Our 1980s Oshawa home had a wood-burning fireplace we never used — messy, inefficient, and the chimney needed repointing anyway. Converted it to a gas insert last fall.
What we had:
- Standard masonry firebox, 36-inch wide opening
- Existing gas line in the basement (had to be extended to the living room)
- Chimney in fair condition — inspector said masonry was okay but mortar needed touching up
Quotes (gas insert installed, gas line extension, liner installation):
- Quote A: $6,800 — Napoleon Entice 36, stainless liner, blower included
- Quote B: $5,400 — Regency P36E, aluminum liner, blower extra
- Quote C: $7,200 — Napoleon Grandville 36 (larger BTU), stainless liner, remote included
We went with Quote A — the Napoleon Entice at $6,800 total. The aluminum liner in Quote B made us nervous given the chimney’s age.
Permit process:
Durham Region permit: $195. Gas fitter came out for the licensed gas line work (required). Inspector visited after installation — passed on first inspection.
First winter review:
The insert produces noticeably more usable heat than I expected. We used it to supplement heating in the main floor addition (which has always been cold) — the gas bill increase was minimal while we ran the gas fireplace.
The blower makes a significant difference — without it, the heat just rises. With it, it circulates into the room.
One surprise: The chimney liner is technically optional for some insert configurations, but every reputable contractor we spoke to insisted on it. The gap between the insert flue collar and the old chimney is a CO risk without the liner. Don’t skip it.