Steps to Convert Your Wood Fireplace to a Gas Insert
If you have an old wood-burning fireplace or stove, you have likely considered converting the fireplace into a gas insert. Our advice — do it! Gas fireplaces are safer and more convenient. In a few short steps, you can have your gas fireplace on its way for installation.
1. Start by inspecting your chimney
Make sure your chimney is clean and fully functional for a gas fireplace. A professional chimney sweep will cost around $300. If your home doesn’t have a natural gas connection, and it’s available in your area, expect to pay $200-$1000 to have a gas line installed.
2. Measure your existing fireplace opening
Determine what size insert you’ll need by measuring the dimensions of your fireplace opening.
3. Contact Us!
Fill out the Contact Form and we'll get back to you within 2-3 business days with a quote!
Pros of Gas Fireplaces
- The convenience of enjoying the warmth of a fire at the flip of a switch
- Adjustable temperature output
- Choice of realistic log sets or modern glass & stone fire beds
- No ash cleanup required
Three Wood-to-Gas Conversion Options:
1. Gas Logs
The easiest type of wood-to-gas fireplace conversion. Gas logs sit inside your existing fireplace and have a gas burner. Vented gas logs send the heat up the chimney. Gas logs are typically more for looks than warmth.
2. Gas Inserts
Gas inserts are retrofitted wood-burning fireplaces that use gas to heat the air inside the fireplace and emit the heat into the room. They are much more efficient and easier to manage than wood-burning fireplaces while also being just as productive. They are much more realistic than a gas log set. Gas inserts are the middle-priced option of the three.
Choose a Direct Vent Fireplace or an Up-vent Fireplace:
- Direct vent fireplaces use the chimney to vent the fire’s byproducts and most closely resembles a real-life fire. Direct vents are typically vented horizontally, directly through the walls to the outdoors.
- Up-vent fireplaces are direct vents that are routed vertically through the roof.
3. Built-in Gas Fireplace
Built-in gas fireplaces don’t require an existing chimney or fireplace to be installed. Vented fireplaces expel heat through the wall. Gas fireplaces can be the most ornate and customized of the three types but are also the most expensive gas fireplace to install.
FAQs
Is a wood-burning fireplace better than gas?
Natural gas and propane are relatively clean-burning fuels compared to wood. Gas fireplaces are better for the environment and are more convenient.
Are gas fireplaces more efficient than furnaces?
Gas fireplaces are more efficient than furnaces because heat is not lost through ductwork. However, a fireplace will only heat one or two rooms instead of the entire house.
How much does a gas insert cost?
Gas inserts cost between $2,000 to $7,500 depending on installation complications.
Are fumes from gas fireplaces harmful?
Gas fireplaces are cleaner than traditional wood-burning fireplaces. They can still pollute indoor air quality if not properly vented. Toxic gases including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted from gas fireplaces.
Contact our Milwaukee fireplace store today for more information on our local fireplace services and available models.
Badgerland Fireplace Inc. provides the best fireplace installation, repair and maintenance services for homes and businesses in Southeastern Wisconsin including: Brookfield, Delafield, Waukesha, Milwaukee, New Berlin, Wauwatosa, Muskego, Mukwonago, Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Elm Grove, Brown Deer, West Allis, Pewaukee, Glendale, Greendale, Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Greenfield, Oak Creek, Cudahy, River Hills, Saint Francis, Hales Corners, Sussex, Hartland, Big Bend, Eagle, and Butler.
Badgerland Fireplace Inc. provides the best fireplace installation, repair and maintenance services for homes and businesses in Southeastern Wisconsin including: Brookfield, Delafield, Waukesha, Milwaukee, New Berlin, Wauwatosa, Muskego, Mukwonago, Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Oconomowoc, Elm Grove, Brown Deer, West Allis, Pewaukee, Glendale, Greendale, Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Greenfield, Oak Creek, Cudahy, River Hills, Saint Francis, Hales Corners, Sussex, Hartland, Big Bend, Eagle, and Butler.