How To Repair Fireplace Insert

Download Article

Whether you want to update the look of your fireplace or you lot need to go it up to code before you sell your house, chances are you'll need to remove your fireplace insert. A fireplace insert is made to sit inside of a traditional masonry fireplace in order to assist it heat more efficiently.^[i] Although this is a job best done past professionals, especially if y'all have a gas insert, it is possible to remove your fireplace insert yourself.

1
Remove all of the trim from effectually the fireplace insert. This may include removing some or all of the brick, rockwork, drywall, and even framing from effectually the fireplace. You lot may have to apply a hammer or mallet to break autonomously the framing materials, then use a crowbar to pry them away.^[2]
- The insert may be considerably larger than it appears at first, since it is hidden behind this framing.
two
Remove whatsoever nails holding the insert flashing to the wood framing. Sometimes an insert volition be surrounded by something called flashing, or flat pieces of metal which overlap the wood framing around the insert. The flashing is frequently nailed into the framing to concord the insert in place.^[3]
- Take hold of the head of each nail with the hooked end of your hammer and pry it free.
Advertisement
3
Disassemble whatever pipes, vents, or other pieces of the insert. Since fireplace inserts are very heavy, it volition help if you lot tin take off as much weight equally possible. If you meet anything that you can dismantle, take it off before trying to movement the insert. Expect for screws y'all can take off with a wrench to assistance loosen the various pieces.^[iv]
- If you're planning on discarding the insert, you can also remove pieces by breaking them off with your hammer or prying them apart with your crowbar.
4
Pry the insert out of place with a crowbar. A fireplace insert can be 250 lb (110 kg) or more than. The insert has probably settled into place, so a crowbar will help you start to loosen it from its surroundings.^[v]
- Recall to employ your legs to bear virtually of the weight when you're lifting something heavy. Maintain the natural curve of your back and try not to twist your torso to avoid injuring your back.^[6]
- Yous will probably need to take someone assist you lot move the insert if you're not used to lifting heavy objects on your own.
5
Identify thick carpet on the floor in front end of the hearth. Earlier you remove the insert, lay down a thick rug, a piece of spare carpet, or whatsoever other cushion you tin find. A thick piece of carpet volition assist yous slide the insert across your flooring more easily equally you lot move it, and information technology volition also protect your floor from being damaged.^[7]
- The carpeting should be at least 5 foot (i.5 m) longer and wider than the insert and then you can easily grab the edges when you're moving the insert. To ensure information technology protects the flooring, it should be at least i inch (2.five cm) thick.
- If you lot don't have an erstwhile scrap of rug handy, try piling up some one-time pillows or thick blankets on the flooring. Keep in mind that whatever you utilize may become muddy or torn.
vi
Jerk the insert down onto the carpet. If you're not used to heavy lifting, or if the insert is besides heavy for you to motility yourself, you might desire to ask a friend to assist you with this part so y'all don't go injured. Using a button-pull technique, slowly piece of work the insert out of its place and let it drop onto the piece of carpet you lot laid down.^[eight]
- Endeavour to keep the insert upright and then it doesn't spill coal and ash everywhere.
7
Motion the insert by sliding the carpet across the floor. This method is going to work best with a hardwood floor, just y'all yet might need someone to help you movement it, specially if you accept to elevator it over a raised sill to go it out the door.^[9]
- If your fireplace is on a 2d floor, you'll probably need the help of professional person movers to get the insert downward the stairs.
8

Block off the vent if you don't program on using the fireplace anymore. Use screws to attach a piece of plywood or sheet metal cut to the size of your vent to seal it. You tin can too buy a chimney cap to place on top of your chimney to make certain the seal is air-tight.^[10]
9

Sweep or vacuum any grit and ash from the expanse. Moving a fireplace insert can be messy, so you'll want to thoroughly sweep or vacuum the surface area to make clean it afterward your projection is finished.

Advertising

1
Turn off the gas to the house at the master valve. Before you do annihilation else virtually a gas fireplace insert, locate the shutoff valve that controls the gas to your entire home. This is commonly a valve located between the chief gas piping and the outset appliance, and it'south known as a house-side shutoff valve. It should take a lever that you can close with a quarter of a plow.^[11]
- There is usually a valve located but before the meter that must exist opened and airtight with a wrench. This is known equally a street-side valve, and should merely be operated by someone from the gas company.^[12]
- Some homes, peculiarly older ones, practise not have a house-side valve. In this case, call the gas company and have them plough off your gas for you.
two

Utilise a crowbar to remove whatsoever trim around the insert. You may have to remove bricks, drywall, or framing from effectually the insert in gild to expose the whole thing. A crowbar should help you pry the trim loose, although you lot may need to break information technology into pieces with a sledgehammer before you can remove it.^[13]
3
Disconnect the gas line from the insert after y'all accept removed the trim. To dismantle the gas line, it's best to call a professional plumber with a gas fitter'south license. However, if you are going to attempt this yourself, employ an adaptable or crescent wrench to unscrew the gas line from the fireplace insert before yous motility the insert.^[14]
- Since the gas should already be turned off, in that location'due south no demand to cap the gas line until later you have removed the insert.
four
Lay a piece of rug or a stack of old blankets in front of the fireplace. In improver to protecting your floor from becoming damaged, having carpet or blankets on the floor will aid the insert slide hands across the floor when you lot move it.^[15]
- Call back that whatever you lot use beneath the fireplace insert is likely to get stained or torn.
- Choose a slice of carpet that'due south at least 5 foot (1.5 thou) longer and wider than the insert. Yous'll demand the overlap then you'll have something to grab onto when y'all're moving the insert. For the best protection, it should exist at least 1 inch (2.five cm) thick.
5
Carefully wiggle the insert out of its identify and onto the carpeting. You may need a friend to assist you motility the fireplace insert, since they are commonly very heavy. Remember to always elevator with your knees, and avert twisting or leaning backwards as you lift so you lot don't hurt your back.^[16]
- You may have to use a crowbar to loosen the insert plenty to exist able to motility it by hand.
- Push or pull the insert so that information technology slides across the floor as you remove it from your house.
6
Wrap a brass gas line cap in Teflon tape. Teflon tape is rated for use on a gas line, and it'due south used to seal the piping to protect against gas leaks. Wrap the threads of your contumely cap in iii-4 layers of the Teflon tape.^[17]
- Teflon tape is usually yellow, as opposed to basic plumber's tape, which is white.
- Yous can purchase a brass safety cap and Teflon record from any domicile improvement store.
7

Screw the brass cap into your gas line after you've removed the insert. Fifty-fifty with the Teflon tape, you should notwithstanding be able to fit the brass cap into the line easily. Hold the gas line with a pair of channel lock pliers, then use a wrench to tighten the cap every bit much equally yous tin.^[xviii]
8
Check for gas leaks by spraying your cap with soapy water. Once yous've turned on the gas to your domicile, generously squirt dish soap into a household spray canteen filled with water, then spray the mixture onto the gas cap you simply installed. If you encounter any bubbles, it means there is a leak in the cap.
- If you have constitute a gas leak, close the shutoff valve over again and call the gas company to aid y'all with your repair.^[19]
ix

Vacuum or sweep to make clean up after removing the insert. Removing your gas fireplace insert can stir upwardly a lot of dust, cobwebs, and other dirt. Vacuum or sweep the area later you get the fireplace removed to ensure y'all don't leave any of the dirt behind.

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

How much does information technology cost to remove a fireplace insert?

Drew Hawkins1

Customs Answer

It depends on how extensive the removal project is. A total fireplace or chimney removal can toll between $3,000-$6,000 USD. Notwithstanding, y'all may only need to have a fractional removal in guild to have the fireplace insert taken out. It tin can price anywhere from $500 to $two,500 for the projection to be completed by a professional. Try calling around a few removal services in your area to get a quote then you can compare the costs.
Question

How do you remove a gas fireplace insert?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Start by shutting off the gas to your home at the chief valve and so there'southward no chance of a leak. Take a crowbar and remove the trim around the insert. When y'all tin can admission the gas line, remove information technology also. And then, carefully wiggle the insert out of the fireplace and remove it. Finish the job by screwing a contumely cap onto your gas line so y'all can turn your gas back on and it won't leak out of the line.
Question

Tin can you burn Duraflame logs in a gas fireplace?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Absolutely. Gas fireplaces are safe to burn wood in similar a standard fireplace, so a Duraflame log is perfectly fine to burn down in your gas fireplace. Y'all can fifty-fifty apply your gas to help the burn down get started for a few minutes, then plough information technology off and let the wood burn on its own, adding more than wood to the burn down equally needed to keep information technology going.

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to go a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Things You'll Need

Hammer or mallet
Crowbar
Wrench
Thick carpeting, onetime pillows, or sometime blankets
Plywood or canvass metallic

Sledgehammer
Adjustable or crescent wrench
Carpet, blankets, or pillows
Crowbar
Brass gas line cap
Teflon tape
Channel lock pliers
Spray canteen with water and dish soap

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Never bend or twist while you're lifting heavy objects, and lift using your legs to prevent a serious dorsum injury.
Use farthermost circumspection when you're working with gas. If y'all have any questions at all, telephone call a licensed professional.
Wear a face mask to avoid breathing in a deject of ash and soot when you remove the insert.

About This Commodity

Article Summary Ten

To remove a woods-burning or electric fireplace insert, first remove all of the trim from around the fireplace, including whatever brick, rockwork, or drywall that is covering the insert. If there is any flashing nailed to the framing, remove the nails holding the insert in identify, then disassemble every bit many parts of the insert as possible, including any pipes or vents which yous might see. Pry the insert costless with a crowbar, then slide it onto a piece of carpet then you can easily move it across your floor. For tips on disassembling a gas insert, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Thank you to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 103,155 times.

Did this article assist you?