Gas Fireplace Conversions
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Gas Fireplace Conversions in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia
A gas fireplace conversion starts with understanding your existing fireplace and what type of conversions it can support. The type of conversion, the liner requirement, the venting system, the gas line connection, and the permit scope all need to be addressed before a single product is selected.
Priddy Chimney Solutions has been performing gas fireplace conversions across Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C. since 1982. Our CSIA-certified (Chimney Safety Institute of America) technicians assess your chimney, your home’s gas infrastructure, and your county’s permit requirements before recommending anything.
Is a Gas Fireplace Conversion Right for Your Home?
Before getting into specific products or conversion types, it’s worth stepping back and asking whether a conversion makes sense for your situation in the first place. Most homeowners fall into one of a few categories.
- You Want More Heat: Some homeowners want their fireplace to provide meaningful supplemental heat, not just look attractive. If that’s the goal, the type of conversion and appliance we recommend will be very different than for someone focused purely on ambiance.
- You Love Your Fireplace But Not the Maintenance: If you’re tired of hauling wood, cleaning out ash, dealing with chimney odors, and scheduling frequent cleanings, but you still want your fireplace to be the focal point of the room, a gas conversion keeps the feature while removing the upkeep.
- Your Existing Fireplace Has Reached the End of Its Life: Aging gas fireplaces and outdated prefabricated units eventually stop being efficient or reliable, and replacement parts are difficult or impossible to find. If yours is 20 to 30 years old, a replacement is often more practical than continued repair.
- You’re Renovating Your Living Space: A gas fireplace conversion is a common part of a larger remodel, family room renovation, basement finishing project, or home addition, since it’s easier to address venting and gas line work while walls are already open.
Gas Fireplace Conversion: What Type Is Right for Your Home
Your existing fireplace structure and condition usually guides the best options for your fireplace conversion. Our team evaluates your specific chimney, firebox, and home before making any product recommendations.
Wood-Burning Masonry Fireplace to Gas Insert
A self-contained unit slides into the existing firebox with a sealed combustion chamber, venting through a dedicated stainless steel liner sized to the specific insert or through a new chimney liner that better accommodates the new unit. This is a very popular option that provides good heat output.
Wood-Burning Masonry Fireplace to Gas Log Set
A burner and decorative logs are installed into the existing firebox, venting through the existing flue. This is simpler and less expensive, and it works well when the existing flue is correctly sized for the appliance. While attractive, gas logs often do not provide as much heat to your room as a gas insert.
Prefabricated Fireplace Replacement
When an existing zero-clearance factory-built unit reaches the end of its service life (typically 20 to 30 years), the replacement unit is specified to match the existing chase dimensions and venting path. This may involve liner work depending on the replacement unit.What to Expect During Your Consultation
Every gas fireplace conversion starts with an in-home evaluation and consultation. Here’s what to expect during that appointment:
- Chimney Inspection: We start by inspecting your chimney’s condition. A deteriorated cap, failed crown, or structurally compromised firebox would require repairs before a conversion is possible.
- Firebox Measurements: We measure your firebox opening, including rear depth and side clearances. Dimensions that look adequate from inside the room don’t always accommodate a given insert or replacement unit, so we confirm fit before recommending anything.
- Existing Flue Evaluation: We assess whether your current flue is correctly sized and rated for a new gas appliance. Many older DMV-area homes have oversized clay tile flues that require a new stainless steel liner for code. Ensuring you have a proper line also avoids issues with condensation, poor draft, and premature wear on your chimney.
- Gas Availability: We confirm natural gas service at your home, meter capacity to support the new appliance load, and the location of your existing gas line. Some older homes need a meter upgrade before a gas appliance can be added.
Venting Requirements We determine which venting approach fits your home and desired unit: direct-vent (a sealed system that draws combustion air from outside, best for tightly sealed modern homes), B-vent (draws room air, vents up the existing flue, less efficient), or natural draft for log sets venting through a full-size masonry flue. - Desired Features Discussion: This is where we discuss appearance, heat output, functionality – like remotes or timers, and budget ranges for different options that could fit your space.
Only after all of the above is assessed do we recommend a specific conversion plan and unit. You’ll receive a written recommendation based on your home, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Interested in a Gas Fireplace Conversion?
An in-home assessment will help our team evaluate your chimney, gas access, and venting options so we can recommend the best conversion for your home.
Designing Your New Fireplace
A gas fireplace conversion doesn’t mean starting over on the design of your room. In many cases, your existing mantel, surround, and finishes can be reused as-is or updated with smaller changes rather than replaced entirely, something we’ll walk through with you once we know what the new unit requires.
For simple upgrades and conversions, our sales team has the experience to guide you through material, style, and layout decisions. If you’re planning something more significant, like reworking the whole wall around your fireplace, we also offer a full fireplace design service with our interior designer to help you plan a bigger transformation.
Fireplace Brands We Install
We work with a curated selection of trusted fireplace brands, so you get a stylish, reliable option that fits your home and your budget. Learn more about the gas fireplace brands we carry.
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Gas Fireplace Conversion Costs
No two conversions cost the same, since so much depends on the specifics of your home: the type of conversion, the fireplace you choose, whether a new chimney liner is needed, the venting approach, gas line work, finish materials, and local permit requirements. Here is a range of what each type of conversion typically runs:
Gas Log Set Installation Into an appropriately sized existing masonry firebox, including gas connection and permit: $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the log set selected and gas line distance from the existing supply.
Gas Fireplace Insert Installation Including a new stainless steel liner and permit: $4,000 to $8,000, depending on the insert model, liner length, and flue accessibility.
Prefabricated Gas Fireplace Replacement Unit replacement in an existing chase, including any liner or chase work and permit: $4,500 to $9,000 or more, depending on the unit and scope.
We provide written estimates after an in-home assessment, since chimney condition, flue sizing, and gas infrastructure variables are too significant to estimate accurately without seeing the chimney in person.
Why Homeowners Choose Priddy Chimney Solutions
- Since 1982 Family-owned and woman-led, we’ve been performing gas fireplace conversions and full-service chimney work across the DMV for over four decades.
- CSIA-Certified Technicians Our team is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), meaning every conversion is assessed by someone trained specifically in chimney safety, venting, and code compliance, not just fireplace installation.
- Complete Fireplace Services From chimney work and liners to masonry repair, gas conversions, inspections, and repairs, we handle the full scope of your fireplace system in-house.
- Permits & Code Compliance We coordinate required permits and inspections as part of your gas fireplace conversion project, so you’re not left navigating county requirements on your own.
Schedule Your Gas Fireplace Conversion Consultation
The right gas fireplace conversion depends on your existing fireplace, your home, and how you want to use the space. The first step is an in-home assessment that looks at your chimney, gas access, and venting before we recommend anything. Our team has been performing fireplace conversions across the DMV region since 1982.
Call us at 301-530-4262 or request an appointment online.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Fireplace Conversions
Can my wood-burning fireplace be converted to gas? In most cases, yes. The right conversion type depends on your chimney’s condition, your firebox dimensions, and whether you’re prioritizing heat output or ambiance, all of which we assess during your consultation.
What’s the difference between an insert and a gas log set? A gas insert is a self-contained, sealed unit that typically provides better heat output and requires a dedicated liner. A gas log set is simpler and less expensive, installed into your existing firebox, and better suited to homeowners prioritizing ambiance over supplemental heat.
Do I need a chimney liner? It depends on the conversion type and your existing flue’s condition and sizing. We evaluate this during your consultation and let you know exactly what’s required before recommending a path forward.
Will I need permits? Yes. A building permit and gas permit are required in virtually every jurisdiction we serve, and we handle both as part of your project.
Can I keep my existing mantel? Often, yes. Whether your existing mantel and surround can be reused depends on the new unit’s dimensions and clearance requirements, which we evaluate during your in-home consultation.
How long does installation take? Project timing varies from one day to several weeks, depending on the structural modifications required for the unit you choose.
Can I convert to propane? If propane is already available, we can help you convert. Call us for further guidance.
Can you install a fireplace I purchased elsewhere? No. We only install units we’ve sourced, inspected, and supplied ourselves. This protects your manufacturer warranty (which doesn’t transfer to independently sourced units), ensures the product’s condition and history are known, and lets us stand behind the installation as a whole. If you’ve already found a unit you love, we’re happy to tell you whether it’s the right fit for your home before you commit to it. Read more about why we only install units we supply →