glass. It is the most efficient option and the most flexible on placement, since it does not need an existing chimney.
Not always. Gas logs and many inserts vent through an existing chimney, but direct-vent units vent through an exterior wall instead. That flexibility is why direct-vent works in rooms with no fireplace.
Yes. Gas produces less residue than wood, but the flue still needs annual inspection and gas appliances have their own service requirements including burner cleaning and pilot checks. See gas fireplace repair and service.
A log set is often a single visit. An insert typically takes longer because of the venting work, and a full new installation longer again. We give a realistic timeline with the quote.
We can usually schedule a consultation same or next day across all 98 DFW cities. Installation timing depends on the unit and any venting work required. Call (214) 225-8874.
Gas installation connects to the rest of the system, and to what happens after the unit is in:
Background reading: preparing your fireplace for a Texas winter and what a chimney inspection includes. You can also browse the before-and-after gallery, see every DFW city we serve, or request your Free Online Quote.
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This single question resolves most of the confusion. If you want the look of a fire, a vented log set is the cheapest route that delivers it. If you want a room that is genuinely warmer, an insert or direct-vent unit is the honest answer.
Gas appliances frequently require a different flue size than the wood fireplace they replace, and an oversized flue can cause condensation and poor draft. This is why relining comes up so often on conversions.
Vented systems need the damper open whenever the fireplace runs, which is why many conversions include a damper clamp or stop. Getting this wrong sends exhaust into the room, so it is checked and set on every install.
Vent-free units are legitimate and efficient, but they put moisture and combustion byproducts into the room and are restricted in some places. They suit correctly sized rooms with good detection, and we will tell you when yours is not one.
A gas fireplace that vents through masonry depends entirely on that masonry. Companies that sell the unit but never look up the flue miss the half of the system that actually carries the exhaust.
Gas is cleaner than wood, not maintenance-free. Annual servicing covers burner cleaning, pilot and thermocouple checks, glass and gasket inspection, and confirming the venting still draws correctly.
