Hey all. Long time lurker. Been wanting to convert our fireplace with a wood-burning insert for a few years now and finally bit the bullet. A local dealer is selling all of their non-2020-compliant stock at just above cost, so I purchased a Pacific Energy Neo 2.5 insert from them for $1470!
I'm having them install it due to the fact that our fireplace has an uneven limestone facing and they're able to cut, paint and mortar in a custom surround for about $400. All-in with the liner and install labor, its under $3,400. Not too shabby. Helps that it's a summer install as well!
My question is around insulating my existing fireplace. It's a massive exterior, limestone fireplace with a huge 12" flue. I plan on making a block-off plate and insulating the existing firebox with Roxul. Should I do all of this prior to the install, and risk the installers complaining about "That's not how we do it..", or do I just let them do their thing, and then pull the unit to install the plate and insulation?
One issue is that the damper is only 5" tall, so they're going to to need to cut the damper frame and knock out some bricks to clear the liner, so maybe making the block-out plate after that demo makes more sense once I can assess what I'm working with. At the very least, I'm thinking I could make the insulation "panels" for the old fireplace firebox ahead of time while I have good, clear access, and then install them once I pull the unit.
Any tips on things you wish you would have done for your first install? And don't worry about wood, I've been cutting and drying wood for years. In fact, in the process of taking down 33 ash trees due to EAB.
Also, I finally found a use for the useless ash chute at the back of our fireplace—running electrical for the blower! Man, my ash hole has never been cleaner.
I'm having them install it due to the fact that our fireplace has an uneven limestone facing and they're able to cut, paint and mortar in a custom surround for about $400. All-in with the liner and install labor, its under $3,400. Not too shabby. Helps that it's a summer install as well!
My question is around insulating my existing fireplace. It's a massive exterior, limestone fireplace with a huge 12" flue. I plan on making a block-off plate and insulating the existing firebox with Roxul. Should I do all of this prior to the install, and risk the installers complaining about "That's not how we do it..", or do I just let them do their thing, and then pull the unit to install the plate and insulation?
One issue is that the damper is only 5" tall, so they're going to to need to cut the damper frame and knock out some bricks to clear the liner, so maybe making the block-out plate after that demo makes more sense once I can assess what I'm working with. At the very least, I'm thinking I could make the insulation "panels" for the old fireplace firebox ahead of time while I have good, clear access, and then install them once I pull the unit.
Any tips on things you wish you would have done for your first install? And don't worry about wood, I've been cutting and drying wood for years. In fact, in the process of taking down 33 ash trees due to EAB.
Also, I finally found a use for the useless ash chute at the back of our fireplace—running electrical for the blower! Man, my ash hole has never been cleaner.
