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How To Install A Wood Burning Fireplace Insert

Can I install a fireplace insert myself?

So, yes, you can install your dream fireplace or wood-burning stove yourself, provided you have the expertise. However, it’s highly recommended that you hire a contractor with experience specific to fireplace installations.

Can I install my own wood stove insert?

Is a wood-burning insert worth it?

Studies have shown that as much as 95 percent of the residual heat in a traditional wood fireplace is expelled outside. A wood-burning fireplace insert offers a slower, more efficient burn rate providing up to five hours of uninterrupted heat. It consumes less fuel and has heating efficiencies of 80+ percent!.

How much does it cost to install a wood-burning fireplace?

On average, a new metal prefabricated gas or wood-burning fireplace costs $2,900 installed, while an electric fireplace runs $1,200.Fireplace Cost. Fireplace Type Cost To Install Electric Fireplace $100 – $2,200 Wood-Burning Fireplace $1,900 – $3,300 Gas Fireplace $2,300 – $4,000 Masonry Fireplace $3,500 – $5,600.

Do I need a chimney liner for fireplace insert?

When installing a fireplace insert in your existing fireplace it is now required that you install a chimney liner system to vent the appliance. In addition to your installation being compliant with local code, there are many other benefits to installing a stainless steel chimney liner.

How do you seal a fireplace insert?

Adhesive Strips Available at many hardware and home improvement stores, small rolls of fiberglass-based stripping can be cut to size and applied in noticeable gaps between an insert and the masonry on the outside face of a fireplace, underneath the insert.

How do you replace a fireplace insert?

Safety gloves and boots. Step 1: Remove the Trim. Using a hammer, mallet, or pry bar, you will want to remove the trim and any nails around the fireplace that is holding the insert in place. Step 2: Disassemble pipes and Vents. Step 3: Pry the Insert. Step 4: Set it off to the Side.

How much does a new fireplace insert cost?

Gas fireplace inserts are installed in pre-existing, wood-burning fireplaces, making the overall cost far lower than installing an entirely new system. The insert itself will cost around $1,200, with labor costs running between $500 and $3,500 depending on the complexity of the job.

Are wood fireplace inserts safe?

When properly installed, wood-burning inserts are very safe and are much safer than an open fire.

How safe are fireplace inserts?

Most ventless gas fireplace inserts are considered safe for homeowners because they include an oxygen-depletion sensor that turns gas off before carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels in the room. Nevertheless, some states don’t allow ventless gas units.

Which fireplace insert is best?

The 10 Best Fireplace Inserts Product Forbes Advisor Rating Warranty Symple Stuff Brimfield 23.5” W Electric Fireplace Insert 3.9 Okay U.S. Stove 6041I Pellet or Corn Insert with Igniter Furnace 3.9 Excellent R.W. FLAME 36″ Electric Fireplace Insert 3.8 Okay Valuxhome Electric Fireplace, 36 Inches Fireplace Insert 3.8 Okay.

Can you put a fireplace insert in a prefab fireplace?

Every prefabricated fireplace has standards and clearances that must be met to ensure the safety of the homeowner. It’s safe to assume the addition of a fireplace insert can alter these clearances. If an insert is unlisted, it should never be placed in a prefab fireplace.

Can you install a wood-burning insert in a prefab fireplace?

Many people have often asked if they can install a wood burning insert into a builder grade fireplace and the short answer is yes you can. Now wood burning inserts can also be placed in prefabricated fireplaces, but again you are going to need to be careful on what insert you buy as not all inserts will work.

Should you insulate around a fireplace insert?

A fireplace insert is generally more energy efficient than a traditional fireplace, but still requires insulation. Insulation should be tucked around all sides of the firebox and the flue.

Do wood-burning fireplace inserts need electricity?

As with freestanding wood stoves, wood fireplace inserts won’t typically require a source of electricity. If a wood insert has a blower then it will typically require an electrical supply in order to operate.

What does class 1 or 2 chimney mean?

You can have electric, gas and gel fires with a prefabricated flue. However, which specific fires you’re allowed generally comes down to the size of the flue. Essentially, if your flue diameter is 7 inches, you’ll need a class 1 fire. For 5 inch flues, you’ll need a class 2 fire.

Does a brick chimney need a liner?

Do brick chimneys need to be lined? Many older homes have unlined brick chimneys. They were built during a period when most building codes didn’t require them. Today, most building and fire codes require chimney liners, even if you have a brick chimney.

How do wood-burning fireplace inserts work?

A wood-burning fireplace insert consists of a metal firebox installed inside your existing fireplace. Fuel is loaded into the firebox through a pair of doors that face toward the interior of the room. Oxygen for the fire is supplied through vents located below the doors or on the sides of the insert.

How much is a chimney liner cost?

The average cost to have a chimney lined by a professional is going to be about $2500. Depending on the type of chimney liner, it could cost up to $10,000. The average DIY chimney liner installation is going to cost about $750 and could cost as high as $3000 for the material.