Fireplace Services

Inside an electric fireplace installation

Your electric fireplace installation is 10% off when you confirm it inside 72 hours of the inspection.

Plug-in and hardwired connections

A plug-in electric fireplace draws power through a cord and a standard wall outlet. A hardwired unit connects directly to the home's wiring, and one maker's linear line is designed to be hardwired and never plugged into a receptacle. The rating label tells you which kind you have, along with its voltage and its watts or amps.

We confirm the connection type during the free inspection. A plug-in unit is placed so its cord reaches a suitable outlet directly. A hardwired unit needs an electrician for the connection, and our estimate shows that step separately, so you can see what each part of the job costs.

120-volt and 240-volt models

Household outlets supply 120 volts, and many plug-in fireplaces are built for them. Some built-in models also come in 240-volt versions that produce more heat, and those need a circuit made for them. The model number, never the size of the unit, tells you which version you have.

If you are still choosing, we point out which versions of your preferred model suit the power already at the wall. That helps you avoid ordering a 240-volt unit for a room where only a 120-volt supply is available, or the other way around.

Manuals that differ on bathrooms

Two manuals from the same maker give different answers on bathrooms. The plug-in firebox is not for bathrooms, laundry areas or similar rooms, while the built-in linear unit may be installed in a bathroom when it has ground-fault protection and stays away from the shower and tub.

That difference is why we read the manual for your model before agreeing to a location. If the unit is not suited to the room you picked, we say so and suggest either another model or another room.

Access for future service

Servicing an electric fireplace beyond basic cleaning is work for the maker's authorized service people, according to the built-in manual we follow. They need to reach the unit to do it. An access path also makes it easier to replace a part without disturbing the wall.

We plan the surround and any cabinetry so the unit can be opened or removed without tearing out finished work. That small decision on installation day can save a large repair bill later.