Natural Gas Fireplaces

A natural gas fireplace runs on the gas line that already serves your home, so there is no tank to refill and no delivery to schedule. This collection spans vent-free, direct vent and vented models, from built-in fireboxes and inserts to gas log sets and outdoor fireplaces.

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Natural Gas Fireplaces Run Off the Gas Line Already in Your Home

A natural gas fireplace burns the same utility gas that runs a furnace, water heater or range. It connects to a fixed supply line, so there is no tank to refill and no delivery to schedule. If the house already has gas service, installation means running a line to where the fireplace goes. If it does not, a propane fireplace is the usual alternative.

The Fuel Is Set at the Factory, So Order the One You Have

Manufacturers build natural gas and propane versions as separate models. Each one has a burner sized for its fuel and a gas valve set to that fuel's pressure. That is why most fireplaces here list the fuel as an option on the product page.

Some models can switch fuels later with the manufacturer's certified conversion kit, including the Superior DRL linear series. Others cannot be converted at all. The Empire Boulevard linear vent-free, one of the best-selling natural gas models here, is built for one gas for life. Check the listing before counting on a switch.

Choosing Propane Instead Does Not Buy You More Heat

Propane packs about two and a half times the energy of natural gas into each cubic foot, so it is easy to assume a propane fireplace runs hotter. It does not, because each version's burner is sized for its own fuel. The Empire Boulevard is rated the same on both fuels, and the Superior DRL3500 is rated slightly higher on natural gas. Compare heat by each model's BTU rating, not by the fuel.

Venting Is the Other Decision: Vent-Free, Direct Vent or Vented

Vent-free models need no chimney. With nothing going up a flue, the heat they make stays in the room. Some states and cities restrict or ban them indoors, so check your local code before buying.
Direct vent models are sealed behind glass. They pull air in from outside and vent exhaust out through an exterior wall or the roof, so nothing from the fire enters the room. They are the usual choice where local code rules out vent-free.
Vented products are gas log sets and burners that sit in a working wood-burning fireplace and send exhaust up the existing chimney.

Inserts, Outdoor Fireplaces and Linear Models Each Have Their Own Page

To upgrade a wood-burning fireplace you already have, start with natural gas fireplace inserts. For a patio or covered porch, see outdoor natural gas fireplaces. For a long, low flame on a modern wall, see linear gas fireplaces. To compare every venting type on both fuels in one place, browse all gas fireplaces.

Frequently Asked Questions about Natural Gas Fireplaces

Do all gas fireplaces and inserts come in both natural gas and propane?

Most do, but not all. The majority of models here list natural gas and propane as options, and you choose the fuel when you order. A smaller group is sold in natural gas only; some of those, such as the Napoleon Galaxy and Majestic Lanai outdoor fireplaces, accept the manufacturer's propane conversion kit. The fuel options on each product page show what that model comes in.

Can you convert a natural gas fireplace to propane?

Only on some models. The Superior DRL linear direct vent series, for example, can switch fuels with the manufacturer's certified conversion kit. Others cannot: the Empire Boulevard 36 and 48-inch vent-free manual states the fireplace is not convertible for use with other gases. If you might move to propane later, choose a model that offers a kit, and have a qualified gas installer fit it.

Does a natural gas fireplace put out more heat than propane?

Usually about the same, sometimes a little more. Propane holds more energy per cubic foot, but manufacturers size each burner to its fuel, so the ratings end up close. The Empire Boulevard 48-inch vent-free is rated 32,000 BTU on either fuel. The Superior DRL3500 55-inch is rated 28,000 BTU on natural gas and 27,000 on propane. Compare the BTU rating of the model rather than the fuel.

Does a natural gas fireplace need a chimney?

Only a vented gas log set or burner does, because it sits in a working wood-burning fireplace and uses its chimney. A direct vent fireplace needs no chimney; it vents out through an exterior wall or the roof. A vent-free fireplace needs no chimney or venting at all, though local code may limit where it can go.

Are vent-free natural gas fireplaces allowed everywhere?

No. Some states and cities restrict or ban vent-free gas appliances indoors. Massachusetts, for example, prohibits unvented gas space heaters in bedrooms and bathrooms and requires a licensed plumber or gas fitter to install them. Check with your local building department before buying. Where vent-free is not allowed, a direct vent fireplace is the usual alternative, because it is sealed and vents outside.

Who should install a natural gas fireplace?

A qualified gas installer, a service agency or your gas supplier. Empire and Superior both state this in their manuals, because the job means connecting and testing a gas line and, on direct vent models, running the vent to an outside wall or the roof. If there is no gas line to the fireplace location yet, running one is part of the job.