Can I put gas logs in my Heatilator wood-burning fireplace?

First we confirm what kind of firebox you have

Two very different things get called 'a Heatilator wood-burning fireplace.' One is an open masonry-style firebox, which usually takes a vented gas log set without much fuss. The other is a factory-built, zero-clearance metal unit — and many of those are certified only for wood, with the manufacturer specifically not approving gas logs, ventless sets in particular. The rating plate and the model number tell us which camp you're in, so that's always our first step.

Vented logs, ventless logs, or an insert

If your firebox is rated for it, you've got choices, and they're real tradeoffs. A vented gas log set gives you the tall, realistic yellow flame with the damper open — beautiful ambiance, but most of the heat goes up the chimney; it's decorative-first, not a heater. Ventless logs put nearly all their heat in the room but come with real rules — room-size limits, added indoor moisture, and restrictions in bedrooms and baths — and many prefab fireboxes don't allow them at all.

The upgrade we most often recommend is a sealed gas insert with a proper liner. That's the one that turns a heat-losing open fireplace into real, efficient, power-optional heat — the kind that keeps a room warm when the grid goes down. Our guide at /guides/convert-wood-fireplace-to-gas walks through the paths.

Every path needs the licensed gas line

Whichever route you choose, it runs through the one thing that's non-negotiable in North Carolina: the gas line. Running or extending gas is licensed work — a handyman or mason legally can't connect it to fuel. We can. We run and pressure-test the line, pull the county permit, and meet the inspector, so the conversion is safe and your insurance and home sale are protected.

Send us your model number or book a free assessment — call (828) 545-0525 or visit our Asheville showroom.