A wood insert fitted to your fireplace in River Oaks
Approve nothing until the scope reads right to you. The estimate lists every part of the insert installation.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Problems a new wood-burning insert can address
- An open fireplace you want to heat with
- An old insert with no full liner
- No floor protection in front of the unit
- A hearth too short for an insert
Jump to
Fitting a fireplace insert, from host to handover
What a wood insert is and does
A wood insert is a closed firebox with a door and glass front, made to sit inside an existing masonry fireplace. It is tested as a solid-fuel room heater and burns wood behind glass rather than in an open opening. The fireplace becomes its host.
That change affects more than the look. The insert needs its own liner to the chimney top, protection on the floor in front and clearances to nearby trim. We explain each of these before you choose a model, so the installed result matches what you expected.
Power for the optional blower
Many inserts offer a blower that pushes warm air into the room. It plugs into a grounded outlet, and manuals point to the electrical code for grounding. The manual also shows which side of the unit the cord runs to.
If there is no suitable outlet near the fireplace, an electrician adds one as a separate item. We coordinate the location with the electrician so it suits the manual. You approve that work alongside the insert. Tell us if you want the blower now or later, because adding the outlet is easier before the faceplate goes on.
What stays out of the insert
Manuals list materials that do not belong in a wood insert, including treated wood, painted or coated lumber, garbage, cardboard, colored paper, plywood and driftwood. Burning them can release toxic fumes, damage the unit or cause heavy soot. Many wood insert manuals exclude coal as well.
We go over the list at handover, because some items seem harmless. Scrap lumber from a project, packaging and gift wrap all fall into the excluded groups. Natural wood that is dry and split is what the insert was tested with.
Firebrick inside the insert itself
Many inserts line their firebox with their own firebrick, separate from the masonry fireplace around them. Those bricks wear with use and can crack. The manual shows how they sit and which replacement bricks to use. Some manuals allow the bricks to come out to lighten the unit for installation.
We check the insert's firebrick during maintenance visits and explain when replacement is sensible. Bricks inside the insert are ordered from its parts list, not cut from ordinary firebrick. The fireplace's own firebox repair is a separate matter, handled before the insert goes in.
Priced separately for a fireplace insert
- Firebox and smoke chamber inspection
- Masonry repairs as separate items
- Damper removed or secured open
- Floor protection with the right thermal rating
Before you book an insert installation
Can the insert connect to my home's air conditioning ducts?
No. Insert manuals warn against connecting to any air distribution ductwork unless the manual approves it specifically. The insert heats the room it sits in, and its flue gases go only up the liner.
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.
Why does the new insert smell during its early fires?
The high-temperature paint cures during the break-in fires and gives off an odor, which manuals describe as expected. Keep those fires moderate, ventilate the room and set nothing on top of the insert until the curing is done.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Chase Cover ReplacementReplace the chase top with a properly planned cover and clearly defined pipe connections.
- Smoke Chamber RepairRepair identified smoke-chamber surfaces with the access and material requirements clearly defined.
- Chimney Flue RepairAssess repairs to damaged existing flue linings and distinguish them from a new liner installation.
- Chimney Animal RemovalAssess occupied chimney openings and plan appropriate follow-up cleaning or entry protection.
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Local service. Careful repairs. A fireplace worth coming home to.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo