An Easy Switch from Gas to Electric Fireplace

Is your gas or wood-burning fireplace malfunctioning? The Gilbert family recently replaced their faulty gas fireplace with a Touchstone electric fireplace and shared their process on Instagram @the.gilbert.house.

Rebekah and her husband noticed their gas fireplace was getting a bit smokier, and scheduled a chimney cleaning and inspection. The inspection revealed that the flue was defective, and the chimney did not meet the proper building code. The Gilbert family was alarmed to learn their gas fireplace was a "ticking time bomb, ready to catch fire at any time," according to the inspector.

A Budget-Friendly Solution

The cost to repair the chimney, roof and piping would be approximately $20,000, which was not in their budget. After some research, they learned they could retrofit their old gas fireplace opening with a flue-less Touchstone® electric fireplace for a fraction of the repair cost. This fireplace alternative does not need a chimney or venting, saving significant cost and time.

Rebekah chose a Touchstone brand electric fireplace because her parents have one, and she loved the realistic look. At 40 inches wide, the Sideline® 40 Smart Electric Fireplace was the perfect fit for the original fireplace opening.

Rebekah shares, "The project took us only a few hours to complete since the installation was so easy! Now we can enjoy our fireplace again without the worry of our home burning down."

A safer choice than gas or wood, Touchstone electric fireplaces are cool-to-the-touch and do not emit dangerous fumes and smoke. They can easily be installed just about anywhere in your home since they do not require a chimney or gas line.

“A big plus is also the lack of smoke,” Rebekah shares. “I do love the firewood smell, but if you don’t monitor your fireplace, it can easily choke out your home in smoke.”

Rebekah also loves how she can easily customize her Touchstone® electric fireplace. “Obviously, I think the fire looking as realistic as possible is a great feature, but I will say my children love that you can change the colors.”

“I like that I can take the faceplate off the front and change the crystals out for the firewood look, which I’ll probably do around Thanksgiving and Christmas time. We live in the freezing Wisconsin weather so having a heater still is very nice! I also love that even though our fireplace couldn’t work anymore, we didn’t have to give it up!”

Pro Tips for a Conversion from Gas to Electric

Prior to gas fireplace removal, contact your local gas company to inspect your gas line, ensure the gas to the fireplace is turned off and the chimney is sealed properly. You may also need an electrician to install a standard outlet or hardwiring in the existing fireplace opening area.

Finding the Right Electric Fireplace For Your Hearth Opening

Touchstone® Electric Fireplaces are available in a variety of heights and widths for just the right fit into an existing fireplace opening. The Fireplug® Pro Electric Fireplace Insert collection is specially designed for easy placement. Optional trim kits ensure a seamless look. The Forte® collection is another traditional fireplace size option.

Photo credits: @the.gilbert.house

More Resources:

Easy Hearth Conversion with the Touchstone Fireplug Pro Firebox

DIY Fireplace Makeover: How to Convert a Wood Burning Fireplace to an Electric Fireplace

Electric Fireplaces: A Safe Alternative to Gas Fireplaces

Watch the Conversion to Electric Fireplace on Instagram

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A post shared by Rebekah Gilbert (@the.gilbert.house)