Gas fireplaces that run on natural gas: They cost $1.20 to operate for 4 hours, $2.40 for 8 hours, $3.60 for 12 hours, and $7.20 for 24 hours. Gas fireplaces that use propane: These fireplaces cost $2.40 to run for 4 hours, $4.80 for 8 hours, $7.20 for 12 hours, and $14.40 for 24 hours.
Gas Fireplace
They are very convenient to use, as they can be switched on and off at the touch of a remote or button. While they preserve more heat than a wood-burning fireplace, they still lose around 75% of the heat they generate. The cost of the natural gas you burn can increase your heating bill.
If you have either a gas fireplace insert or a direct vent fireplace, you should be able to leave your fireplace on continuously throughout the day.
The average cost to run a gas fireplace is $1.20 to $6.30 per day, or $40 to $190 per month when running the fireplace 3 to 6 hours a day. The cost of running a gas fireplace depends on the fuel type, home location, and the fireplace size, type, and efficiency.
Running a gas fireplace costs between $400 and $640 per year. The average cost to run a gas fireplace annually is $520. This comes out to $0.35 to $0.62 per hour, but your costs will depend on several factors, including your fireplace's fuel type and heat output. Your location and usage habits also play a role.
The amount of gas a gas fireplace uses depends on several factors, including the size and type of fireplace, how often it is used, and how long it is used each time—generally speaking. However, most gas fireplaces use between 10,000 and 25,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour.
Zone Heating with Gas Fireplaces
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.
The biggest risk of leaving a gas fireplace burning all night would be a house fire or gas leak. A gas leak due to failing components would mean toxic and deadly fumes pouring into the house and this is why each family that owns a fireplace should have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Direct Vent Gas Log Fireplaces
This sealed system helps to maintain proper combustion and ensure both indoor air quality and heating efficiency. As long as there is a well-sealed front glass on the unit, most direct-vent fireplaces can run continuously.
Gas fireplaces can reduce your yearly heating costs. Heat the area of the home where you spend the most time (often the great room or basement) with a gas fireplace by turning the thermostat down and the fireplace up.
You may notice the humidity in your home increase during the time when your ventless gas fireplace is burning. Moisture is a normal by-product of using your fireplace. Overuse may increase the moisture level considerably, adding to a possibly already existing problem with mildew and mold.
Propane usage for fireplaces
As a general rule of thumb, each 100,000 BTUs uses approximately one gallon of propane. For example, if you have a 50,000 BTU fireplace then you can expect it to use one gallon every two hours that it is in use.
It can feel tempting running your gas fireplace all day long when it's chilly outside, but this can come with some safety risks. In general, you shouldn't leave your gas fireplace on for more than three hours. However, there are a few different types of gas fireplaces on the market, each with their own safety concerns.
A fireplace pilot light might consume about 24,000 BTU per day, adding up to about 720,000 BTU a month, or 7.2 therms. If you're paying $1 per therm, then leaving the pilot light on all the time throughout a month might cost you around $7 per month and $84 per year. This may or may not be a concern for you.
A gas fireplace may be less costly to insure than a wood-burning fireplace because they tend to have a lower risk of fire.
Vented Gas Fireplace
However, if the seal is deteriorating, or you have glass doors that open like a traditional wood-burning fireplace, then it is advisable to avoid running the gas fireplace for more than three hours to minimize the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
Answer: It is not safe to leave a gas fireplace on overnight or while sleeping.
The decision boils down to residual heat, gas usage, and the possibility of nesting spiders. Generally, we recommend turning off the gas pilot light during the summer months. But, remember to schedule fall fireplace maintenance so that a professional technician can inspect your fireplace and keep it in mint condition.
By turning off your gas fireplace in summer, you are saving on your heating. If you were to leave it on, it would continue to burn gas and warm your home to a certain extent. These types of fireplaces continue to give off some heat even if you are not actively using them.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
For safety reasons, every home should have at least one CO detector located in rooms near gas appliances, including fireplaces. On a related note, your home should also have smoke detectors. Be sure to check and replace the batteries or they won't work!
Englund suggests starting by opening windows in the room where the fireplace is located, and perhaps opening some other windows on the same floor to create cross-ventilation. Turn on overhead ceiling fans or other ventilation if possible.
This means that the cost to run a fireplace that uses natural gas is $0.30 per hour. Multiply the BTU output of the fireplace by the price of propane per gallon ($1.20) then divide the figure by the BTU equivalent. Here's the equation. This means it takes $0.60 per hour to run a gas fireplace powered by propane.
Gas fireplaces are generally considered safe and healthy for indoor use, especially when installed and maintained correctly. They produce less smoke, ash, and particulate matter compared to wood-burning fireplaces, which means better indoor air quality overall.
That means it is going to use (38,000 ÷ 100,000) 0.38 therms an hour. The average price of natural gas in the US in 2020 was around $11 per thousand cubic feet, equating to about $1.06 per therm. That means that a 38,000 BTU gas fireplace costs approximately $0.40 an hour to run.