What's the best way to convert a wood-burning fireplace to gas?

Path one: a vented gas log set

If what you miss is the look of a fire — not the heat — a vented gas log set like the Real Fyre Charred American Oak is the simpler conversion. Tall, realistic yellow flames in your existing firebox, damper open, no more hauling wood or cold-start smoke. Be clear-eyed about what it is: most of the heat goes up the chimney, so vented logs are ambiance, not a heater. That's the honest trade for the most wood-like flame gas can produce.

Path two: a sealed gas insert

If you want the fireplace to earn its keep, the direct-vent gas insert is the better conversion. A sealed unit — Napoleon's Oakville X4 or Kozy Heat's Chaska 25L are our go-tos — slides into the masonry firebox with a correctly sized liner run up the chimney, and suddenly the fireplace that used to lose heat runs 70 percent efficient or better.

There's a mountain-specific bonus: choose a millivolt or battery-backup model and you've got heat that doesn't care whether the grid is up. After Helene left much of WNC dark for days, the homes that stayed warm were the ones with a working wood or gas hearth. A converted fireplace can be that hearth.

The step you can't skip in North Carolina

Every conversion needs a gas line into the firebox, and in NC that is licensed work — a log set off a big-box shelf still legally requires a licensed gas contractor to connect it. We run the line, pull the permit with Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, or Transylvania County, pressure-test it, and meet the inspector. We also inspect the chimney first, because a conversion is only as good as the flue behind it. Start with a free in-home assessment at (828) 545-0525, or read [our conversion guide](/guides/convert-wood-fireplace-to-gas).