Gas Fireplaces: Repairing vs. Replacing

No matter what the situation, Turner and Baier recommend contacting a local authorized Heat & Glo dealer as soon as possible once you know your gas fireplace may need either service or a replacement. “We have reliable, vetted, trustworthy partners who want to help you,” says Turner. “There's fire involved, so there's just a lot of things to consider. And when you start talking about venting and different types of fireplaces, it can get complex, fast.”

Even if you’re completely unsure of which way you’ll go, reach out to an expert anyway—and don’t feel bad for going in undecided, Baier says. For Country Stove & Fireplace customers who are in this position with their hearth,“'undecided' is the norm,” he notes. Baier says most of his undecided customers ultimately opt for fireplace replacement, but a good hearth dealer will walk you through the process to suss out the right option for your needs, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences and budget. Along the way they’ll ask plenty of questions, such as:

The experts agree that repairs typically are reserved for strictly functional improvements: A fireplace that still looks nice and functions, but just needs tweaking or replacement parts. Repairing will make your fireplace work, however it won’t always significantly improve it.

Repairing a hearth simply means, “trying to extend the life of the fireplace with new components,” says Baier. “It doesn't really change the look of the fireplace. It doesn't really change the functionality or the efficiency of it.”

“With a repair, you're just making an existing fireplace function better,” adds Turner.

For older fireplaces, especially those for which replacement is inevitable, this could be akin to putting your hearth on life support—or like buying new parts for a vehicle that’s rusting or has high mileage. It can be done, but it’s worth looking at all options before committing to repair.

Repairing your gas fireplace may be the better option if:

If a gas fireplace does only need adjustments, it’s important not to put those repairs off. While hearth repair may have a reputation for being expensive—which is likely the reason many people deprioritize it—“there are different options within your budget,” Turner says. While every situation is different, of course, “there's probably something [a dealer] can do to get that fireplace working for a couple of hundred dollars.”

Baier notes that the aesthetics of your fireplace’s surround can be a big driving factor for a change. If the face needs significant work, it’s probably better to dive in and replace the whole hearth. “In older homes, normally the face or the front of a fireplace may have polished brass, or it may look very, very old,” he says. “So that normally prompts us to replace a facing—which, if you decide to do that, it only makes sense to replace the fireplace at the same time.” The same goes for flooring: “When [customers] have made the decision to get new flooring, it just seems more plausible that they would replace the fireplace as well.”

If you do decide to replace your gas fireplace, there are many benefits:

To begin the process of replacing your gas fireplace, Baier suggests checking out products on the Heat & Glo website to get a feel for the style and price range you want. Social media such as Pinterest, Instagram and Houzz also can lend inspiration.

When you’re ready to reach out to a dealer, you can even start the process from the comfort of your home. Baier recommends beginning by taking a lot of photos. “Of the most useful tools that we have for people to get the ball rolling, one is for them to take full-size pictures of their fireplaces, and we can discuss virtually,” he says.

In addition to its Sussex location, Country Stove & Fireplace also is setting up a virtual showroom where customers can peruse each individual unit—including detailed features and benefits—from anywhere, or even get a personalized tour of the showroom via FaceTime. “We can do all of this virtually and it expedites things,” Baier adds.

Both experts agree that it’s to your benefit to act as soon as possible—no matter what you ultimately decide. “The decision to put anything off of a major remodeling project simply means that you open yourself up to increased costs in the future,” Baier explains. “So if you've made the decision to do something, obviously those costs aren't going to go down. Labor rates are increasing. The costs of the products are increasing. And demand is so high right now. If you've made the decision and the commitment to spend the money, it's best to do it sooner rather than later.”