A gas fireplace insert is a sealed, direct-vent gas firebox installed inside an existing masonry or factory-built wood fireplace. It draws combustion air from outside and exhausts through liners run up the old chimney, turning a drafty, inefficient open hearth into a controllable zone heater with a glass front and thermostat or remote control.
Why it matters to you
Many older Fraser Valley homes have wood-burning fireplaces that lose more heat up the chimney than they deliver. An insert running on FortisBC natural gas adds supplemental heat to the room where families gather during long, damp winters.
Practical guidance
Have a gas fireplace or insert serviced annually before heating season: burner and pilot cleaning, glass gasket check, venting inspection, and a CO test. Installation is gas work that typically requires a permit and a licensed gas fitter.