Chimney inspection
Inspection of the existing fireplace and flue so the insert vents into a sound system.
Fireplace Service
Fireplace Insert Installation Jenkintown, PA
An open masonry fireplace sends most of its heat up the chimney, and a fireplace insert installed in Jenkintown turns that firebox into an efficient, closed heater. Call (267) 633-0240 to reach a local installer.
Open fireplaces are pleasant to sit by but poor at heating, because they draw large amounts of warm house air up the chimney. An insert is a firebox within the firebox: a closed, insulated unit with a glass door and controlled combustion air that radiates and circulates heat.
The chimney has to be ready before an insert goes in. Industry practice treats an insert as a change to the system, the trigger for a Level 2 inspection that includes a camera look at the flue. Damaged tiles, mortar gaps or crown cracks are best repaired first, since the insert blocks access to the lower chimney.
Most inserts today are installed with a stainless steel liner that runs from the insert to the top of the chimney. Matching the liner size to the insert keeps exhaust warm and moving, so the draft stays strong. An insulated liner adds draft and safety, especially in a cold outside chimney.
Many fireplace insert installation calls in Jenkintown also turn up a need for chimney liner installation or gas fireplace repair.
Dealing with this in Jenkintown, PA right now? Call (267) 633-0240 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How fireplace insert installation works
Here is how an insert typically goes from first visit to first fire.
Inspect the chimney
The installer examines the whole system, often with a camera up the flue. Problems found here get fixed before the install.
Take measurements
The front width and height, rear width, depth and hearth are measured so the insert fits the opening. Mantel and trim clearances in the insert manual can rule some models in or out.
Run the liner
A full-length stainless liner goes in from the top, often wrapped in insulation, then capped at the top.
Set the insert
With the liner in place, the insert is set and connected. Gas units are connected to the gas supply and leak tested at this point.
First fire
The installer runs the unit to confirm it drafts and heats properly. Ask about break-in fires, which cure the paint and should be kept small.
What is included
Parts of an insert install
Top plate with cap
The liner is capped and the crown sealed around it with a screen to stop sparks.
Stainless steel liner
A properly sized flexible or rigid stainless liner that keeps the draft strong.
Trim kit
A surround seals the face of the fireplace around the unit and keeps room air from leaking up the flue.
Hearth check
The insert manual sets the hearth depth and protection needed in front of the door so embers cannot reach flooring.
Related service
Gas Fireplace Insert Jenkintown, PA
Gas inserts turn a wood fireplace into a gas one: a sealed firebox with a glass front, burner and log set that slides into the old opening. They typically vent through a pair of liners in the existing flue, one for fresh air and one for exhaust, joined at a cap on top. Running the gas line is part of the job and is done to local code.
Gas inserts in Jenkintown are popular with homeowners who want heat at the push of a button and no ash to clean. Ask about the ignition type, since some gas inserts light without house power, which matters in an outage. Plan on an annual service of the pilot, burner and vent.
Related service
Wood Burning Insert Jenkintown, PA
Wood inserts are essentially wood stoves shaped to fit a fireplace opening, with secondary combustion that burns off smoke for a cleaner, hotter fire. Current models meet EPA emission standards and use secondary air tubes or a catalytic combustor to burn gases that would otherwise become creosote.
Wood inserts in Jenkintown work best with seasoned wood under about 20 percent moisture, since wet wood smolders and coats the liner with creosote. Plan to have the liner swept every year, since an insert makes the chimney harder to reach from below.
Local help
Fireplace Insert Installation Near Me
Many fireplaces in Jenkintown were built for looks as much as heat, with large clay-lined flues that suit an open fire but not a modern insert, which is why a full-length liner is part of nearly every install. In Jenkintown and nearby towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley, rain and seasonal temperature swings wear on crowns and flue tiles, so the inspection before an insert often turns up masonry work worth doing first.
For fireplace insert installation in Jenkintown, PA or nearby towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley, call (267) 633-0240 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Jenkintown
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Jenkintown, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Jenkintown know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Fireplace Insert Installation FAQ
Is a gas or wood burning insert better?
The right choice depends on how you want to use the fireplace. Gas means instant flame and no ash, with a gas line required. Wood inserts can put out more heat and work without power, but take more effort and more frequent sweeping. Pellet inserts sit between them, feeding automatically but needing power.
How long does it take to install a fireplace insert?
The install itself usually fits into a single day. Ordering the insert and finishing any chimney repairs first usually takes longer than the install. Gas units also need the gas line run and tested.
Can any fireplace take an insert?
The firebox has to be large enough and the chimney sound enough, which the measurements and inspection settle. For prefab metal fireplaces, the insert must be listed for that fireplace, which narrows the options. A visit with measurements settles it.
Does a fireplace insert need a chimney liner?
Current practice and most insert manuals call for a full-length liner from the insert outlet to the top of the chimney. An unlined or oversized flue means weak draft and heavy creosote. A liner also makes the chimney far easier to sweep.
What upkeep does a fireplace insert need?
A wood insert needs regular ash removal and a yearly liner sweep and inspection. Gas units get a yearly service that covers ignition, burner, glass and venting. Either way, working CO alarms belong on every level of the home.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0240
Related services
Chimney Liner Installation
Putting a new liner in the flue for safer venting and a stronger draft.
Learn moreGas Fireplace Repair
Repair for gas fireplaces that will not light, will not stay lit or burn dirty, including direct vent, B-vent and vent-free units.
Learn moreWood Stove Installation
Wood stove installation into an existing chimney or a new insulated chimney, following the stove manual and local code.
Learn moreFireplace Repair
Fixing fireplaces that smoke, leak heat or show cracked masonry so they burn cleanly and safely again.
Learn more
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