Which is cheaper to run, a gas fireplace or an electric fireplace?
In Asheville, the answer splits by what you're heating for: electric is cheaper for flame-only ambiance, but because most of the city sits on natural-gas mains, a gas fireplace makes real warmth for far less than an electric heater's resistance coil. Off the Asheville mains, gas is the cheaper way to actually heat a room.
Natural gas is Asheville's cost advantage
Under Montford, West Asheville, and North Asheville run the natural-gas mains that decide this question. An electric fireplace heater is essentially a 1,500-watt appliance putting out about 5,000 BTU, and electric resistance heat is one of the priciest ways to make a BTU in this part of the state. A gas fireplace produces four to eight times that heat, and off the Asheville mains it does it for meaningfully less per unit of warmth. For pure flame effect, though, the Dimplex IgniteXL Bold 50 sips power and runs its no-heat mode all evening.
Old masonry versus new South Asheville builds
The house shapes the choice. Those historic Montford and North Asheville homes with original open masonry fireboxes actually lose heat up the flue — dropping in a sealed gas insert like the Kozy Heat Chaska 25L turns that opening into a real heater that's cheap to run. Newer South Asheville construction suits clean-face gas or a wall-mount electric for looks. Either way, running a gas line is licensed work in North Carolina, and we pull the Buncombe County permit and meet the inspector. Our Emma Rd showroom is right here — call (828) 545-0525 and come see both burning.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
Related questions
- What's the difference between a gas fireplace and an electric fireplace?
- Does an electric fireplace put out as much heat as a gas fireplace?
- Is it cheaper to heat your house with wood or with gas?
- Does a gas fireplace add more home value than an electric fireplace?
- Is it worth switching from a wood-burning fireplace to an electric fireplace?