Plan to spend around $7,500.00 in most cases, which is up 50-75% in the last two years.  Obviously that changes depending on where you are, but that’s a reasonable expectation.  There are three costs to prepare for.  The first is the cost of the insert itself.  That will be around $5,000.00 on average, but can go up to $8,000.00 for a premium appliance.  In most cases, the fireplace dealer you purchase the insert from will not install the gas line you need.  You’ll talk to a plumber for that.  The cost there can vary from $1,000.00 up to a few thousand, depending on the specifics of the job.  Then you’ll most likely want an electrician to install an outlet in the back of your firebox, so that you can plug in the insert without seeing the cord.  That’s often a pretty small job, a few hundred dollars.  Occasionally states and counties will run programs to help pay for the cost of converting your old wood burning fireplace to a gas insert.  They want it done to benefit the community air quality.  Definitely check with your local dealer to see if any of those programs are available in your area. 

The gas insert is an excellent home upgrade, which I strongly recommend.  When we buy our homes, the wood burning fireplace conjures up romantic notions of nights by the fire, snuggling with a loved one.  We imagine using it all the time, with super cozy warm results.  In practice however, we tend to use that fireplace a couple times a year, and it turns into more of a chore than a relaxing way to spend the evening.  Most of us are just not in the habit, so the experience often fails to live up to expectations.  The gas insert will give us the two things we really want from our fireplace; efficient heat and an attractive visual experience.  And it will do it at the push of a button.  No sourcing, splitting, stacking, storing wood, no spider nests on your porch, no smell of smoke.  The end result is that we will use the insert much more often.  Not only will that give us the ambiance we want, but a great zone heater that can take the load off our furnace as well. 

The last thing to consider is that you are not spending money on a gas insert, you’re investing money into your home and quality of life.  There’s no exact figure for how much a gas insert adds to the value of your home, but it’s certain to add something.  You’ll enjoy your home more while you live in it, and it will be worth more when you sell it.  Once you make the change, you will never go back, that I’m sure of.  It’s just a great way to stay cozy.