BACKGROUND

A homeowner loved their old fireplace but noticed that it barely warmed the room. Although they were burning through piles of wood, they still ended up with cold nights and smoky smells. They called Brown Chimney to ask if there was a way to “make this thing actually heat the house.” 

THE PROBLEM

The open fireplace had definitely been through much over the years. The flue tiles were visibly cracked from heavy use, and the smoke chamber was long overdue for cleanup and reshaping. On windy nights, smoke would puff back into the living room, and the heat just escaped straight up the chimney. Basically, it was just pretty flames with no real warmth.

THE BROWN CHIMNEY SOLUTION

We upgraded the open fireplace to a high-efficiency wood-burning insert with a full stainless-steel liner that was cleaner, safer, and easier to maintain.

• Conducted a Level 2 inspection to check for hidden damage, draft issues, and liner needs
• Prepped and parged the smoke chamber for proper venting
• Dropped in a full stainless-steel liner and insulated it for better draft
• Installed, leveled, and sealed the wood-burning insert
• Finished the surround, so everything looked clean and polished
• Fired it up, checked the draft, and showed the homeowner how to run it safely

FINAL OUTCOME

From old and drafty to modern and efficient, the fireplace now gets more heat into the room while keeping smoke and sparks out. The homeowner said they burn way less wood now, yet the space stays much warmer than before. “I should’ve done this years ago,” they told us.

ESTIMATED COST

Most wood-burning insert installs run from $4,000 to over $10,000. The price range is wide because the actual cost depends on multiple factors, including the size and condition of the fireplace, the type of insert, and the complexity of the project.