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Choosing between gas fireplaces and wood fireplaces
Both kinds of insert turn a drafty open fireplace into a closed, far more useful heater. The difference is what owning each one is like.
| Feature | Wood insert | Gas insert |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Firewood you buy or cut, split, dry and carry in | Natural gas or propane through a fixed line |
| Starting a fire | Kindling, a match and some patience | A switch, wall control or remote |
| Cleanup | Ash to shovel out regularly | No ash; glass and burner need periodic cleaning |
| Chimney care | Creosote builds up, so regular sweeping matters | Little creosote, but the liner and vent still need checks |
| The fire | Real wood flame, crackle and smell | Steady flame over a ceramic log set |
| Power outages | Burns without electricity | Depends on the ignition; blowers stop without power |
Fuel
- Wood insert
- Firewood you buy or cut, split, dry and carry in
- Gas insert
- Natural gas or propane through a fixed line
Starting a fire
- Wood insert
- Kindling, a match and some patience
- Gas insert
- A switch, wall control or remote
Cleanup
- Wood insert
- Ash to shovel out regularly
- Gas insert
- No ash; glass and burner need periodic cleaning
Chimney care
- Wood insert
- Creosote builds up, so regular sweeping matters
- Gas insert
- Little creosote, but the liner and vent still need checks
The fire
- Wood insert
- Real wood flame, crackle and smell
- Gas insert
- Steady flame over a ceramic log set
Power outages
- Wood insert
- Burns without electricity
- Gas insert
- Depends on the ignition; blowers stop without power
For a longer walk-through, read gas vs. wood fireplace: which is for you or our side-by-side comparison of gas and wood fireplaces.
What the visit covers
The surround panel hides the gap to the old firebox, and a loose one can let room air into the chimney. An insert needs a liner sized to its outlet; venting into a large masonry flue drafts poorly and builds creosote.
Identify the unit
Wood or gas, the make and model, and how it vents.
Check the insert
Door or glass seal, firebox or burner, controls and surround.
Check the liner
The connection at the insert, the liner's condition and the top of the chimney.
Explain
What needs cleaning, adjusting or replacing, before any work starts.
How to prepare
- Make sure the roof or the attic access can be reached if the flue needs to be checked from above.
- Write down what you've noticed — smoke at the door, a hard-to-control fire, noises or smells.
- Have the make and model handy; it's usually on a plate on the back or under the ash lip.
- Clear a few feet around the unit and the area under any connector pipe.
Signs it's time for wood and gas fireplace inserts
- Glass that clouds or soots quickly
- Gaskets that are flat, hard or loose
- A fire that's hard to control or a gas flame that's lazy or sooty
- Smoke or exhaust smell around the insert
- Rattling or a loose surround panel
What gets checked
- Firebrick and baffle on wood units
- Burner, pilot and logs on gas units
- Clearances to the mantel and trim
- Liner connection and condition
- Door or glass gaskets
- Surround panel and seal
Carbon monoxide
A stove or insert that vents poorly can push carbon monoxide into the home. If an alarm sounds or anyone feels dizzy or sick near it, get everyone outside and call 911.
Wood and gas fireplace inserts in Connecticut: what the job involves
Either insert starts with the fireplace you already have. We look at the chimney's condition, the firebox dimensions and the path a new liner would take. Both wood and gas inserts vent through a liner rather than straight into an old flue. A wood insert needs a liner sized to its flue collar. A gas insert needs the venting its manufacturer specifies, plus a gas supply, and if no gas line is nearby we install one.
If you want wood heat with more freedom in placement, compare wood stoves and fireplace inserts, or see our dedicated page on wood-burning inserts. If neither fuel suits the house, electric inserts need only an outlet. Efficiency ratings vary widely across all three, and our efficient fireplace guide explains what to compare.
Converting from wood to gas
Switching an existing wood fireplace to gas is one of the most common reasons people ask about inserts. A sealed gas insert gives the most heat. A vented log set keeps the open look but gives less warmth. An old factory-built wood unit may be replaced with a gas unit instead. The condition and construction of the fireplace decide which of these is realistic.
