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Fitting the insert, the liner and the hearth

Wood inserts installed across Heathrow after a free inspection by our family team.

Inserts in factory-built fireplaces

Where an insert maker allows a factory-built fireplace, the conditions are strict. One maker calls for a full stainless liner rated Type HT to UL 1777, attached at the collar and at the chimney top, with the fireplace's airflow and louvers left unaltered.

The same manual allows only the removable external trim and the damper to come out of the factory-built unit, with the trim kept for reassembly. We confirm those conditions against the fireplace label before the job is priced, and we decline the work when they cannot be met.

Leaving the firebox structure alone

It can be tempting to chip away brick to make room for a larger insert. The manual we follow does not allow bricks or mortar to be removed, apart from the smoke shelf and the damper frame, and only when the structure is not weakened and the protection from combustibles is not reduced.

We choose an insert that fits the fireplace as built. When the model you want needs more room than the fireplace offers, we recommend a smaller model, since cutting the firebox to fit is not an option the manual allows.

Clearances to the mantel and the walls

Every insert lists the space it needs from the side walls, the mantel and the facing around it, measured from the insert body. One model asks for 24 inches to a combustible mantel, and other models give other figures.

We measure your mantel, trim and side walls against the manual for the insert you want. If they are too close, we explain whether a different model, a mantel change or a noncombustible facing solves it, with each option priced. The measurements are written into the estimate, so everyone works from the same numbers.

Emptying ashes safely

Ashes from an insert can hold heat for a long time. The manuals we follow call for a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, kept on a noncombustible surface away from anything that can burn until the ashes are cold.

We show you how much ash to leave in the firebox for your model and how to remove the rest without spreading dust. Emptying ashes the manual's way keeps the insert burning well. The container stays outside the house on a noncombustible surface until the ashes are cold.