Help me choose a Natural Gas fireplace....

[FireplaceRookie]

I posted a few years ago about a prefab fireplace that I'll have to completely remove. ( Prior thread ) I didn't know at the time that inserts NG fireplaces are not designed to go into prefab fireplaces, and my only option is to replace the prefab with a NG fireplace. Ok, no problem.

Here is the deal;

We don't need the fireplace to heat the house as some people use it for. It is mostly for ambience, with maybe a little bit of heat just to warm up the living room where the fireplace is. It has been suggested to avoid the huge expensive of putting in a fireplace, but instead just use gas logs.

Any thoughts on this? Or should I stick with the NG fireplace?

 

[DAKSY]

What is the manufacturer & model of your current wood burner? Some models DO allow the installation of a gas fireplace insert.

 

[FireplaceRookie]

What is the manufacturer & model of your current wood burner? Some models DO allow the installation of a gas fireplace insert.

 

[FireplaceRookie]

Some for the late reply.

 

[TahoeJim]

Hey @FireplaceRookie , super late reply, but I cheaped out 5 years ago and put decorative gas logs in my prefab fire box. The wrong decision in hindsight. Decorative gas logs don't give off a lot of heat, but by law we have to keep the flue open (I'm likely the only person to remember to open it when we start the fire), so the fireplace just dumps cold air into the room all winter long. The living room can be 10-15 degrees colder than the rest of the house... brrrr.
I've finally had enough... I'm shopping for a direct vent gas fireplace and am going to tear out our prefab wood burning box.