Fireplace Services

Inside an electric fireplace installation

A clean room when we leave, a workmanship warranty and no hidden fees.

A grounded outlet of the right type

One maker's plug-in firebox manual calls for a properly grounded outlet of the same configuration as the plug, with no adapter and no change to the plug itself. A two-prong outlet or a loose receptacle does not meet that instruction.

Our team checks the outlet the unit will use before mounting anything. If the outlet is the wrong type or shows wear, we note it in the estimate, and an electrician replaces it before the fireplace is connected. The unit goes in only when the outlet matches its manual.

Reading the rating label

The rating label lists the model, the voltage and the power the unit draws. On one linear model the label sits on top of the unit, which is why it should be read before the unit disappears into the wall. Those numbers decide the outlet, the circuit and whether the model suits the supply you have.

We copy the label details into the estimate and into the written record of the installation. If a question comes up later about the circuit or a replacement part, the numbers are already on paper and nobody has to pull the unit out to find them.

Intakes and outlets left open

An electric fireplace heater pulls air in through an intake and pushes warm air out through an outlet. The manuals we reference warn against blocking either one or covering the front of the unit, since the heater depends on that airflow to run as designed. Decorative logs, stones or glass media are set so they sit in the flame tray and away from the heater outlet.

Our installers check that trim, decorative media and furnishings leave both openings clear. At handover we point out the intake and the outlet, so everyone in the home knows which parts must stay uncovered.

A listed unit with a matching manual

Electric fireplaces are sold through many channels, and the paperwork varies. UL 1278 is one safety standard for movable and wall- or ceiling-hung electric room heaters, and built-in units may be listed to other standards.

Before we install a unit, we look for a listing mark from a recognized testing laboratory and for a manual that matches the model. If either is missing, we tell you before the job goes ahead, so you can decide with the facts in hand.