Fireplace Services
Wood insert installation from chimney top to hearth
Each insert is fitted to its own manual, with repairs, liner and hearth priced in writing first.
The EPA 2020 limits and the label
Federal rules for residential wood heaters cover fireplace inserts. EPA's Step 2 emission limits apply to every heater made or sold at retail from May 15, 2020, which must also carry a permanent label, and EPA keeps a public database of heaters that meet them.
When you are choosing a new insert, we point you to the label and the database. A unit that meets the current limits is built to burn cleaner, which also helps keep the glass and the liner cleaner between services. Ask the seller for the label details before you buy, and we confirm them at the inspection.
A clean, clear flue first
One insert manual asks for the chimney to be suitable for wood and checked for buildup and obstructions before installation. Old nests, fallen debris and deposits left from years of open fires can all sit in the flue unseen.
We inspect the flue and, where it needs it, clean it before the liner goes in. The cleaning is priced separately in the written estimate, so you can see what the chimney needed and what the insert itself costs. Cleaning also lets us see the flue walls clearly before the liner goes in, so nothing is hidden behind it.
Moving a heavy insert safely
Wood inserts are heavy, mostly because of their steel body and firebrick lining. One manual lightens the unit for moving by taking out the firebricks and the baffle first and refitting them in place.
The carry from the driveway to the hearth is planned, floors and door frames along the route are protected, and enough people come for the size of the unit. Every brick and baffle part goes back exactly where the manual shows. The carry is planned before installation day, so nothing is dragged across your floors.
Running the insert with the door closed
An insert is designed to burn with its door closed and latched. The manuals we follow say it is not to be operated with the door open, since an open door draws room air and can upset the draft.
We explain this at handover because it is the biggest change from an open fireplace. With the door shut, the air controls set how hot the fire burns. Opening the door slowly when you add wood keeps smoke from rolling out, as the manual describes.
