Is it cheaper to run gas fireplace or central heat?

Author: Edna Wunsch  |  Last update: Monday, June 20, 2022

A modern furnace is more efficient in turning gas into heat than a gas fireplace. This means that although a furnace costs more to run per hour than a gas fireplace, it turns more of that energy into heat and can warm a whole house rather than a single room.

Is it cheaper to heat house with furnace or gas fireplace?

Operating a furnace for one hour at 75,000 -100,000 Btu cost a homeowner $1.12 - $1.49 based on last month's national average natural gas rate. By comparison, a natural gas fireplace running at 30,000 Btu per hour cost only 45 cents.

Is it cheaper to heat house with gas fireplace or electricity?

This means that a 1.5 kilowatt electric fireplace generating about 5,000 Btu will cost 19.5 cents per hour to operate. By comparison, a 25,000 Btu gas fireplace will cost 30.5 cents per hour to run on natural gas. With propane, the operational cost will be between two and three times that amount.

Does using a gas fireplace save money?

Gas fireplaces can also help you save on heating costs by providing warmth during unpredictable or “in-between” weather when it's not cold enough for the central heat, but you still need some warmth. 3. New gas fireplaces are incredibly efficient.

Is it expensive to run gas fireplace?

A standard 20,000 BTU gas fireplace will use about 20 cubic feet of natural gas per hour. Given that price of natural gas is about $1.09 per 100 cubic feet, running a standard-sized gas fireplace will cost about $0.22/hour at 100% heating output. In short: Gas fireplaces are quite inexpensive to run.

Gas Fireplaces: Cost to Run

Which is cheaper fireplace for heating?

Do Fireplaces Actually Save on Heating Bills? The answer is while they can, they rarely do. Because only gas-insert and electric fireplaces are energy efficient, combined with the fact that homeowners need to use them strategically, most homeowners with fireplaces end up using more energy instead of less.

Is running a gas fireplace more efficient than furnace?

When comparing the most efficient options in both categories (gas furnaces and gas fireplaces), it really comes down to what you're trying to accomplish. If you want to heat a single room, a fireplace is going to do a better job of that. However, if you want to heat multiple rooms, then a furnace will be better.

Are gas fireplaces good for heating?

Overall, gas fireplaces are highly efficient when it comes to heating a room. Once a fire has been burning for some time, it's likely to heat a room rather quickly. The type of gas fireplace you have is likely to affect the fireplace's ability to heat a room efficiently.

What type of fireplace gives the most heat?

While each type of fireplace has its own advantages that may work better for your needs, if you just want something that's simple to use, not too expensive or tricky to maintain and provides a good amount of heat output, a gas-burning fireplace is your winner.

What type of gas fireplace is best?

Vent-free or ventless gas fireplaces are a great choice if you are looking for the highest heating efficiency possible. Since they are not vented to the outside, all the heat produced is realized in the living space making them a superb supplemental heat source.

How do I circulate the heat in my gas fireplace?

Place the box fan on low, facing INTO the space where your fireplace is, blowing the cool air at the unit. This will cause a convection reaction and the hot air will be forced away from the burning unit. If in a small room, the hot air will be moving out the door into larger spaces in no time.

Does a gas fireplace need a chimney?

Standard gas stoves

As gas doesn't produce any heavy smoke, as a wood burning stove would, they don't require you to have a Class 1 brick chimney – though they usually can be installed into one of these without any issues.

Are gas fireplaces worth it?

Unlike wood-burning fires, gas fireplaces are efficient and return as much as “75 to 99 percent of a fuel's energy back as heat,” according to “This Old House.” Some gas fireplaces have built-in fans which can heat an entire room quickly.

Can you leave a gas fireplace on all night?

An overall rule for safe gas fireplace usage is to not let your fireplace—no matter which style—operate throughout the night. Unmonitored gas fireplaces can lead to dangerous, often fatal, outcomes. The two most concerning outcomes of leaving a gas fireplace on for too long are a house fire or a gas leak.

How much does it cost to run a gas heater per hour?

Gas Heaters

According to Canster Blue a standard gas heater costs $0.43 – $0.51 per hour. Although gas has historically been a cheaper energy source, electric heating options such as reverse cycle air conditioners are becoming more energy-efficient.

Why is my gas bill so high?

Why is my electricity or gas bill so high? There is a number of reasons as to why your energy bill is higher than you expected. These could include the bill being based on an estimated rather than actual energy use, inadequate insulation, a cold spell, having just moved to a new home and lots more.

Does gas fireplace make house colder?

The standard fireplace is among the most inefficient heating devices you can operate. In fact, it can be so inefficient that in some cases it actually makes your house colder.

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