Fireplace installation in Hilo HI - an insert that fits the fireplace you have

A factory-built fireplace, the metal box framed into the wall that some call zero-clearance, needs an insert designed and tested for that specific unit, according to national EPA guidance. That narrows your choice to inserts made for your fireplace, and in return it runs more efficiently and puts out less pollution. I find the make and model on the visit so we're picking from the right list.

A gas unit doesn't need a chimney, because it can vent straight through the roof or the wall behind it, and it can use an existing chimney if you have one. The EPA doesn't back gas units that run without outside venting, citing indoor air quality, and some places make installing them illegal. That's a good reason to go with a vented model.

At least once a year, under a national chimney safety standard that covers chimneys, fireplaces and vents. The check looks at whether it's sound, how much buildup there is and whether anything that can burn sits too close, with cleaning or repairs if it needs them. If you burn wood, check your firewood too, since properly dried wood should read 20% or less moisture.

Across the US, an electric fireplace or a gas fireplace insert usually costs about $600 to $7,000 per job, installed. That's the national going rate, not our price, and where your job lands depends on the unit, the venting or liner it needs, and how much firebox repair or surround work comes with it. I give you your own number in the written estimate after I've seen the fireplace, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.

Hawaii's contractor law only exempts projects of $1,000 or less in total price, counting labor, materials, taxes and everything else, and that exemption ends wherever a building permit is required, whatever the price. We're licensed and insured, so that question won't hold up your job. The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works has also released proposed changes to the building codes, including the residential code for homes, and if your job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork with the county and keep you posted before we start. We're based in Hilo and work in Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park and the cities around them.

It does for a wood-burning insert, but a liner for a gas unit doesn't need insulation to meet the makers' installation and warranty terms, because gas flue gases run cooler. A liner is the tube that carries smoke up the inside of an existing chimney. I check what's in your chimney now on the visit, so the liner matches the fuel you pick.