How Much It Costs to Install a Fireplace and Maximize Your Home’s Coziness

Few things are as ubiquitously beloved as the mesmerizing dances of flames, the sound of crackling wood, and the cozy atmosphere that a fireplace creates. Fireplaces are such a beloved addition in the hearts of homeowners, that certain buyers make it a requirement that their new home has a fully functioning fireplace. They are up there along with in-ground pools as some of the most popular additions to any home. So, it’s safe to say that for many individuals, the hearth is the heart of the home.

But while fireplaces are among the coziest and most warm additions you can make in your home, the cost of fireplace installation is a little more chilling. Well, let’s not over-dramatize the prices of fireplaces just yet, as there is a large variety of them out there and chances are you can find something that easily fits within your budget. When it comes to answering the question “how much does it cost to build a fireplace?” being more informed could give you a better idea of what to expect when the time comes to build a fireplace for your own home.

Electrical Fireplace

The Budget-Friendly Electrical Fireplace

Let’s start things off with the most affordable option when it comes to installing a fireplace. Electric fireplaces have been somewhat of a revolution when it comes to interior additions. Modern electric fireplaces will look, sound, feel, and even smell like the real thing, emulating the experience of having a real wood-burning fireplace. They generally with a lower price tag and a generally easier installation than their authentic counterparts.

A major benefit to electric fireplaces is their low maintenance requirements. Owning a fireplace isn’t just about burning a few logs, putting them out, then rinsing and repeating. There is a lot of care that goes into it as you need to clean up the charred remains of previous fires, not to mention keep plenty of logs on standby, and ensure that all the fireplace components are functioning as intended. There is also the question of the chimney and how it needs to be regularly cleaned to prevent smoke from building up.

The Benefits of Owning an Electrical Fireplace

An electric fireplace doesn’t have any of these problems because there is no actual fire. In fact, you don’t even need to have a chimney — all you need is wall space for the fireplace insert. Most electric fireplaces will cost anywhere from $150 to $300. But since electric fireplaces run on electricity, you should expect a pretty cumbersome utility bill at the end of the month, right?

Not exactly. Depending on what settings you are running the fireplace on, be it for ambiance or to actually warm up a room, electric fires will cost you $0.03 to $0.18 per hour. This means if you have the fireplace on the maximum setting for 5 hours every day, you will pay around $30 for the whole month, which really isn’t all that much.

The downside to an electric fireplace is that no matter how accurately it emulates the look and feel of a real wood-burning one, it’s never going to look authentic, which is a problem for some homeowners. Even in photos, it’s very easy to tell the difference between an electric fireplace and a real one. But if you can settle for the electric fireplace that is capable of creating approximately the same atmosphere as a real one, then this is a very good option. 

Gas Burning Fireplace Installation

Why You Should Consider a Gas Burning Fireplace

While more expensive than electric ones, gas-burning fireplaces are still far more affordable than wood-burning ones. As with the electrical fireplaces, they require less maintenance, and so you can save money on the cost of having the chimney cleaned, as well as the potential deep cleaning to get rid of all that fireplace soot.

Gas burning fireplaces are connected to the gas grid and so they have no trouble providing the same warmth as wood-burning fireplaces, but also give you control over how hot you want it to be. You can control exactly how intense you wish the flames to get, something that is not always possible with your standard logs.

When it comes to the gas fireplace installation cost, it can go one of two ways: there is a gas line in your living room that the fireplace can connect to, so the installation should cost from $2,500 to $4,000.  But if there is no gas line running through the living room, you will need to have a gas company come in and connect your fireplace to the grid. The cost of this greatly varies depending on the pricing model of your local gas company. On average this costs around $500 and can vary depending on how many linear feet of gas pipes are going to be installed.

Throughout the year you can expect to pay around $60 to burn your gas fireplace, making it a very cost-effective alternative.

What to Expect from a Gas Powered Fireplace

The downside to the gas fireplace installation is that it does not create the same atmosphere and ambiance that electrical or wood-burning fireplaces can. While it is capable of providing more heating than an electrical fireplace, it’s still not going to create the same vibes you come to expect from a traditional fireplace. But if you can get past all that, gas fireplaces are quite affordable and much safer than wood-burning ones.

Wood-Burning Fireplaces

The Traditional Wood-Burning Fireplace We’re All Too Familiar with

Then, of course, there is the traditional wood-burning fireplace that we all know and love. Made of bricks or organic stones, with a metal railing, and a gorgeous mantlepiece, wood-burning fireplaces are a staple of any cozy home interior. 

A wood fireplace that is built into the wall costs from $1,000 to $4,500 depending on its design, size, as well as what materials are used, with the national average hovering around the $2,000 mark. This does not include the cost of building a chimney, which can be upwards of $100 to $200 per linear foot to build, so the price can go up to $8,000 depending on its size. And this isn’t something you can build yourself, since a lot of precise calculations go into constructing a chimney, from optimizing its ability to circulate air to being careful not to damage the building’s exterior siding.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Wood-Burning Fireplace

The downside of wood-burning fireplaces is that they require a lot of maintenance. Leaving your fireplace and chimney unattended for long periods of time will result in soot building up on the inside which carries a potential health hazard unless the air conditioning and the ventilation are constantly working. The average price for a chimney sweep is around $250 and this should be done biannually. The starting price for your fireplace maintenance is $500, not counting the lumber, lighter fluid, as well as extra maintenance needed in order to keep the fireplace clean.

But if you are willing to put up with the extra responsibilities and are ready to carry out regular maintenance, then a wood-burning fireplace is definitely worth it. Not only can it create a cozy atmosphere in your home, but it can significantly increase your home value as well as knowing how much people love to have a fireplace in their homes. 

Wood or Pellet Stove Installation

What Makes the Wood or Pellet Stove a Good Option for Homeowners

If you don’t have any room on your walls, this doesn’t mean there’s no way for you to have a fireplace in your home. A great alternative to the traditional wall insert fireplace is the wood or pellet stove. It functions similarly to a fireplace, as it can be wood-burning, gas, or electrical, but without the complicated and expensive installation that is required from the traditional ingles.

Wood and pellet stoves come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and forms. While they tend to be a cheaper alternative to the traditional installations, high-end stoves can cost upwards of $3,000 depending on their size and the material it is made of. But the nationwide average for the more common stoves is anywhere from $500 to $1,000, making it quite affordable.

Why Wood and Pellet Stoves Are a Great Alternative

Another great advantage to living room stoves is that they have more freedom of placement, while wall inserts are relegated to a specific spot. As long as they have access to ventilation that will allow the smoke to escape, these stoves can be placed in any corner of the room. Even if it is placed in the middle of a room, far away from the exterior walls, the chimney pipe can be elongated to reach outside.

One downside to stove installations is that while they do offer some amount of warmth and can cook food, they are not able to create that hearty atmosphere, as effectively as the traditional fireplaces would. However, if you are looking for something that is both a cozy addition that also has some practical applications, then the wood or pellet stove installation is a very cost-effective option.