How to Install a Fireplace Insert in an Unconventional Opening | Ask This Old House
Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman installs an electric fireplace insert into an unconventional opening with zero clearance.
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Time: 3-4 hours
Cost: $900 and up
Skill Level: Expert
Tools List for Installing a Fireplace Insert:
Drill driver [https://amzn.to/3a9Zlpa]
Spade bit [https://amzn.to/36Wsmme]
Caulking gun [https://amzn.to/2Rfm3TX]
Pliers [https://amzn.to/2NpIGUM]
Screwdriver [https://amzn.to/3a9ZsRC]
Shopping List:
Electric fireplace insert [https://amzn.to/2uOPYLi]
2×4 dimensional lumber [https://amzn.to/2Rk4qCm]
Pocket screws [https://amzn.to/36V8uzE]
Granite slab
Construction adhesive [https://amzn.to/3a6sqSe]
Wire nuts [https://amzn.to/2TuKEal]
Steps:
1. Start by identifying an insert that’s the closest fit to the opening. Be sure that it is suited for zero clearance and no venting.
2. Fill in the rest of the opening with a fake hearth. Cut to size some 2×4” dimensional lumber and assemble a frame using pocket screws.
3. Secure the frame to the floor with more screws.
4. Cut a hole in the floor behind the frame for the wiring using a spade bit.
5. Shut the power off at the breaker. Fish the wires for the insert through the basement at the panel and through the floor and through the wood frame for the fake hearth.
6. With the wiring pulled through, secure the granite piece to the top of the frame using construction adhesive.
7. Wire the fireplace insert to the wiring coming up through the floor.
8. Secure the insert to the wall on top of the new fake hearth.
9. Turn the power back on.
Resources:
Heath installed an Allure 32 Wall Hanging Electric Fireplace Insert, which is manufactured by Napoleon Fireplaces (https://napoleonfireplaces.com/).
Since Heath was unable to find an insert that perfectly matched the strange dimensions of the opening at the house, he built up a frame for a “fake hearth” to fill in the rest of the hole. For this, he used regular pocket screws and 2×4” lumber, which can be found at any home center. Heath got the granite cutoff from LA Tiles | Marble and Granite Design (https://www.latilesandgranite.com/), though he mentioned that any stone yard would most likely be willing to cut and edge a piece of stone if they were provided with the correct dimensions.
The other tools and materials Heath used to install and connect the electric fireplace insert, including the wiring, fish tape, wire nuts, and screwdriver, can all be found at home centers and electrical supply houses.
Expert assistance with this segment was provided by Eaton and Eastman Electric (http://www.eatonandeastmanelectric.com/).
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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Keywords:
This Old House, Ask This Old House, DIY, Home Improvement, DIY Ideas, Renovation, Renovation Ideas, How To Fix, How To Install, How To Build, electrical, Heath Eastman, fireplace insert, zero clearance
Watch the full episode:
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/watch/stoop-planters-fireplace-insert-ask-toh
How to Install a Fireplace Insert in an Unconventional Opening | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/
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Those electric fireplaces are awesome. Mine kept me warm for 14 seconds the last time my electricity went out.
C’mon. It’s an electric heater with flashing lights to justify a 10x or 20x increase in price over a $50 heater.
Who are all these new people!!
Not for me.
Kind of an awkward video.
Wow put a real fire place in. O that's right, no one wants to be a man anymore
Lame
TOH really screwed up big time by getting rid of Scott Caron. This new guy is absolute trash.
I was going to have friends come over and watch paint dry but this fireplace is much more exciting
Bring back Scott Caron. This guy is awkward on camera.
I didn't like that they didn't show the homeowner finishing that bare wood. Also the stone sticking out looks funny.
please paint that lower piece of wood
What about a vent free fireplace? Similar clearance, and can be an actual fire. Also, I miss Scott too!
Disconnecting means required ??
the problem with electric fires is the cost of the power which will increase dramatically
He sounds like Terry from Reno 911
Does not look good.
Kind of looks like my 46" TV .
Well thats real ugly.
I absolutely DO NOT like how that looks. The stained board on the bottom would have looked better if it was white to match the rest of the fireplace. OR, maybe put the insert more at floor level and have the white wood on top.
But, hey if the home owner is happy that's all that counts. …I guess.
THAT IS NOT A FIREPLACE INSERT. THAT IS A BOX ON THE WALL.
He bought that house because of the fire place opening? Good god almighty
He does electric and framing wow he’s good
The music is obnoxious and maddening. Turn it OFF, please.
Should've just hung a Disco Ball in that opening then add a $20 heater from Walmart and it would probably look better than that.
A piece of stone around the bottom, sides and top would have made a much bigger difference, but oh well…what he won't like, is his electric bill !!
1:31 Non sequitur. You want to keep the thermostat turned down, but you're okay with running a resistive heater?
It's a t.v. with a heater…..lame
The brown piece of wood should be primed and painted bright White. Then put white crown trim in front of that piece around all the edges for a finished look.
Looks fukn ugly, would have looked better with the stone at ground level and a gloss black insert at the top
Came here for the comments… Not disappointed!
But can it play Crysis?
When did TOH start outsourcing their videos?
More technocrap.
This is the funniest yet most awkward TOH video. The homeowner has awful taste, just look at his decorations, his outfit, his haircut, and all his choices (bought the house for the fireplace?). The fireplace itself is god-awful ugly. The logic behind the saving on heat hut using an electric fake fireplace is laughable. And, I don't like making fun of people, but his lisp really brings the whole thing together. The comments are also pure gold.
A tv would have looked better than that.
Horrendous!
Everyone throwing some serious shade. Maybe you don't like it, but the video showed how to fit an existing off the shelf fireplace into a larger opening. I think it looks odd but better than how it looked originally.
But, I can't throw my dead dog in THERE!!!
What's going on at 2:32 with the electrical tape?
Glad to see they've got safety glasses on for wiring…
Looked better before.
Nice work, but why not just make the box white to match the rest of the mantle surround?
TOH is one of my favorite vids since Villa days . most of time I consider it as a comedy show . but still like it.I'm a Toronto guy.. we use bricks to build houses here… not a straw and siding..
Of course, because of the closeness of the buildings, a gas fire place would have meant running a stack up to the roof.
I usually get a lot of good ideas and tips on this channel, but that looks like poop. Yikes
Pros get it right.
Fake fireplaces like this are disgusting. The world is becoming artificial, not real anymore. Why not just install a TV in there playing a video loop of a fire? I thought the point of TOH was restore to the beauty of the original?
I started with Woodglut plans.
If you needed to make a custom surround/trim for electric fireplace is wood trim acceptable? Or does it have to be metal?
Nice video. This one is awesome. https://youtu.be/pkHijAJsOwI
There are units now that look like just the fireplace logs and go into the existing fireplace. In an old home, I’d want to keep the historic look as much as possible. The digital fire representation shown here is not for me.
I have electric fireplace with remote control. Now I want to use smart plug but have to disconect remote control. Please teach me how to disconect control function. Thanks
My 1928 chimney is leaning. This is just the instruction I needed to make the change from vented to electric. Thanks.
they didn't finish it! why would you not add a brick or wood surround underneath that ledge that's sticking out?
Beautiful
I have a square gas fireplace with tile around it. I would like to know if I can make it rectangular that way I have more space avobe for my TV and maybe add a beam or a small mantle? I will also take tile down and update it. House was built in 2005. Will this be too expensive to change opening shape of fireplace?
I wish that you can do my home
I’m glad I watched this. I got a quote from a Fireplace store at $10,000 for a conversion. Obviously he didn’t want the business.
Very easy to set up and use, attractive but be sure you understand the height–it's not tall. The heat is not overwhelming, but steady and pleasant fireplace fireplace.homes . It's quiet, too. I like the possibility of easily moving it from room to room in the event we want supplemental heat elsewhere. Definitely a good buy.
This is cool I would love to pay for this setup only for me to help out with the installation too.
Very easy to set up and use, attractive but be sure you understand the height–it's not tall. The heat is not overwhelming, but steady and pleasant fireplace fireplace.homes . It's quiet, too. I like the possibility of easily moving it from room to room in the event we want supplemental heat elsewhere. Definitely a good buy.