Gas Inserts and Gas Logs in Denver

If your home already has a fireplace and gas service, you have two easy ways to switch to gas. A gas log set sits in the open firebox and burns with the damper open. It gives the look of a wood fire at the flip of a switch but adds little heat to the room. A direct-vent gas insert is a sealed box with glass that pulls outside air in and vents out through two liners, and it heats the room.

Both work on Action Days. The CDPHE FAQ lists gas logs among the ways an open masonry fireplace can be used on an Action Day, and Denver's code does not count natural gas-fired devices as solid-fuel devices. Gas logs typically run $500 to $2,000 installed, and a direct-vent insert $2,000 to $8,000. Either way, the 4 p.m. Action Day forecast stops deciding whether you get a fire that evening.

Signs you need this

• You want a fire without hauling wood or cleaning ash
• You want to use the fireplace on no-burn days
• An open fireplace that sends heat up the chimney
• Old gas logs that soot up or will not stay lit
• Gas already runs near the fireplace for a furnace or range

How we do it

1. Measure and look at the gasAt the free visit we measure the firebox, check the chimney and find the nearest gas line, so the quote covers everything.
2. Pick logs or an insertWe go over heat output, look and running cost, and only offer vented products. We do not install ventless logs.
3. Install and set up for altitudeGas line, valve and venting are installed under permit, and the burner is set up for your elevation per the maker's instructions.
4. Leak test and hand offWe test every gas connection for leaks, check the flame and show you the remote, pilot and shutoff.

Gas logs or gas insert: what is the difference?

Gas logs are about the look. The damper must stay open while they run, so much of the heat goes up the chimney. A direct-vent insert is about heat: it is sealed, uses outside air for combustion and blows warm air into the room. If you want to warm a cold living room, choose the insert. If you want an easy fire for the evening, logs cost less.

Why vented only?

Ventless logs release combustion products, including water vapor, into the room. We install vented gas logs and direct-vent inserts only, so combustion gases leave through the chimney.

What about altitude?

Gas appliances typically need a 4 percent derate per 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet, about 13 percent in Denver. We set up every log set and insert for your elevation per the manufacturer, so the flame burns clean and the glass stays clear. Permitted work that adds a gas appliance also brings the CO alarm rule in C.R.S. 38-45-102 into play, and we check that too.