Real Flame, Real Convenience—Right Here in Highland Village.

Most gas fireplace projects in Highland Village run $3,500 to $9,500. Swapping in a vented gas log set inside an existing masonry firebox that already has a gas line sits at the low end, often under $2,500. Converting that same masonry fireplace to a sealed direct-vent gas insert—more heat output, glass front, no open flue losses—typically runs $4,500 to $8,000. A new built-in direct-vent fireplace framed into a wall during a remodel, with fresh gas line and venting, lands at the higher end. A local dealer will give you a firm number after seeing your existing chimney or wall cavity.

Almost certainly, and it's one of the most common projects local hearth dealers handle in this part of Denton County. Many Highland Village homes built from the 1990s through the 2010s were framed with a gas stub already run to the fireplace for a future log set, which makes conversion straightforward and inexpensive. Older or custom homes without that stub need a licensed plumber to run new gas line before the insert or log set goes in, which adds to the cost but is still a routine job for local installers.

Atmos Energy provides natural gas to the great majority of homes inside Highland Village city limits, so if you already cook or heat water with gas, adding a fireplace is a simple tie-in. Propane shows up mainly on the outer edges of the Lake Lewisville shoreline or on larger acreage lots where natural gas mains haven't been extended. Nearly every gas fireplace and insert sold by local dealers can be configured for either fuel—it's a matter of the correct orifice and regulator, not a different product.

Most modern gas fireplaces will, which matters more in North Texas than it used to. Units with IPI (intermittent pilot ignition) run on AA batteries that kick in automatically when the power drops, so the fireplace lights on demand just like normal. Valor fireplaces take it further—their pilot assembly generates its own electricity through the thermocouple, so there are no batteries to remember at all. After Winter Storm Uri left parts of Denton County without power for days in single-digit temperatures, a lot of Highland Village homeowners specifically asked for that kind of backup capability. Ask your local dealer about the ignition system on any unit you're considering.

A gas log set drops into an existing wood-burning masonry fireplace and uses your existing chimney as an open vent—it's the least expensive option but also the least efficient, since most of the heat still goes up the flue. A gas insert seals into that same masonry opening with a glass front and its own direct-vent system, dramatically improving both efficiency and heat output. A built-in gas fireplace is a fully framed unit for new construction or a remodel where no fireplace exists yet. For the many Highland Village homes with a builder-grade masonry fireplace, an insert is usually the best upgrade from a log set if you actually want usable heat, not just the look of a fire.

If the project involves new gas line work, a new firebox, or venting changes, yes—the City of Highland Village Building Inspections Department requires a permit, and the gas line portion has to be run or inspected by a licensed gas-fitter. Simply swapping an existing vented log set for a similar one on an already-permitted gas valve is a lighter lift and sometimes doesn't require new permitting, but any insert conversion or new direct-vent installation should go through the city. A reputable local dealer will pull the permit and schedule the inspection as part of the job.

Vented (direct-vent) units draw combustion air from outside and exhaust it back outside through sealed venting—they're the safest option and the one nearly every local dealer defaults to. Vent-free units burn directly into the room and are legal in Texas, but they come with strict room-size and ventilation requirements, and modern Highland Village homes are built tight for HVAC efficiency, which makes indoor air quality more of a concern with a vent-free appliance running for hours. For most homes here, a direct-vent fireplace or insert is the better fit; vent-free tends to make more sense in a small supplemental space like a den or sunroom where running new venting isn't practical.

An annual inspection is the standard recommendation, even in a mild climate like Highland Village's where the fireplace might only run a few dozen nights a year. A technician checks the burner, pilot or ignition system, gas connections, and venting, and cleans the glass and interior. Local gas appliance service techs typically charge $125 to $225 for this visit. The best time to schedule it is late September or October, ahead of the first real cool fronts, so any issue turns up before you actually want the fireplace running.

Denton County's post oak savannah puts good firewood—oak, pecan, and mesquite—within easy reach, and there are no air quality restrictions on burning here the way there are in some non-attainment regions. So wood is a perfectly legitimate choice if you want the smell and ritual of a real fire. But with only 2,477 heating degree days a year, most Highland Village households don't burn often enough to justify stacking and seasoning cordwood, and the lock-and-leave, HOA-adjacent lifestyle common in the Lake Cities favors a fireplace you can switch on with a remote and walk away from. That convenience factor, more than anything else, is why gas dominates new installs and conversions in this part of Denton County.

Yes—with an asterisk. Fireplaces are hot and TVs don't like heat. Either put a mantel between them to deflect rising warmth, or choose a fireplace with heat-management technology that creates a cool zone on the wall above—the wall stays around 125 degrees, barely warm, while the room still gets full heat. If you like clean lines and don't want a mantel, heat management is the answer.

If it was installed more than 15 years ago, probably. Older gas fireplaces keep a standing pilot light burning all the time, and that little flame can cost a couple hundred dollars a year. Newer models use pilot-on-demand ignition—the pilot lights only when you use the fireplace and goes out when you turn it off.

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.