What's the cheapest way to convert a wood fireplace to gas?
A vented gas log set is the cheapest wood-to-gas conversion: the logs sit in your existing firebox and vent up your existing chimney, so the cost is mostly the set plus the licensed gas line to feed it. Know what you're getting, though — vented logs are ambiance, not heat. If you want real warmth, the better value is usually a sealed gas insert.
Why gas logs are the low-cost path
Your masonry fireplace already solved the two expensive problems — a firebox and a vent. A vented log set like the Real Fyre Charred American Oak we carry sits in the existing opening, the damper gets clamped open, and the chimney does what it always did. No new venting, no framing, usually no liner. The real work is the gas line: in North Carolina, running or extending gas is licensed work, and it's the one part of this project a showroom or handyman legally can't touch. We run it, permit it with your county, and pressure-test it.
Distance is the swing factor. If the firebox sits near an existing line — a kitchen range on the other side of the wall, a furnace below — the run is short and the conversion stays cheap. A fireplace on the far side of the house from the meter is where "cheapest" starts creeping upward.
Cheapest to install isn't cheapest to run
Vented logs make that tall, realistic yellow flame with the damper open — which means most of the heat goes up the chimney. If you'll light them a few evenings a month for ambiance, perfect. If you're picturing them heating the den all winter, you'll burn a lot of gas for a little warmth. Ventless logs keep nearly all their heat in the room and install for a similar class of money, but they carry rules — room-size limits, added indoor moisture, and restrictions in bedrooms, bathrooms, and some jurisdictions. Our [vented vs. ventless guide](/guides/vented-vs-ventless-gas-logs) walks the tradeoff honestly.
When spending more is the smarter money
A sealed gas insert costs more up front than any log set, but it turns the fireplace into a real heater — commonly 70% efficient or better, where an open masonry fireplace can actually run a net heat loss. With millivolt or battery-backup ignition, it keeps working when the grid doesn't — something WNC stopped taking for granted after Helene. If backup heat is any part of why you're converting, price the insert before you settle for logs; the gas line costs the same either way.
See both burning at our Asheville showroom on Emma Rd, or call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home assessment — we'll tell you which path fits your fireplace and your winters.
Related questions
- How much does it cost to convert a wood-burning fireplace to gas?
- What's the price difference between converting to gas logs versus a gas insert, and which is the better value?
- How much do vented gas logs cost installed?
- Are vented or ventless gas logs cheaper to buy?
- How much does it cost to run a gas line to a fireplace?
- How much does a gas fireplace cost installed?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
Free assessments across Western North Carolina — no pressure, straight answers.