Fitting a wood-burning insert in Idlewyld, liner and all
A wood-burning insert installed to its manual, with a continuous liner from the collar to the top of the chimney.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Reasons to consider a wood insert for your fireplace
- An open fireplace you want to heat with
- A worn insert with a warped door
- A second appliance sharing the flue
- A hearth too short for an insert
Jump to
The insert installation, explained step by step
Repairs are separate items that come first
An insert installation sometimes uncovers work the fireplace needed anyway, such as a cracked firebox, a damaged hearth or loose masonry higher up. Those repairs belong to their own services and appear as separate items on the estimate. The insert job itself stays clearly defined.
We explain which repairs are required before installation and which are advisable but optional. The order matters, since repairs behind an insert become hard to reach once it is in. You approve the repairs and the insert separately, in the sequence that makes sense.
Read the insert's manual before you buy
The installation manual shows what a particular insert needs from your fireplace. It lists the opening sizes, the liner, the floor protection, the clearances to trim and mantel, and the host restrictions. A brochure rarely mentions most of that.
Ask us to go through the manual of any insert you are considering. We point out the requirements that matter for your fireplace in particular, such as a short hearth or a mantel close to the opening. Then the choice rests on the whole picture.
Your written record of the insert installation
After installation, you receive a written record of the work. It names the insert model and serial number, the liner system and where it runs, the faceplate, the floor protection and the clearances checked. It also notes any change made to the damper and where the metal tag sits.
Keep the record with the insert and liner manuals. Whoever services the insert later can see what was installed without guessing. A future buyer's inspector will find the same pages useful.
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.
Confirmed before a wood insert is ordered
- Continuous liner sized to the collar
- Metal tag fixed to the fireplace
- Blower outlet coordination with an electrician
- Removal of an old insert if present
Fireplace insert questions we hear in Idlewyld
Can the insert share a flue with another appliance?
The selected insert and liner manuals determine the permitted arrangement. The DuraLiner system cited here calls for a dedicated liner. We check whether another appliance already uses the proposed flue and record the compatible connection before installation.
What happens to the chimney top while the liner goes in?
The liner is usually installed from the roof. Any open chimney top is covered at the close of each work day until the top plate and cap are set. Old parts and packaging leave with us when the job is finished.
Will someone need to inspect the insert before we use it?
That depends on the job and the jurisdiction. Insert manuals advise asking local building or fire officials about installation inspections. If one is required, we explain when it happens, and the first fire waits for it.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo