Gas line included
Gas fireplace and insert installation in Minneapolis
A direct-vent gas fireplace or insert turns a drafty wood fireplace, or a blank wall, into steady heat at the flip of a switch. We size the unit, run the gas line, route the venting and test for safe draft and carbon monoxide before handing over the remote.
- 24/7 calls answered
- Minneapolis service office
- Direct vent sealed combustion
- CO tested before handover
Quick answer
A gas fireplace installation in Minneapolis is either an insert set into an existing wood-burning fireplace with a liner up the chimney, or a new direct-vent unit vented through an outside wall. Angi puts gas fireplaces at $2,500 to $10,000 installed and gas inserts at about $3,600 on average, with the gas line, venting and finish work driving the range.
Boilers & Water Heaters
Insert or new fireplace, and how each one vents
An insert slides into a masonry or factory-built wood fireplace and vents through two flexible liners run up the existing chimney: one brings combustion air in, one takes exhaust out. A new direct-vent fireplace needs no chimney at all; it vents through a short coaxial pipe out a side wall or the roof, which lets it go almost anywhere on an outside wall.
Both are sealed-combustion appliances, so they do not pull heated room air up a chimney the way an open wood fireplace does. We size the unit to the room, run a properly sized gas line, set the vent to the manufacturer's clearances and test the installation under real operating conditions.
Compare
Insert, new fireplace or gas logs
| Option | Best when | Heat |
|---|---|---|
| Gas insert | You have a drafty wood fireplace you rarely use | Strong, sealed combustion |
| New direct-vent unit | There is no fireplace or you want one in a new room | Strong, sealed combustion |
| Vented gas logs | You want the look of a fire, not much heat | Low, most heat goes up the chimney |
Cost factors
What moves the price
Angi puts gas fireplace installation at $2,500 to $10,000, with inserts averaging about $3,600. Here is what moves a quote within that range.
- Insert or new unit. An insert uses the existing firebox; a new unit needs a framed chase.
- Gas line run. Distance and route from the meter or nearest branch line.
- Venting. Chimney liners for inserts, or wall and roof penetrations for new units.
- Unit size and features. Heat output, blower, remote and thermostat controls.
- Electrical. A new outlet for the blower or lighting adds cost.
- Finish work. Surround, mantel, stone or tile around the unit.
- Chimney condition. Repairs to a damaged flue or crown before an insert goes in.
Gas fireplace inserts for wood-burning fireplaces
An insert is the usual answer for a drafty brick fireplace that rarely gets used. We inspect the firebox and chimney, measure for an insert that fits the opening, and run aluminum or stainless liners for intake and exhaust from the insert to a new cap. A surround panel closes the gap to the old firebox face. Angi's figures put gas inserts at about $700 to $6,500, averaging around $3,600 installed. The old damper is fixed open or removed so the liners can pass, and the chimney top gets a cap that keeps rain and animals out.
New direct-vent gas fireplaces
Where there is no fireplace, a direct-vent unit can go in a framed chase on an outside wall, a basement family room or a finished garage. We plan the vent route and termination clearances from windows, doors and walkways, run the gas line and electrical for the blower and remote, and coordinate the framing and finish with your contractor or ours. Because a direct-vent unit draws its combustion air from outside, it can go in a tight, well-sealed room where an open fireplace would struggle to draft. We also confirm the unit's heat output suits the room size, since an oversized fireplace cycles on and off and turns a small room uncomfortable fast.
Converting a wood fireplace to gas logs
Vented gas logs set in an existing wood fireplace give the look of a fire for less money than an insert, but most of the heat still goes up the chimney, so they are a decorative choice. Angi's average to convert a fireplace to gas is about $3,000, typically $500 to $5,500. We explain the trade-off between logs and a sealed insert before you choose, because the heating difference is large. The chimney damper has to stay locked open with logs installed, which is one more reason they lose heat compared with a sealed insert.
Local conditions that change the fix
A new gas fireplace is a good moment to check your alarms: Minnesota law requires a working carbon monoxide alarm within ten feet of every room used for sleeping. When appliances are moved off or added to an existing chimney, City of Minneapolis guidance puts the responsibility on the installer to confirm every connected appliance vents safely, which is why we test draft and CO on every install.
What is included
What a gas fireplace installation includes
- Firebox or wall measured
- Unit sized to the room
- Gas line sized and pressure tested
- Liners or vent pipe installed to clearances
- Termination cap set
- Blower and controls wired
- Draft and CO tested
- Burner and pilot adjusted
- Operation walk-through
Step by step
How a gas fireplace installation runs
- 1
Measure and plan
Firebox or wall measured, vent route and gas run planned.
- 2
Written options
Insert, new unit or logs priced side by side.
- 3
Gas line and venting
Line run and pressure tested, liners or vent pipe installed.
- 4
Set the unit
Fireplace or insert placed, connected and finished.
- 5
Test and hand over
Draft, CO and controls tested, operation explained.
Timing
How long an installation takes
Most gas inserts go in during one day once the unit is on site, including the liners and gas connection.
New direct-vent fireplaces in a framed chase take longer, usually several days spread across framing, gas and vent work, unit setting and finish.
Questions we get on the phone
Gas fireplace installation questions from Minneapolis homeowners
Yes. A sealed insert sends most of its heat into the room; vented logs send most of it up the chimney.
Yes. A direct-vent unit vents through a short pipe out a side wall or the roof.
Usually a branch line is run from the existing gas piping, sized for the fireplace's input.
Many models light and burn without power; the blower and some remotes will not run.
A yearly service to clean the burner and glass and check the venting, pilot and controls keeps it running well.
More from this category
Related work we handle
Chimney Liner Installation
Orphaned Water Heater Liners and more.
Chimney Draft and Condensation TestingPlan a gas fireplace or insert
Call and tell us about the room. We will measure, price the options side by side and handle the gas line and venting.