Professional Installation of Your Wood Stove or Fireplace

The Importance of Installation by an Industry Professional

Fireplace Village is committed to providing homeowners with a place to learn about the purchase and installation of hearth products (gas fireplaces, wood burning fireplaces, gas stoves, wood burning stoves, pellet stoves, gas fireplace inserts, wood fireplace inserts, pellet fireplace inserts, etc.) and the importance of having your hearth appliance installed and serviced by a competent, safe and certified professional. Our installers are certified by the National Fireplace Institute.

Choosing and installing a fireplace system without adequate expertise is like playing with fire. The most important day in the life of your new hearth appliance is the day it’s installed. That is why our industry is making quality training and credentials its mission. Planning and properly installing wood stoves, gas stoves, pellet stoves, gas fireplaces, wood burning fireplaces, pellet inserts, wood inserts and their venting systems requires experience, technical knowledge and skill. Numerous decisions – from proper floor protection to gas and wood stove and fireplace sizing and placement to venting system compatibility and height – should all be made with the expertise of a specialist. Make sure that a hearth industry professional installs or repairs your hearth appliance. Fireplace Village maintains a staff of trained and certified hearth professionals.

One of the ways to identify a competent specialist is to check their credentials. The National Fireplace Institute®, an independent, non-profit certification agency, has created the standard for certification in the hearth industry. Only those who pass a rigorous examination covering fundamentals of proper installation receive NFI Specialist Certification. Don't take chances. HPBA, the largest trade group in the hearth and barbeque industry, recommends that you find a hearth specialty retailer that has a National Fireplace Institute® certified installer on staff.

In selecting the right professional to handle your installation needs, here are some simple things to look for:

• Make sure your hearth dealer or contractor has the proper insurance licenses. Did you know that when you hire a contractor who is not properly licensed and bonded, you become the general contractor and you are responsible for not only any damage to your home, but also are liable if the technician gets hurt while working on your home.

• Make sure your hearth dealer or contractor obtains the necessary permits to work on your home. Check local hearth building and installation codes and related permit requirements (New Hampshire, Massachusetts) Remember, if you have not obtained the proper permits, you may be held liable for improper installation when you go to sell your home.

• Make sure your hearth dealer or contractor offers workmanship warranties (not just manufacturer warranties). This will protect you from poor hearth installation procedures for your wood stove, gas stove, pellet stove, gas fireplace or fireplace insert.

• Make sure your hearth installer or contractor has experience with the hearth appliance that you have purchased and that the installer or contractor will service the stove, fireplace or insert if there are problems down the road. MOST HEARTH DEALERS AND FIREPLACE AND STOVE SHOPS WILL NOT REPAIR INSTALLATION RELATED PROBLEMS WITH YOUR WOOD STOVE, GAS STOVE, GAS FIREPLACE OR FIREPLACE INSERT UNLESS THEY INSTALLED IT.