I have a 2600 SF two story house in MI. Our family room is large (maybe 280SF) with 12 foot ceilings, 16 windows (new), a natural wood fireplace and is the only room in the house on a cement slab.

That room is so cold in the winter! Anyhow we do burn wood and it is lovely and all that but I've been thinking how nice it would be to be able to flip a switch and warm that room up every evening when we are in there watching TV.

Our heat is forced air (gas) and the thermostat is clear across the house from the family room in the dining room.

I am mainly concerned about our gas bill since the furnace is going to running as normal while burning a gas fire at the same time.

Is this just a recipe for higher heat bills?