Fireplace Conversions
4.8 Stars • 500+ Reviews • Family Owned since 1982
Fireplace Conversions in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia
A fireplace conversion starts with deciding what you want your existing fireplace to do differently, whether that’s easier day-to-day operation, more usable heat, less maintenance, or moving away from burning wood altogether. Priddy Chimney Solutions has been converting fireplaces across Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C. since 1982, and as a family-owned, woman-led company, we bring that same standard of care to every project. A conversion isn’t simply swapping one appliance for another: your existing fireplace, chimney, venting, available fuel sources, and how you want to use the space all help determine which conversion options will work in your home.
What Would You Change About Your Current Fireplace?
The right conversion starts with understanding what you want to change about the fireplace you have now.
- You Want to Stop Burning Wood Maybe you like having a fireplace, but you’re done buying, storing, carrying, and seasoning firewood, or cleaning up ash after every fire. Gas and electric are both common alternatives here, and which one fits depends on your specific setup and goals.
- You Want Your Fireplace to Produce More Usable Heat An open masonry fireplace and a modern insert perform very differently: most of the heat from an open fire goes straight up the flue, while a properly sized gas insert or wood stove insert is designed to provide more usable heat to the room.
- Your Fireplace Rarely Gets Used Not every fireplace that sits unused is damaged. Sometimes it just no longer fits how you use your room or how often you want to build and maintain a fire.
- Your Existing Fireplace or Appliance Is Aging An older gas unit, wood-burning system, or factory-built fireplace can reach a point where continued repair no longer makes as much sense as replacement or conversion.
- You Want to Use the Fireplace Differently New homeowners, aging in place, kids leaving home, different heating priorities, or simply wanting something easier to use regularly can all change what you want from a fireplace you’ve had for years.
You don’t need to choose a new fireplace before starting the process. The first step is understanding what you want to change and what your existing system can support.
What Can Your Fireplace Be Converted To?
Not every existing fireplace supports every conversion in the same way, but there are several options we may be able to consider depending on your existing system.
Converting to Gas
Gas can be a good option for homeowners who want a real flame with easier day-to-day operation than wood and, depending on the appliance, supplemental heat. This can mean a gas insert, a gas log set, or a full replacement fireplace, each with different scope and cost. Learn more about gas fireplace conversions →
Converting to Electric
A strong fit when venting is impractical, gas isn’t available or desired, or ambiance and placement flexibility matter more than high heat output. Converting an existing fireplace can still involve work to an old gas connection, the chimney, the firebox, or your electrical supply. Learn more about electric fireplace installation →
Converting an Open Fireplace to a Wood Stove Insert
For homeowners who want to keep burning wood but get more heat from their existing fireplace, a wood stove insert may be an option. The installation involves more than placing a stove inside the existing opening. Firebox dimensions, liner sizing, clearances, and heat requirements all matter. Learn more about wood stove installation →
Your Existing Fireplace Determines More Than You Might Expect
Two homeowners can want exactly the same fireplace and still end up with completely different conversion projects, because of what already exists behind and above the firebox.
- The Firebox Its dimensions and condition determine what appliances can physically fit, and whether repairs are needed before a conversion can move forward at all.
- The Chimney & Flue Chimney condition and flue sizing affect gas and wood conversions directly, and even an electric conversion may still require addressing a flue that’s no longer in use. Learn more about chimney liner replacement →
- Existing Fuel Connections Gas availability, existing gas lines, and any previous appliance connections can all change the scope of a project before a single appliance is chosen.
- Venting Gas inserts, gas logs, wood stove inserts, and electric fireplaces all have very different venting requirements, and what your home can support shapes which options are available.
- Electrical Capacity Relevant for electric conversions, and for some modern gas appliances that require electrical components to operate.
This is why we evaluate the existing fireplace before recommending a specific conversion or appliance, not after.
Not Sure Which Conversion Fits Your Home?
An in-home assessment will help our team evaluate your chimney, gas access, and venting options so we can recommend the right conversion, not just the first one you find online.
Gas, Electric, or Wood: Which Fits the Way You Want to Use Your Fireplace?
The right option depends on what you want from your fireplace, including how much heat you need, how often you plan to use it, and how much maintenance you want to take on.
If Heat Is the Priority
A gas insert or a wood stove insert typically outperform an open fireplace or a decorative gas log set for real supplemental heat.
If Convenience Is the Priority
Gas and electric both offer easier day-to-day operation than wood, with electric requiring the least ongoing maintenance of the three.
If You Still Want to Burn Wood
A wood stove insert is often a better fit than abandoning wood entirely, since it keeps the experience you want while meaningfully improving efficiency over an open fireplace.
If Ambiance Is the Priority
You have the broadest range of options here, from realistic gas flame to electric units with adjustable flame effects, to the specific look and feel only a wood fire provides.
Before We Recommend a Conversion
dimensions, chimney and liner condition, current fuel source, gas availability, electrical requirements, venting possibilities, the heat output you want, how often you expect to use the fireplace, and your budget.
These findings are what determine which conversion options are available to you. From there, we can talk you through the different appliances and finishes to complete your upgrade.
A Recent Fireplace Conversion
Upper Marlboro, MD This homeowner had two outdated, builder-grade prefab fireplaces, one in the basement and one in the family room, and wanted both converted to electric. Prefab fireplaces like these are common in townhouse and condo communities, and they come with a real complication: the metal firebox, screen, door, and trim reduce the usable opening, so the electric insert has to be sized and trimmed to fit that specific space rather than dropped in as a standard swap.
Our team removed the original screen, door, and trim, then installed a Modern Flames Orion Traditional electric insert sized to fit within the existing frame, along with a throat plate closure to protect the unit’s electrical components from wind-driven rain. The homeowner was happy enough with the result that she had the same conversion done in her family room fireplace a few months later.
Customer Reviews
What Can Change the Cost of a Fireplace Conversion?
Conversion pricing varies significantly depending on the path you choose, since gas, electric, and wood conversions have fundamentally different installation requirements. What you’re starting with matters first: your existing fireplace type and condition affect how much prep work is needed before a new appliance goes in. What you’re converting to matters just as much, a gas insert, gas log set, electric fireplace, wood stove insert, and full replacement appliance all carry very different costs.
Beyond the visible fireplace itself, work behind the scenes, liner replacement, flue modifications, gas line connections, electrical circuits, venting, or prerequisite chimney repairs, can add meaningfully to the total. The specific appliance you select also plays a role, since size, technology, heating capacity, and brand all affect the investment. And depending on what you’re converting to, permits and coordination with licensed gas fitters or electricians may become part of the project as well.
Experience Matters When Changing an Existing Fireplace
Working With Chimneys & Fireplaces Since 1982 Conversion work requires understanding both the new appliance and the system it’s being connected to, not just installing a product.
CSIA-Certified Chimney Expertise Our CSIA-certified (Chimney Safety Institute of America) technicians bring chimney and venting knowledge to every conversion, which matters any time you’re changing fuel types or appliances.
Multiple Conversion Options We work with gas, electric, and wood systems, so your consultation starts with your goals rather than being steered toward whichever fuel type we happen to specialize in.
Coordination Beyond the Fireplace We coordinate chimney work, liners, gas connections, electrical requirements, and permits whenever those elements are part of your conversion, so you’re not managing multiple contractors yourself.
Family-Owned & Woman-Led We’ve served homeowners and businesses throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. since 1982, and we bring that same standard of care to every conversion.
Ready to Talk Through Your Fireplace Conversion Options?
You don’t need to know whether you want a gas insert, an electric fireplace, or a wood stove before contacting us. An in-home assessment gives us the opportunity to evaluate your existing fireplace, chimney, available utilities, heating goals, and desired level of maintenance. From there, we can explain which conversion options are available and help you decide which one makes the most sense for your home.
Call us at 301-530-4262 or request an appointment online.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Fireplace Conversions
Can any wood-burning fireplace be converted to gas? Many can, but the specific conversion depends on the existing fireplace, firebox, chimney, and flue. Depending on the system, the options may include a gas insert, gas log set, or replacement fireplace. Learn more about gas fireplace conversions →
Can I convert a gas fireplace to electric? Yes. This is a common conversion, especially when a gas line is no longer available or a homeowner wants to eliminate gas from the home. Learn more about electric fireplace installation →
Can I keep burning wood but make my fireplace more efficient? Yes, a wood stove insert is built specifically for this. Learn more about wood stove installation →
Do I need a chimney after converting my fireplace? It depends on what you’re converting to. Gas and wood stove conversions typically still use the chimney system, while electric conversions may not need it operational, though the existing flue often still needs to be addressed. Learn more about chimney inspections →
What happens to my existing chimney if I switch to electric? Some homeowners choose to cap and seal it once it’s no longer venting anything; others keep it in place structurally. We’ll walk through the right approach during your consultation.
Does my existing chimney need to be inspected before a conversion? Yes, this is part of our standard evaluation regardless of which conversion you’re considering.
How do I know whether gas or electric is better for my home? It depends on your priorities around heat output, maintenance, gas availability, and how you want the fireplace to look and operate. We’ll walk through the tradeoffs during your consultation.
Can an old fireplace be converted without replacing the entire system? Often, yes, particularly with insert conversions that work within your existing firebox and opening.
Will a fireplace conversion require a new chimney liner? It depends on the conversion type and your existing liner’s condition and sizing. Learn more about chimney liner replacement →
Do fireplace conversions require permits? In most of our service area, yes, and we handle the permit process as part of the project.