A wood insert fitted to your fireplace in South Middle River
Give us the go-ahead on the insert while your free inspection is under 72 hours old, and save 10% on the work.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs your fireplace is ready for a wood insert
- A liner that stops short of the top
- An old insert without its manual
- An insert that is hard to light
- Mortar gaps inside the firebox
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The insert installation, explained step by step
Measuring the opening in three directions
Every insert manual lists the minimum opening it needs in height, width and depth. The front measurement alone says little, because many fireboxes narrow toward the back or slope inward near the top. An insert that fits the face can still be too deep for the firebox.
We measure the opening at the front and the back, and the depth at more than one height. Those figures go into the estimate beside the models you are considering. Choosing from real measurements keeps you from ordering a unit that cannot slide into place.
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.
The glass and gasket are listed parts
The glass in an insert door is a ceramic glass made to withstand the unit's heat. Manuals say to replace broken glass only with the maker's specified part, and to keep the door gasket in good condition so the door seals. Ordinary glass cannot take the temperature.
We explain how to care for the glass and when the gasket needs attention. If the door latch loosens as the gasket compresses, the manual describes how it can be adjusted. Replacement parts come from the parts list for your model.
Ash removal from a wood insert
Ashes should not build up to the loading door. Manuals call for removing them only when the fire is out and placing them in a metal container with a tight lid. The container then sits on a noncombustible surface away from anything that can burn. They stay there until fully cool.
We explain how often ash removal tends to be needed for the way you plan to burn. A small metal shovel and a proper container make the job easy. Cardboard boxes, paper bags and plastic bins are not safe places for ashes.
What your insert installation scope lists
- Host fireplace condition check
- Liner insulation where instructions require
- Blower outlet coordination with an electrician
- Break-in fire guidance at handover
Common questions about liners and wood inserts
Is the chimney cleaned before the liner is installed?
Yes. Insert and liner instructions call for the chimney to be cleaned and checked first. We do that as a separate step, look for damaged masonry and explain any repair before relining continues.
What do we keep after the insert is installed?
Keep the insert manual, the liner instructions and the written record we leave. That record lists the model, serial number, liner system and clearances checked, and it notes any change to the damper.
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.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney TuckpointingRenew deteriorated mortar joints around chimney bricks that can appropriately remain.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
- Chimney Flue RepairAssess repairs to damaged existing flue linings and distinguish them from a new liner installation.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo