Reliable Gas Heat for St. Louis County Winters.

A gas insert installed into an existing masonry fireplace—the most common project in Concord's older ranch and split-level homes—typically runs $3,500 to $7,500, depending on the unit and whether a stainless liner and new gas line tie-in are needed. A new direct-vent gas fireplace built into a wall for a remodel or addition, with fresh framing and venting, runs closer to $6,000 to $9,500. Homes already plumbed for natural gas through Spire tend to land on the lower end since there's no new gas line to run.

Yes, and in Concord it's the standard move rather than the exception—most homes here were built with a masonry wood fireplace as part of the original 1950s-70s construction, and a large share of local hearth work is converting those into gas inserts. The insert vents through the existing chimney using a stainless liner, so you keep the brick surround and mantel you already have while eliminating ash, creosote, and the hassle of stocking firewood. Expect $3,500 to $6,500 for a typical conversion, more if the flue needs relining or repair before the liner goes in.

Most Concord homes already have natural gas service through Spire for the furnace and water heater, so a gas fireplace or insert usually just taps into the existing line—that's the simpler and more common path here. Propane is really only a consideration for the rare property on the edge of St. Louis County without gas service, and would require a dedicated tank installation. If you're not sure whether your home has a gas line near the fireplace location, a local dealer can check during the in-home estimate.

Most gas fireplaces with intermittent pilot ignition (IPI) run on a small battery backup that automatically takes over if the power drops, so the unit still lights and heats normally. It's worth checking those batteries once a year so they're not dead when you actually need them. Valor's lineup takes a different approach—the pilot's thermocouple generates its own electricity, so there's no battery to maintain at all. That distinction matters more in Concord for ice storms than for deep cold; St. Louis County sees occasional winter ice events that knock out power for a day or two, and a gas fireplace that doesn't depend on the grid is genuinely useful heat during those stretches.

A gas insert slides into an existing masonry fireplace opening and vents through the chimney with a liner—this is the fit for the majority of Concord's original brick fireplaces. A built-in gas fireplace is framed into a wall from scratch, which suits new construction, additions, or a room that never had a fireplace. A gas stove is a freestanding cast-iron or steel unit that sits on the floor on its own hearth pad, which some homeowners prefer for a finished basement or a room without an existing chimney. For a typical Concord ranch with a working fireplace already in the living room, an insert is almost always the right call.

Concord is unincorporated, so building permits go through the St. Louis County Department of Public Works, Building Division, and gas line work needs a licensed gas-fitter regardless of jurisdiction. Most established hearth dealers in the area handle the permit application and schedule the inspection as part of the install, so it's not something you have to coordinate separately. Skipping the permit on gas line work isn't just a code issue—it can also void your homeowner's insurance if there's ever a gas-related claim.

Vented (direct-vent) units draw combustion air from outside and exhaust it back outside through a sealed pipe—they're the cleanest option and the one most local dealers install by default. Vent-free units burn directly into the room without external venting; they're legal in Missouri but come with strict room-size and ventilation requirements, and some homeowners are sensitive to the moisture and combustion byproducts they release indoors. For Concord's typically smaller ranch-home living rooms, a direct-vent insert is usually the more comfortable and lower-maintenance choice, but a local dealer can walk through both if you're set on a vent-free unit for a specific room.

Plan on an annual inspection, ideally in early fall before the first cold snap. A technician checks the burner, pilot assembly, glass seal, and venting, and cleans out any dust or debris that's collected over the summer—this matters more than people expect, since a dirty burner is one of the most common reasons a gas fireplace won't light reliably on the first cold night. Local service providers typically charge $125 to $225 for a standard annual visit.

Not really, for most Concord homes. Plenty of houses here already have a wood-burning masonry fireplace from original construction, but installing a brand-new wood stove or pellet stove isn't a common local project—there's limited pellet stove servicing and supply infrastructure in this part of St. Louis County, and county building rules make new solid-fuel installs more involved than converting the fireplace you already have. The far more common (and far simpler) path in Concord is taking that existing wood fireplace and converting it to a gas insert, which is why gas dominates the hearth market here.

Open fireplaces suck—literally. As the fire burns, it consumes air your furnace already paid to heat and pulls it out through the chimney, so the house is actually colder after the fire goes out than before you lit it. An insert fixes this: it seals the chimney, puts fixed glass across the front, and turns that hole in your house into a real heat source.

An insert does two things: it seals the chimney completely, so you stop losing air you already paid to heat, and it radiates warmth into the room through the firebox and glass. Most add a heat-exchange fan that pulls cool room air underneath, wraps it around the hot firebox, and pushes it back out warm. Your home is more efficient before you've even lit the first fire.

For an average home—covering the fireplace, the vent pipe, and basic installation—a budget between $3,900 and $5,500 gives you a lot of options across wood, gas, and pellet. By the time you add finish work, gas line, and electrical, the average complete installation lands between $5,000 and $12,000 all-in. In a remodel or new build, a good rule is to put about 2.5% of the total project cost toward the fireplace.

If you're putting a fire in your house on purpose, it's best to work with an expert. Unless you're genuinely experienced in framing, gas line, vent pipe, and the national code on clearances to combustibles, have a professional do it—and ideally the same company that sells you the fireplace, so warranty, service, and liability all live under one roof.