Gas fireplaces do not need a blower. They can be used for hours without a blower as long as the fireplace is well vented. Though most gas fireplaces are used with a blower, the fireplaces still function well without one. It takes about 10-20 minutes for gas fireplace blowers to turn off.
So if a gas fireplace doesn’t need a blower, what is a blower used for with a gas fireplace, and more importantly, can you use your gas fireplace without a blower? Let’s find out.
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Can You Use a Gas Fireplace Without a Blower?
Yes, you can use a gas fireplace without a blower. Gas fireplaces are usually installed with a blower so that the heat from the fireplace isn’t concentrated in one part of the room alone. Without the blower, the gas fireplace will still work fine for hours as long as the fireplace is vented.
The blower is an extra accessory to allow the heat to reach the farther parts of the room.
Contrary to popular beliefs, using a gas fireplace without a blower will not damage the fireplace or cause the fireplace to explode as long as the fireplace is a vented model.
On the other hand, ventless or vent-free fireplaces shouldn’t be used for more than 2 hours regardless of whether there is a fireplace blower or not. This is because running your ventless gas fireplace for more than 2 hours can cause exhaust buildup. Check out this post from Realtor.com to know more about ventless fireplaces.
Do All Gas Fireplaces Have a Blower?
Not all gas fireplaces have a blower. Fireplace blowers are more common with gas fireplaces than with wood-burning fireplaces, but not all gas fireplaces are designed with a fireplace blower.
The good news is you can still put a fireplace blower in an already installed gas fireplace. So if your gas fireplace doesn’t have a blower and you want one, you can have it installed but expect to pay extra. So how do you know if your gas fireplace has a blower?
To know if your gas fireplace has a blower, you can check the manual of the gas fireplace or ask the service technician during installation. If the gas fireplace has already been installed and you are not sure if it has a blower, you can listen to the sound of the fireplace while it is on. There is usually a low humming sound coming from the back of the gas fireplace. That is the sound of the blower or the fan.
Another alternative is to feel the sides of the gas fireplace. If you can only feel the heat from the front of the fireplace, it means there is no fireplace blower. But if you can feel the heat from the fireplace at all sides, it means there is a blower in the gas fireplace that is circulating the heat.
What Is a Blower Used for With a Gas Fireplace?
Gas fireplace blowers are used with a gas fireplace to improve heat circulation around the room. Without a fireplace blower, the heat from the gas fireplace would be concentrated in front of the gas fireplace alone.
Think of a gas fireplace blower as a heat disperser. The blower helps disperse the heat to farther parts of the room but that’s not all.
In addition to improving heat circulation around the room, a gas fireplace blower will also:
- Improve the effectiveness of the gas fireplace. A gas fireplace with a blower will circulate more heat around the room than a gas fireplace without a blower. This makes the gas fireplace more effective.
- Reduce the electricity bill. Without a fireplace blower, you might have to leave the gas fireplace on for hours so the room can get warm enough. This can spike up your electricity bill. However, with a gas fireplace blower, the heat is quickly circulated well across the room. This reduces the amount of time you need to leave the gas fireplace on and, by extension, it also reduces the power used by your gas fireplace.
- Improve comfort and relaxation. With a gas fireplace blower, you will achieve comfort and relaxation quickly.
- Improve the safety of the gas fireplace. Many gas fireplace blowers have a built-in thermostat. The thermostat controls the heat and energy of the gas fireplace. This can also prevent the gas fireplace from overheating.
- Give the room an even temperature. If you have ever used a fireplace without a blower, you will know how annoying it can be when the immediate area around the fireplace is hot, but the corners of the room are cold. Most times, you will have to sit by the fireplace to get warm.
This problem can be eliminated with a gas fireplace blower because you will feel the heat regardless of where you sit in the room. This is even more important if you have a large room. A gas fireplace blower will heat a large room better than a gas fireplace without a blower.
But before you can enjoy all these perks with your gas fireplace, you need to install a gas fireplace blower first and that will cost you some cash. So how much does it cost to put a fireplace blower in a gas fireplace? Let’s find out.
How Much Does It Cost to Put in a Blower in a Gas Fireplace?
It costs between $300 and $500 to place a blower in a gas fireplace if the gas fireplace had been installed previously. On average, it would cost you $400 to put in a fireplace blower in a previously installed gas fireplace.
However, if you want to put in the gas fireplace blower while installing the gas fireplace, it would cost between $50 and $150 to do that. On average, it would cost you about $100 to put in a fireplace blower while installing a gas fireplace.
When it comes to placing a blower into a gas fireplace, there are two set-up methods. Most people put in the gas blower while installing the gas fireplace. This is an easier and cheaper alternative because the blower is put in the gas fireplace during installation.
On the other hand, some people decide to put in a fireplace blower after noticing that the gas fireplace isn’t heating the whole room as it should. This method is always more difficult and expensive because the gas fireplace has to be removed before the fireplace blower can be put in.
You should expect to pay between $300 and $500 to put in a fireplace blower in an already installed fireplace.
You can put in a fireplace blower in most fireplaces. Vent-free fireplaces, vented fireplaces, gas fireplaces, and wood-burning fireplaces can all benefit from a fireplace blower. The best option is to put in the blower while installing the gas fireplace.
The cost of putting a blower in a gas fireplace will vary depending on whether you put the blower in the fireplace during or after the installation of the gas fireplace. Other factors that determine the cost of putting in a gas fireplace blower are the cost of the blower you buy, the amount the service technician charges you, and your location.
To know the cost of installing a gas fireplace blower in your home, check out this post by Fixr.com. They dive into the details concerning the cost of all fireplace installation and improvement projects.