Fitting a wood-burning insert in Belle Meade, liner and all
We check the masonry fireplace, the chimney and the hearth before a wood insert is chosen for your home in Belle Meade.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Old insert trouble and open fireplace frustrations
- Smoke puffing from an existing insert
- Rusty panels on an old insert
- A hearth too short for an insert
- Mortar gaps inside the firebox
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What goes into a wood-burning insert installation
A listed liner system, installed to its instructions
Stainless liners for relining masonry chimneys are tested and listed under the chimney liner safety standard. Each system comes with instructions for its pipe, connectors, insulation, top plate and cap. The code expects the lining to suit the appliance under that appliance's listing.
We use a listed liner system and install every piece to its instructions. Parts from different liner makers are not mixed, because the instructions forbid it. Your written record names the liner system, so the next person who services the chimney knows what is there.
Dry wood for a clean-burning insert
Insert manuals are designed around dry, seasoned cordwood. Green or wet wood burns poorly, makes more smoke and dirties the glass and liner. EPA guidance adds that wood dries best stored off the ground with only its top covered.
We explain how to judge dryness, including with an inexpensive moisture meter, which both the manual and EPA guidance mention. If your wood supply is uncertain, buy early and store it well. The insert's performance depends on the fuel as much as on the installation.
When a new fireplace is the better project
Some fireplaces cannot host an insert, because the masonry is too damaged, the opening too small or the fireplace factory-built without a listing that allows one. In those cases a new fireplace may be the more practical route. That is a different installation with different rules.
We explain why an insert does not suit your fireplace and what the alternatives involve. Our fireplace installation service covers new wood fireplaces, both factory-built and masonry. Either way, the decision is yours once you have the reasons in writing.
Secondary air tubes and baffles
Many clean-burning inserts have secondary air tubes across the top of the firebox, with baffles resting above them. The tubes feed air that helps burn the gases rising from the wood. They can warp or loosen over time and are replaced from the parts list.
We look at the tubes and baffles during maintenance and explain whether they sit correctly. The manual shows how they come out and go back, usually when the unit is cold. A missing or misplaced baffle can change the draft and the glass condition quickly.
Scope lines for a wood-burning insert
- Chimney cleaning before relining
- Damper removed or secured open
- Noncombustible hearth extension check
- Daily cover for the open chimney top
Questions about fireplace insert installation in Belle Meade
How do I know the insert meets current emission limits?
The label on the insert shows the standard it meets. Current wood inserts carry a label stating that they meet the EPA 2020 emission limits. We show you the label on your model and keep its details in the written record.
Can an insert go into a fireplace with cracked firebrick?
Not until the firebrick is repaired. Insert manuals require a sound host free of cracks and loose mortar. The repair is a separate item handled by our firebox repair service before the insert is installed.
Is the installation work covered after the insert is in?
Yes. Our workmanship warranty covers the installation work we complete. The insert maker's warranty covers the unit under its own terms, which is another reason we follow the manual closely.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo