What type of gas fireplace is safest?
How can I tell what type of gas fireplace I have?
Videos
Is a gas fireplace insert efficient and a good source of added heat?
Is it cheaper running the gas fireplace or the central heating to heat up a living room?
Efficiency of gas inserts versus normal vented gas fireplaces
Gas fireplace vs furnace: back of the envelope calculations
It seems like your furnace is gas also - if so then the only difference is the heating efficiency and how much of your house you want to heat.
The BTU output of each device doesn't really enter into the equation, it would only control the runtime of each device. (furnace blower costs negligible really)
Furnace: probably much more efficient (if newer), much more capable of maintaining temperature in the entire house
Fireplace: probably (much?) less efficient, but cost effective at heating a single room to a cozy temperature
I have my furnace set low-ish and use my fireplace to heat my main living room... that why the whole house is tolerable and the main rooms are cozy.
More on reddit.comI have gas force hot water cast iron radiators and my house is drafty. I am looking at gas fireplace inserts. Worth it? Efficient?