Installing a fireplace insert in Southwest Ranches, host first
Wood inserts that meet EPA 2020 emission limits, installed with the clearances and hearth protection their manuals set.
- 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
- A worn insert with a warped door
- A faceplate that no longer seals
- Rusty panels on an old insert
- An old insert without its manual
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Turning a masonry fireplace into a wood insert host
The faceplate that closes the opening
A faceplate, sometimes called a surround, covers the gap between the insert and the fireplace opening. It gives a finished look and closes off the opening around the unit, as the manual intends. Most inserts offer more than one faceplate size.
We measure the opening and the face around it to choose a faceplate that covers the gap fully. The panels are fitted to the insert before it slides into place, as the manual describes. A faceplate that is too small leaves an opening that should not be there.
Baffles and deflector in place before the first fire
Inside the insert, baffles and a smoke deflector sit at the top of the firebox. Manuals require them to be installed before the first fire, and one warns that running without the deflector voids the warranty. Missing or displaced baffles can cause smoke spillage and draft problems.
If parts were removed to lighten the unit during installation, we put them back exactly as the manual shows. We check the baffle position before handover and show you how it looks. Knowing what normal looks like helps you notice if a baffle shifts later.
A second-hand insert needs its label and manual
A used insert can be installed only if its label is present and its manual available, since clearances, liner size and hearth protection all come from them. Missing parts, cracked glass or a warped body are reasons to stop. Parts availability also matters for a unit that may be out of production.
We look at a second-hand unit before you commit to it where possible. If the label is missing or the manual cannot be found, we explain why we cannot install it. A newer unit may cost more upfront and save a difficult installation.
When an existing insert has no full liner
If your current insert connects only a short pipe into the bottom of the masonry flue, it does not meet the continuous-liner requirement in current insert manuals. Smoke then travels through the old flue, which was sized for an open fireplace rather than a closed heater.
We explain what we find and what bringing it up to the manual would involve. Sometimes the existing insert can be relined, and sometimes replacing the unit makes more sense. You decide once you have the facts in writing, and nothing changes before you approve.
Insert items you approve before work in Southwest Ranches
- Chimney cleaning before relining
- Faceplate panels and insulation strips
- Serial number and model record
- Baffles and smoke deflector in place
Wood insert installation, in questions and answers
Should I buy the insert before you look at the fireplace?
It is safer to wait. The opening size, the hearth, the clearances and the liner all depend on the model, and measurements often rule some out. We check the models you like against your fireplace first.
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.
Is a wood insert allowed in a factory-built fireplace?
Only when both the fireplace's listing and the insert's manual allow the pairing, and many do not. We read both labels during the inspection and explain what they say before you consider any model.
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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