I suppose stubbornly remaining below average would be a refusal to be average . <| sep |> I ' m no expert . To determine whether your gas fireplace can be converted back to a woodburner you should contact a chimney sweep andor a mason skilled in fireplace construction and inspection . The chimney sweep will be able to clean and inspect the chimney and recommend any repairs . He should be able to tell you whether the chimney is safe for you to use . You should have it inspected annually if you are going to use it anyway . The brick mason should be able to repair anything that may be structurally deficient in the fireplace or the chimney . Many chimney sweeps are also skilled at chimney repairs . My advice would be to contact one of these people locally and let them inspect it . The inspection is usually pretty cheap and at the very least you get your chimney cleaned of creosote which , if not done regularly can be a fire hazard . My own woodburning fireplace has gas supply in the firebox . It was evidently used for starting the fires . The copper gas pipe was run from the firebox up to the attic and then through the gable and down the outside of the house where the previous homeowner would roll a large propane bottle about 100 gallons to the connection and hook it up . I decided not to continue that practice . Good luck to you .