What You Need To Know About A Gas Fireplace: Do Inserts Require Power?

A gas fireplace has advantages that set it apart from other options. In contrast to a log fire, a constant temperature provides a steady stream of heat. Furthermore, there is no need to purchase or chop firewood, which benefits the natural environment. You may be wondering if your fireplace inserts require electricity to operate.

Direct vent gas fireplaces use the natural property of warm air rising to vent outside your home. You do not need to use electricity to operate your gas fireplace or gas fireplace insert safely. All direct vent gas fireplaces are sealed and vented to the outside of the house, preventing emissions from escaping.

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about gas fireplaces and electricity. We’d also go over how gas fireplace inserts work.

How Do Gas Fireplace Inserts Function?

Gas fireplace inserts are made up of two parts: a smaller metal box that fits into the existing fireplace and a larger metal box that sits on top of the smaller metal box.

The heat is generated in the space between these two boxes, and it is released in the firebox. Gas inserts are an excellent choice for home heating because they produce both convective and radiant heat, as well as a constant flow of warm air.

Do Gas Fireplace Inserts Require Power?

Although a spark is required to ignite the pilot light and flames in a gas fireplace, the vast majority of gas fireplaces have traditionally had their own independent ignition mechanism that did not require an electrical source. This is due to the fact that gas fireplaces are not connected to the electrical grid.

The spark required to ignite the gas fireplace pilot light is frequently supplied by a thermopile (also known as a thermocouple) that is an integral part of the pilot light system.

How Do Gas Fireplaces Get Started?

A thermopile or thermocouple can generate a small amount of electricity on its own to start the pilot light. This spark is required to light the pilot light.

A gas fireplace insert that isn’t wired into the home’s electrical supply but instead uses a thermocouple spark ignition mechanism to turn off the pilot light is an example of this.

A spark is produced and the pilot flame is lit by using the controls located on the bottom of the front panel of this gas fireplace.

By switching this control from the spark ignition to the pilot light position, you can light the pilot light without using any energy from the house. This is accomplished by rotating the control through the available positions.

Gas Fireplaces With Natural Venting

Furthermore, some gas fireplaces are known as natural vent gas fireplaces. This type of gas fireplace ensures that stale air is removed from the home through the chimney located directly above the brick fireplace where the gas fireplace is installed.

This gas fireplace is only connected to the house gas mains and not to the home’s electrics in any way, whether through a standard electrical outlet socket or by being hardwired directly into the electrics.

Most gas fireplaces do not have a fan to convect warm air out into the room; instead, they rely entirely on reflecting heat out into the room to produce warmth.

Standing Pilot Light

However, some gas fireplaces are older models from the early 2000s, and while these do not require a connection to a power source, many contemporary gas fireplaces have since added an electric component.

These older models, on the other hand, use a standing pilot light. Once ignited with the thermocouple or thermopile, it continues to burn, allowing us to use the gas fireplace immediately.

Because having a pilot light on continuously can be considered wasteful, many modern models of gas fireplaces include an Intermittent Pilot Ignition (IPI) system. The improved system allows the spark that ignites the pilot light to be supplied by the home’s electrical supply.

The Value Of Intermittent Pilot Ignition (IPI)

An electrical supply to a gas fireplace that uses an IPI system allows that gas fireplace to provide the spark required to start the fireplace repeatedly.

Because the spark is provided by the IPI system rather than a standing pilot light, there is no need to leave a pilot light on at all times, even when the fireplace is not in use.

Assume you’re thinking about buying a gas fireplace. In that case, it is critical to inquire with the seller or manufacturer of a specific gas fireplace to determine whether or not the unit requires electricity (if you are unable to quickly find the answer).

Consult The Manufacturer/Dealer

If a gas fireplace requires an electrical source, it may come with a standard power cord; however, the exact configuration of the power cord may differ depending on the brand.

Gas fireplaces that require electricity must be built in accordance with your specific region’s national or municipal rules and building regulations, as well as the installation instructions provided by the fireplace manufacturer.

A gas fireplace, for example, may require electrical grounding to function properly.

Will My Gas Fireplace Work If I Have A Power Outage?

Because it does not rely on electricity to light the pilot flame, a gas fireplace with a vertical pilot can be lit even if the power supply is disrupted.

The majority of gas fireplaces have a millivolt system that uses a thermopile to generate its own power.

Is It Possible To Use A Gas Fireplace If The Power Goes Out?

The vast majority of gas fireplaces do not require electricity to operate. In gas fireplaces with a standing or vertical light configuration, no electricity is required to ignite the pilot light.

If your gas fireplace has a different type of ignition mechanism than a standard spark-generated or continuously lit pilot, you won’t be able to use it in the absence of electricity unless it has a backup battery.

Is A Remote Control Gas Fire Requiring Electricity?

Gas fireplaces do not always require electricity. Instead of an electric supply, most modern remote-control gas fires are powered by a battery. As a result, they are much easier to install and much more dependable.

How Much Gas Does A Gas Fireplace Use?

Although the precise burn rate varies from fireplace to fireplace, the majority of fireplaces use about one gallon of propane per hour for every 91,500 BTU produced.

If you have a fireplace with a heating capacity of 100,000 BTU, you can expect to use approximately one gallon of propane for every hour you use it.

A Direct Vent Gas Insert Is What?

In gas inserts with a direct vent, combustion occurs with outside air. As a result, when there is a natural wood fire, the fire will not be fed by chilly air that would normally enter the home through cracks in the windows, doors, or other openings.

As a result of this, the air in the room will not lose as much heat and will thus warm up faster.

Which Is Preferable: A Vented Or A Ventless Gas Fireplace?

Ventless fireplaces are more energy efficient than vented fireplaces because no heat is lost up the chimney. As a result, using a ventless fireplace will allow you to save money on your gas utility bills.

Because some heat is lost through the flue, a vented gas fireplace requires more gas to provide the same amount of heat as an unvented gas fireplace.

Is A Chimney Required For Gas Fireplace Inserts?

A chimney is not necessary when using a gas fireplace. There are essentially two options available to you: a vented gas fireplace and a ventless gas fireplace.

Ventilation options remove potentially hazardous pollutants from the house while not reducing the oxygen supply within the building, making them the safer option.

You don’t need a traditional chimney for either of these options. Gas inserts are built-in gas fireplaces that do not require an existing chimney or fireplace to function. As a result, if you do not already have a wood-burning fireplace in your home, this is your only option.

Conclusion

The majority of gas fireplaces are designed to operate without the use of electricity. All you have to do is make sure you get the correct gas fireplace for your space. Use the information in this article as a guide to help you get the most out of your existing gas fireplace.