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an attractive gas fireplace in a modern living room
By Stefene Russell
Gas was more chic than wood even when gas was cheap. And this winter, its high price has upped its desirability factor in the manner of other hard-to-get natural resources (diamonds, for instance).
Gas also trumps wood for convenience, and the versatility of gas fixtures makes them ideal for contemporary decor. The hardest part is choosing from what's available.
Allan Kling of Gas Appliance Service, LLC, advises customers to "do some homework" and decide what they want and need before setting foot in a showroom. Are you looking for heat, aesthetics, or both? "The most experienced gas appliance salesman won't be able to help you if you don't know the answer," he says.
For those with existing wood-burning fireplaces, gas logs may be the easiest option, says Frank Schmer of Smoke & Fire. They have remained popular despite climbing gas prices, and installation is "as easy as running a gas line to a fireplace. They can also be converted back to a wood-burning unit, if you want to switch back."
Even if your fireplace requires some initial cleaning and preparation, gas logs will always be low maintenance compared with a wood-burning appliance, Schmer says. Modern gas fireplaces also offer a feature that will never be possible with wood: a remote control.
If you are starting from scratch and you don't have a mantel, chimney or firebox--but know you'll never want to deal with logs or fire pokers--a pure gas-burning fireplace is a good option. "Bring the fireplace dimensions," Kling advises. "Measure left to right in front and left to right in back as well as the depth and height."
For gas logs, Schmer and Kling both say that you'll need to decide on a direct-vent versus vent-free appliance—an issue best worked out with a professional based on individual circumstances. In a nutshell, direct-vent fireplaces are considered safer but must be installed near a wall and are more expensive. Vent-free fireplaces are affordable and easily installed but may lower indoor air quality.
All gas fireplaces offer more options than wood as far as look and feel. Flues come sized with holes that change flame levels. Nontraditional materials, such as river stones or colored broken "glass" (actually the same heat-resistant ceramic used for gas logs), can make even an ornate Victorian fireplace look modern. Kling says there are many new aesthetic options for gas appliances, including Rasmussen's "Fire Shapes," which are three-dimensional sculptural pieces that can be used in lieu of logs. Heat & Glo offers the "Cyclone," which features a slowly whirling pillar of bright orange flame that can be encased either in a firebox or glass pillars. Usually, highly aesthetic gas appliances are just that, but the Cyclone actually produces heat and operates at high efficiency.
But even the most traditional-looking gas logs, Kling notes, offer endless choices in terms of appearence. "Some look like they're split; some look like full logs. Some even look like they've been burning for a long time and are burned in two in the front," he says. "There are so many different styles now. And what you go with depends on where you're putting it in the house, how big the house is ... Really, it just boils down to what you want to get out of it."
Turning on the Gas
So it ranks high on convenience—but what about the dollars and cents of installing a set of gas logs in your old woodburning fireplace?
Allan Kling of Gas Appliance Services says a general price range for gas logs—minus installation costs, which vary—is $230–$700.
Frank Schmer of Smoke & Fire says his company’s price range, including the installation fee, runs between $450 and $850.
Laclede Gas Appliance Sales gave a range of $340–$600, which does not include installation fees.
Gas logs from Forshaw of St. Louis run between $360 and $500 before installation fees, which average about $350, though that varies depending on what’s needed; permits to run gas lines can cost another $75.
Both Kling and Schmer say that while do-it-yourself kits from big-box retailers such as Home Depot (the Bridgeton location quoted us $129–$179) are much cheaper, they do not automatically come equipped with a safety pilot kit, a mandatory feature for any gas log sold through a dealer, per Missouri law. You can buy a safety pilot separately through Home Depot for $59; no local dealer will agree to install a gas log without it.
