- 97°FSpokane's August 2026 peak
- 88°FA typical summer high
- 26°FA typical winter low
- -10°FWhat severe winters can reach
Gas fireplace insert or wood stove for a Spokane home?
Both a gas insert and a certified wood stove can heat a living room through a Spokane winter. The real differences show up on burn-ban days, in how much work each takes, and in what your chimney and gas service can support.
- Answered 24/7
- Diagnosis before parts
- Written price first
NBy Nell Bradshaw, HVAC Guides Editor · Updated September 2026
Quick answerIn Spokane, a gas insert can be used on any winter day, including Washington Stage 1 burn-ban days, while an uncertified wood fireplace cannot. A certified wood stove is allowed during Stage 1 bans and gives strong heat from cheap or free fuel, but takes wood handling and chimney sweeping. Gas wins on convenience; wood wins if you have the wood and like tending a fire.
Burn bans change the math
Cold, still winter weather traps smoke in the Spokane area, and Stage 1 burn bans follow. Under a Stage 1 ban, uncertified wood stoves, fireplaces and inserts may not be used unless they are a home's only adequate source of heat. Natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood devices are allowed.
That means an old open fireplace or an uncertified stove may sit unused on exactly the cold, still days you most want it. A gas insert or a certified stove does not have that problem.
Heat and comfort
A well-sized gas insert with a blower heats the main living area evenly and holds a steady temperature on a thermostat or remote. A certified wood stove puts out strong radiant heat, enough to carry a living room and often more, but the heat rises and falls with the fire.
Neither replaces a central heating system for the whole house in most homes. Both can reduce how often the furnace or heat pump runs.
Fuel and running costs
A gas insert burns natural gas or propane, so running cost follows your gas rate. A wood stove can run on wood you cut or buy, which can be cheap or free, but seasoned firewood takes space, time and planning.
If you already have gas service at the house, adding a branch to the fireplace is usually the simplest path. Our gas line installation work covers that run.
Thinking about a gas insert? we can measure your fireplace.
Call (509) 404-0016Upkeep over the years
A gas insert needs a yearly check of the burner, pilot or ignition, glass seal and venting, and occasional battery changes on the remote. A wood stove needs ash removal, gasket checks and regular chimney sweeping to control creosote.
If tending a fire is part of the appeal, the wood stove's upkeep is a feature. If you want heat at the push of a button, it is a chore.
- Gas insert: yearly service, little day-to-day work.
- Wood stove: ashes, wood, gaskets and chimney sweeping.
- Both: working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms nearby.
What installation involves
A gas insert slides into the existing fireplace and vents through a new liner inside the chimney. It needs gas at the fireplace, a mechanical permit, and a chimney in sound condition. A wood stove or wood insert needs an insulated stainless liner sized to the stove, proper floor protection and clearances.
In both cases the chimney is inspected first. A chimney liner is part of most jobs, and a gas insert install includes the liner, gas line and permit.
Which one fits your house
A few questions usually settle it:
- You want heat any day, including burn-ban days, with no wood handling: a gas insert.
- You have access to seasoned wood and enjoy a real fire: a certified wood stove or wood insert.
- Your fireplace is an open, uncertified one you rarely use: either option is a big upgrade.
- You have no gas at the house: a certified wood stove, or a pellet stove.
More Spokane heating and cooling guides
Gas insert and wood stove questions
Can I use my fireplace during a burn ban?
Only if it burns gas or propane, is an EPA-certified wood device, or is the home's only adequate heat.
Does a gas insert make real heat?
Yes. A properly sized insert with a blower can heat the main living area on its own.
Can my old fireplace take a gas insert?
Most standard masonry fireplaces can. We measure the opening and flue and inspect the chimney first.
Is a wood stove cheaper to run?
It can be, if you have low-cost seasoned wood. You trade that for time spent on wood and upkeep.
Do I need a permit for a gas insert?
Yes. Washington requires a mechanical permit for gas appliance installs.
Make your fireplace usable all winter.
Call about a gas fireplace insert in Spokane, WA.
