Convert Your Wood Fireplace to Gas in Seattle
Cleaner, easier, more efficient heating — without hauling firewood, cleaning ash, or scheduling annual chimney sweeps. We convert wood-burning fireplaces to gas inserts, gas logs, or full replacements across Seattle and the broader Puget Sound region. Licensed WA gas technicians handle the entire scope.
Conversion Options
- Gas insert conversion
- Gas log conversion
- Full fireplace replacement
- New stainless steel liner
- Gas line install / extension
- Permits, inspection, code work
Three Approaches
Wood to Gas Conversion Options
Three different conversion approaches — each with different scope, cost, and outcome. We recommend the option that fits your home, your usage, and your budget.
Gas Fireplace Insert
Best Fit For Most Homeowners
A self-contained gas appliance that fits into your existing fireplace opening. Sealed combustion (no room air drawn into the burner), efficient heat output, blower-circulated warmth. The conversion type we recommend for most Seattle homeowners who want supplemental heat plus convenience.
- ✓Efficient heat output
- ✓Sealed combustion (cleaner air)
- ✓Real supplemental heating
- ✓Cleaner operation than wood-burning
Gas Log Conversion
Budget-Friendly Option
Gas log set sits inside your existing wood-burning firebox with a gas line connection. Preserves the traditional open-fireplace look with less efficient heat output than an insert. Lower installation cost and faster timeline.
- ✓Vented log sets (most common)
- ✓Lower installation cost
- ✓Preserves open-fireplace aesthetic
- ✓Faster installation timeline
Ventless log sets are heavily restricted in WA state code — we usually recommend vented configurations.
Full Fireplace Replacement
For Remodels & Major Upgrades
Removing the existing wood-burning fireplace entirely and installing a new gas fireplace — often a modern direct-vent unit. Largest scope, but the right choice for major remodels, structural changes, or when the existing fireplace isn't worth preserving.
- ✓Most design flexibility
- ✓Modern unit options (linear, etc.)
- ✓New venting configuration
- ✓Largest project scope
See full installation page → Gas fireplace installation
Our Work
Wood to Gas Conversions — Before & After
Wood to Gas Specialists
The Most Popular Fireplace Upgrade We Do
Wood-to-gas conversions are our most requested service. We handle permits, gas line connections, insert selection, and venting — start to finish.
Get a Free Estimate →Our Process
How the Wood-to-Gas Conversion Process Works
Conversion involves multiple trades — gas piping, venting, electrical, possibly chimney work. We coordinate all of it under one project so you're working with one company, not three. Here's what happens from start to finish:
01
Inspection
Site visit to evaluate the existing fireplace, chimney condition, gas service availability, and venting options. Foundation of the project — we don't quote conversions without seeing the unit.
02
Fireplace evaluation
Confirming the existing firebox and chimney are structurally sound for the conversion. If masonry repair, crown work, or relining is needed first, we identify it now.
03
Gas line planning
Mapping the gas line route from your existing supply to the fireplace location. Verifying pipe sizing for the appliance's BTU requirements.
04
Venting assessment
Determining whether the existing chimney can be used with a new stainless liner, or whether a different venting solution (direct-vent) is needed.
05
Insert / log selection
Recommending specific models that fit your firebox dimensions, your aesthetic preference, and your heating needs. We service all major brands.
06
Installation
Full installation: gas line, liner (if applicable), insert or log set placement, electrical, and finish work. Most conversions take 1–2 days.
07
Testing & safety check
Pressure test on the gas line, leak detection, CO safety test, ignition verification, blower testing, and operational verification. Documented in writing.
08
Permits & code
Permits pulled before work begins. Required inspections scheduled. All work documented in the permit record for your protection and future home sale.
Pricing Transparency
What Affects Wood-to-Gas Conversion Cost
Conversion pricing varies based on the option you choose and your home's specific configuration. We don't quote firm prices over the phone because too many variables affect actual cost. After a site visit, we provide a detailed written estimate with line items so you understand exactly what you're paying for.
Insert vs. logs vs. replacement
Gas log conversions are at the lower end. Insert conversions sit in the middle. Full replacements are highest because they include removing the existing fireplace and structural work. The unit cost itself also varies significantly across these three options.
Gas line installation
Short gas line runs from a nearby existing supply are quick. Long runs, runs through finished walls, or installing service to a home without existing gas all add scope. Gas line work also requires inspection — included in our scope.
Vent modifications
Installing a stainless steel liner inside the existing chimney is the most common venting modification. Direct-vent installations through an exterior wall are an alternative. Both require code-compliant installation and inspection.
Electrical work
Gas inserts typically need a dedicated electrical circuit for the blower, igniter, and controls. Most conversions require running new electrical from the panel or extending an existing circuit.
Finish carpentry
Inserts usually preserve the existing fireplace appearance with minor trim work. Full replacements may involve significant finish carpentry — tile, stone, mantel, hearth — that adds project scope.
Permits & chimney prep
Required permits are included in our scope. If the existing chimney needs masonry repair, crown work, or relining before the conversion can proceed, those are addressed as part of the project.
Eligibility
Can You Convert a Wood Fireplace to Gas?
Yes — in most cases. Most wood-burning fireplaces in Seattle homes can be converted to gas. The right approach depends on the type of fireplace you have, your venting situation, and gas service at the home. Here's what determines eligibility:
Masonry fireplaces
Ideal candidates for conversion. The brick firebox and chimney are already in place — we install a gas insert, add a properly sized stainless steel liner, and run the gas line. The most common conversion type we do in Seattle's pre-1960 housing stock.
Prefab (zero-clearance) fireplaces
Older prefabricated metal fireboxes can sometimes be converted but more often need to be replaced with a gas unit designed for the same opening. The original prefab firebox isn't always rated for gas insert use — we assess on site.
Structural eligibility
The existing firebox and surround need to be sound. Deteriorated mortar, cracked refractory panels, or structural damage to the chimney usually needs to be addressed before — or as part of — the conversion. We assess during the site visit.
Venting constraints
Most conversions use the existing chimney as the vent path with a new stainless steel liner. Direct-vent units can also be installed with a side-wall vent if the chimney isn't usable. We confirm the best venting option for your specific configuration.
Gas service access
Natural gas service at the home makes conversion straightforward. Homes without natural gas can still convert using propane (requires exterior propane tank). We verify gas service capacity during the site assessment to confirm it can support a fireplace appliance.
Code compliance
Conversions must meet current WA gas code, local building code, and manufacturer specifications. We pull permits, schedule the required inspections, and document everything — your installation is legally permitted and warranty-eligible.
Honest Assessment
Is Converting a Wood Fireplace to Gas Worth It?
For most Seattle homeowners, yes — the long-term benefits significantly outweigh the upfront cost. But there are real trade-offs worth thinking about before committing. Here's the honest breakdown:
Why Most Homeowners Convert
- ✓Convenience — turn on with a remote or wall switch in seconds, no kindling or lighting routine
- ✓Less maintenance — no chimney sweeps for creosote, no ash cleanup, no firewood storage
- ✓Cleaner indoor air — sealed combustion (in inserts) eliminates smoke, soot, and particulates
- ✓Zone heating — heat one room efficiently without firing up whole-house HVAC
- ✓Easier daily use — gas appliances encourage actual fireplace use vs. "we'll light it for special occasions"
- ✓No hauling wood — Seattle winter is wet; firewood is wet; gas eliminates this
- ✓No ash cleanup — no shop vac, no ash bucket, no soot on the hearth
Honest Trade-Offs
- →Upfront cost — conversion is a real investment; payback comes over years through reduced maintenance and supplemental heating savings
- →Less traditional ambiance — gas flames look very realistic on modern units, but some homeowners specifically value the smell, sound, and feel of a wood fire
- →Annual tune-up required — gas units need annual tune-up service to maintain safety and warranty
- →Gas service required — homes without natural gas need either propane (with tank) or gas service installation
- →Permanent decision — converting back to wood-burning later is possible but uncommon and adds cost
The Seattle calculus: Most Puget Sound homeowners who convert say they wish they'd done it sooner. The convenience of remote-controlled heat, the elimination of firewood logistics in a wet climate, and the cleaner indoor air consistently outweigh the trade-offs once the conversion is done.
Honest Differentiator
Wood Fireplace Repair vs. Gas Conversion
Not every aging wood fireplace needs to be converted. If you actively enjoy wood-burning and the issues are limited, targeted repair often makes more sense than full conversion. Here's how we think about it:
Repair Often Makes Sense When:
- ✓You actively enjoy wood-burning
- ✓The issue is masonry-related (mortar, crown, cap)
- ✓The fireplace drafts well when in good condition
- ✓You have access to good firewood
- ✓Repair cost is reasonable relative to conversion
Repair options:
Conversion Makes Sense When:
- →The wood fireplace is inefficient (most are — they actually pull warm air out of the house)
- →Draft is poor and not easily fixable
- →You prioritize convenience over the wood-burning ritual
- →You're tired of firewood logistics
- →You want real supplemental heat (gas inserts deliver this; open wood fireplaces rarely do)
- →Repair costs are approaching or exceeding conversion cost
- →You're tired of repeated repair calls on the same fireplace
Our approach: We diagnose first. If your wood fireplace is in good condition and you enjoy using it, we'll quote the repair work. If converting makes more sense for your situation, we'll explain why — and we don't push conversion when repair is the right answer.
Why Wood-to-Gas Conversion Makes Sense in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest climate creates specific reasons Seattle homeowners convert that don't apply as strongly in drier regions.
Wet winters & wet firewood
Seattle's sustained winter rain makes firewood storage and seasoning a constant challenge. Wet firewood smokes, smells, and burns inefficiently. Gas eliminates the entire firewood logistics problem.
PNW convenience priorities
Pacific Northwest homeowners typically value convenience and clean indoor air. Gas fireplaces — especially direct-vent inserts — fit this priority better than wood-burning, which requires preparation, monitoring, and cleanup every time you use it.
Efficient supplemental heating
Open wood fireplaces actually pull warm room air up the chimney and lose more heat than they generate. Sealed-combustion gas inserts retain most of the heat in the room — a meaningful upgrade as supplemental heat through Seattle's long heating season.
Code-compliant gas upgrades
Seattle and King County code requirements have evolved over decades. We handle the permitting, inspection, and code compliance as part of every conversion — your installation is legally documented and warranty-eligible from day one.
Pre-1960 housing stock
Ballard, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Wallingford, Beacon Hill, and Madison Park are full of pre-1960 homes with original masonry fireplaces that are excellent candidates for insert conversions. The structural work is already done — we add the gas appliance.
Air quality & burn bans
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency burn bans periodically restrict wood-burning use during stagnant air events. Gas fireplaces are exempt from these bans — you can use them throughout the heating season regardless of air quality alerts.
Wood to Gas Conversion FAQ
Questions Seattle homeowners ask before scheduling a conversion
Related Gas Fireplace & Chimney Services
Gas Fireplace Installation
New unit install with code-compliant venting
Gas Fireplace Repair
Service for existing gas fireplaces
Gas Fireplace Tune-Up
Annual maintenance — $295 flat rate
Chimney Relining
Stainless liner sizing for gas inserts
Chimney Masonry Repair
Repair before conversion if needed
Wood Burning Fireplace
Learn about wood-burning alternatives
Schedule a Conversion Consultation
Site assessment. Detailed written estimate. Licensed WA gas technicians. Insert, gas logs, or full replacement — we explain the options and recommend the right scope for your home. Free consultation across Seattle and the Puget Sound region.
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Last reviewed: May 2026