One fact about gas fireplaces that attracts many prospective buyers is their affordability relative to traditional wood-burning fireplaces. If compared with equivalent models, gas fireplaces are on average 30-50% cheaper. This cost-saving aspect is especially true for ventless gas fireplaces, which not only save money due to their low price, but also because their installation is much cheaper due to the lack of any venting construction. It should however not be overlooked that one universal rules also applies to gas fireplaces: there is always a trade-off between price and quality, and having a quality fireplace is simply essential to really enjoy it during everyday use.
One aspect where investing more always pays off are the safety features. For sure, most modern large gas fireplaces like inserts come with state-of-the-art safety equipment. However, if you are looking at buying a smaller, cheaper fireplace or even a gas fire pit, this should not be taken for granted. Always check that the main burner features multiple redundant fail-safe thermocouples or thermopiles to ensure maximum availability. If you plan to buy a ventless gas fireplace, it must definitely be equipped with an Oxygen Depletion System (ODS) which prevents a reduction of the room oxygen level.
Another thing that most gas fireplace owners would not want to miss are convenient control features: one of these fireplaces’ main attraction is their quick on/off capability. Make sure that the full possibilities like remote control and thermostat are available – you will miss them in one or two years if you do not have them.
A continuous gas supply is also worth thinking about. While fireplaces running on propane almost always use bottles as gas tanks, natural gas fireplaces may use a house supply line if available. If your house already features one of these but no gas is available at the intended fireplace location, consider installing a gas line to save the hassle of changing bottles frequently later on.
As these examples show, with gas fireplaces as with all appliances, you will need to strike a balance between the desired features and the available budget. However, experience has shown that the features described above are wanted sooner or later by a majority of fireplace owners – therefore it may be worthwhile to invest more in the beginning to avoid unnecessary disappointments later. The resulting higher quality will more than make up the strain on your budget over the years that you will use your fireplace.