A gas-lit fireplace gives a warm, traditional look to your drawing room and is an eco-friendly option to wood burning fireplaces. A traditional wood fireplace not only degrades nature but is also messy. A fireplace is generally the place where one spends quality time, alone or with a loved one. It's that corner of the house where you would want to cherish the memories. So if you can't wait to have a cozy atmosphere on a chilly night and are thinking of how to install the fireplace, you have come to the right page. So folks, let's start with the gas fireplace installation process.
Installation Instructions First and foremost, decide the right place for installing the fireplace. Decide on a corner, it's the best place as it does not interfere with the room arrangement and furniture. If you are not sure of the place, try building a mock up, to see how it looks. Make sure you have all the required permits for gas piping, flue piping and gas installation. The main step is gas piping. Hire a plumber to decide the route of the gas supply line. Make sure the pipe is a threaded black metal gas pipe, that is approved in the manual you have purchased. Now, place the mantle to mark and cut the baseboard. Place the firebox on its legs temporarily, to mark the vent holes. Make holes with the help of a good drill machine. Decide on the appropriate size of flue pipe to avoid digging unnecessary holes in the wall. Decide on the route for getting the vent(outlet) out of the building from the fireplace. You can allow it to come right out of the wall. If that's not possible bring it out through the roof. Though the vent is double layered, so that it remains cool on the outside, it should be kept away from wood and other combustible materials. Install two vents, one for letting out the smoke and one for getting in the fresh air. After this, fit the fire stop. Attach the vent pipes to the wall. Seal the vent pipe with a metal hood. Read the instruction manual carefully for venting; if confused, call the vendor. Venting or flue piping is the most difficult, but important. Prefer copper piping as it is durable, flexible and easy to install. Now fix the fireplace in the location but make sure the external vent cap passes through the hole into the outdoors. Take the help of a licensed plumber to settle the gas connections to the fireplace. After finalizing the gas connections, the next important thing is to set up the 'on' and 'off' switch, power plug and thermoregulator. Take the help of an electrician for proper wiring. Thermoregulator will be used to adjust the flame of the fire. The next step is to install the fireplace mantle which includes setting up the surround (flat frames of the firebox), columns or legs and shelf. You can design your own mantle or many stylish, ready-to-use mantles are available in the market. These can be easily installed on our own, as they come with an easy to follow instruction manual. Hold the mantle on the wall, mark the height with a pencil. Now drill the holes for nails or angle brackets which are provided in the mantle kit. To make sure that the mantle is placed in a straight line, take someone's help to hold the mantle while marking. After installing the mantle, your work is done. Now proudly marvel at the fireplace you just installed. Installation Cost
Price for installing a gas-lit fireplace can vary. The fireplace inserts may cost anywhere between $1,200 to $2,900, with the cost varying anywhere between $600 - $1,000. If you are living in an area where availability of natural gas and electricity is a problem, then the cost will shoot up as you will have to shell out more for the labor charges. Custom-made fireplaces can cost over $4,000.
In the end, I would like to say that installing gas fireplace is no rocket science, but safety is more important than money. So read the instruction manual carefully or let a professional installer do the job. Though central heating systems have flooded the market, their 'warmth' is not the same. Moreover, these fireplaces add to the home decor. So after you have installed the fireplace, sit back with your loved one and enjoy the warm, wonderful and cozy atmosphere created by the fireplace.
