The wood-to-gas call usually comes after one specific winter: the one where the firewood rack stayed full because lighting a real fire felt like a second job. Conversion fixes that, but “convert to gas” covers three very different projects. Pick by what you actually want to change:
Path 1: gas logs, upgrade the ignition
Ceramic log set with a burner, installed in your open firebox, fed by a new gas line. You get: flames on demand in the fireplace you already love looking at, no wood, no kindling. You don’t get: meaningful heat, the open damper (required, per code, for vented sets) sends most of it up the flue along with some of your conditioned air. Right for: ambiance-first households on a budget. The chimney still needs annual inspection, gas exhaust is gentler than wood smoke, but it’s still exhaust in a masonry flue.
Path 2: the gas insert, upgrade the machine
A sealed, high-efficiency gas appliance slid into the masonry firebox, with new liner runs up the existing flue. You get: genuine heating (70-80%+ efficiency versus the open fireplace’s near-zero), thermostat and remote control, sealed combustion, and transformed room comfort. The investment: mid-tier, appliance plus liner plus connection, the insert deep-dive covers sizing. Right for: anyone who wants the fireplace to become a heat source they use four nights a week. This is the conversion we install most, by a wide margin.
Path 3: full replacement, upgrade everything
Demolish-and-replace with a modern built-in gas unit, usually inside a broader fireplace remodel. Maximum design freedom (linear formats, new surrounds), maximum budget. Right when the existing fireplace is dated beyond affection or the room’s getting redone anyway.