Clean, Instant Heat for Hill Country Evenings.

Costs vary based on the unit and the venting path, but a direct-vent gas insert into an existing masonry fireplace—common in older Boerne and Comfort homes—typically runs on the lower end since it uses the chimney you already have. A new built-in gas fireplace for a remodel or new construction, with fresh venting and gas line work, costs more. If you're outside the natural gas service area and need a propane tank set, factor that into the total. A local dealer will give you a firm number after seeing your home, but expect the range to widen quickly depending on whether gas line or venting work is involved.

Yes, and it's a common project in Kendall County's older stone homes. A gas insert slides into the existing masonry firebox and vents through the same chimney using a stainless liner, so you keep the look of the original fireplace while gaining push-button heat and losing the ash and creosote. Whether you're on natural gas in Boerne or propane out toward Bergheim or Sisterdale, most insert models can be configured for either fuel—your installer sets the orifice and regulator accordingly.

Either works. If your home is inside Boerne city limits and already has natural gas service for a water heater or range, adding a fireplace onto that line is usually the simplest path. Outside the natural gas footprint—which covers most of unincorporated Kendall County—propane is the standard, either from an existing tank or a new one set by a local propane supplier. Most gas fireplace and insert models are available in either configuration, so fuel type shouldn't limit which unit you can choose.

Most models designed with IPI (intermittent pilot ignition) run on a battery backup that kicks in automatically when the power drops, so the fireplace lights and operates just like normal. That mattered plenty to Hill Country homeowners during the February 2021 winter storm, when outages stretched for days across Kendall County. Valor fireplaces take a different approach—their pilot generates its own electricity through the thermocouple, so there's no battery to remember to replace. Ask your local dealer which ignition system a given unit uses if backup heat during an outage is a priority for you.

A gas fireplace is a fully built-in unit framed into a wall, typically used in new construction or a major remodel. A gas insert fits inside an existing masonry firebox—the more common upgrade for Kendall County's older stone homes—using the existing chimney as the vent path. A gas stove is a freestanding unit that sits on the floor like a wood stove but burns gas or propane, a good option for a room without an existing fireplace. Most homeowners converting an old wood-burning fireplace end up with an insert; new builds usually go with a built-in unit.

Yes. Inside city limits, permits go through the City of Boerne's building department; in unincorporated Kendall County, permits are handled through the county's development services office. Both a building permit and a gas line permit are typically required, and the gas line work itself needs a licensed gas-fitter. Most local hearth dealers coordinate the permitting and the gas line trade as part of the installation, so you're not left managing multiple contractors yourself.

Vented (direct-vent) gas fireplaces draw combustion air from outside and exhaust gases back outside through a sealed system—they're the most common and most broadly recommended option. Vent-free units burn fuel directly into the room without external venting, which is legal in Texas but requires attention to room size and ventilation. For Kendall County homes, direct-vent units are the standard choice most local dealers install, since they don't require any compromise on indoor air quality and work well whether you're on natural gas in Boerne or propane out in the rural parts of the county.

An annual inspection is the standard recommendation for any gas appliance, including direct-vent fireplaces and inserts. A technician checks the burner, pilot assembly, venting, and gas connections, and cleans the glass and interior. Given how mild Kendall County winters are, some homeowners run their gas fireplace lightly through the season—but infrequent use doesn't eliminate the need for a yearly check, since components can degrade whether the unit is run hard or barely at all.

Given the mild climate here—a light winter heating load and winter lows that average in the high 30s—wood in Kendall County tends to serve ambiance and cooking more than primary heat; oak, pecan, and mesquite are all locally abundant and popular for both firewood and the region's barbecue tradition. Gas, by contrast, is the more practical choice for a fireplace you'll actually use for warmth on the occasional cold front, since it lights instantly with no wood handling, no ash, and no chimney sweep needed nearly as often. Many Hill Country homes end up with a gas insert in the main living area for real heat and convenience, keeping wood-burning for a second fireplace or an outdoor pit.

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.

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.

Yes—by creating a comfort zone. A furnace heats every square foot of the house just to warm the one room you're in; a gas fireplace on low burns roughly a sixth of the gas a typical furnace does. Set the furnace around 55–60 degrees as a baseline, then heat the rooms your family actually uses. Families who heat this way commonly save $20–$60 a month.