How much does it cost to convert a wood-burning fireplace to electric?

Where the money actually goes

The unit is the smallest line item: an electric unit can be a few hundred dollars, with premium linear models like the Dimplex IgniteXL Bold 50 running more. The rest is trade work — a dedicated outlet at the firebox (an electrician's job; we coordinate it), sealing the damper so conditioned air stops pouring up the flue, and capping the chimney against rain and animals. No gas line, no venting, no liner. That absence is exactly why this conversion undercuts every other option.

What you're getting for it

Dimplex makes the most convincing electric flame on the market, and the honest numbers are these: about 1,500 watts — roughly 5,000 BTU — of supplemental heat, enough to take the edge off a room up to around 400 square feet. There's a flame-only mode for summer evenings when you want the look without the warmth. For a condo, a bedroom, or a firebox that's already been sealed up, that's often exactly the right call — and the least expensive fireplace experience there is.

Ask the Helene question before you commit

An electric fireplace is dead the moment the power goes out. After Helene left much of WNC dark for days, the homes that stayed warm were the ones with a working wood or gas hearth — and we've met more than one homeowner who converted to electric, sat through an outage, and called about going back the other way. If backup heat matters at your house, look at a gas insert with millivolt or battery-backup ignition instead, or keep the firebox wood-capable.

If ambiance and simplicity are the goal, electric wins on cost and it isn't close. Come compare the Dimplex against live gas flames at the Asheville showroom, or call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.