Is it actually set up to produce heat? A lot of fireplaces don't put much of it in the room... Gas is nice for convenience and clean. Just not the same as a wood fire.
The fireplaces in my house have a liner with vents on the bottom and top so the natural convection helps circulate the air around the fireplace and heat the room better...
My grandpa had this house custom build with cool features back in 1960...
We also have 4 foot overhangs on the roof so you can walk around the house in the rain without getting wet...