Yes, you can often put a fireplace in a house that doesn’t have one. An exception to this is if your house doesn’t have a safe place for a fireplace, or if your city or town doesn’t allow fireplaces (or specific types of fireplaces).

The average cost to install a fireplace in your home is roughly $400, though some professionals charge as much as $1,500 for fireplace and chimney installation. The type of fireplace you want (gas-burning, wood-burning, electric, etc.) will impact your cost. Let a fireplace installation professional know what type of fireplace you want to install and ask for a free cost estimate.

For more cost information about fireplaces, read “How much does fireplace installation cost?”

Yes, you can consider installing a ventless gas fireplace, which doesn’t require a chimney or flues. However, you’ll need to make sure these are allowed where you live. Contact fireplace installation pros near you to find out if a ventless fireplace is right for you and (if so) get free cost estimates.

A fireplace may or may not add value to your house — it depends on the prospective homeowner and the trends in your real estate market. Many people find fireplaces desirable, but you’ll need to talk to your real estate agent (or an expert) to find out if homebuyers in your area will pay more for a fireplace or if you’ll recoup the costs.