Fireplace, Stove & Chimney Questions

Most fireplace, stove, and insert installs in our service area run between $5,000 and $15,000 fully installed, depending on fuel type, venting, and finish work. Freestanding wood stoves are usually the most cost-effective; wood fireplaces with full chimney systems are on the higher end; gas falls in the middle. The fastest way to get a real number for your space is our instant online estimate—about 2 minutes—followed by a free in-home appointment to confirm the details.

Three big factors: the unit itself (a wood stove from a budget brand vs. a high-end gas fireplace), the venting requirements (a unit going into an existing chimney is much simpler than running new venting through three floors of new construction), and the finish work (basic install vs. a custom mantel and stone surround). Most installs land somewhere in the middle, but the spread is wide enough that we always recommend the in-home estimate before locking in a price.

Yes. Our online instant estimate is free and takes about 2 minutes—gets you a ballpark price for any fireplace, stove, or insert. The follow-up in-home appointment is also free, and that’s where we confirm the venting path, measurements, and finish details. No deposit required to schedule.

We have a third-party financing partner we can refer you to depending on your situation. We prefer to have that conversation in person so we can match the right program to your project. Give us a call or stop by the showroom and we’ll walk you through it.

We handle every install in-house—NFI- and CSIA-certified, no subcontractors. From the first measure to the final walkthrough, including all venting, gas lines, and hearth pads, the same crew is on the job. And we’re the same crew you’ll call two winters later when something needs service.

Most gas fireplace, stove, and insert installs are a one-day job once the unit is on site. Wood-burning installs that involve a full chimney system can run 2 to 3 days. From contract to install is usually 3–5 weeks, depending on the unit’s lead time from the manufacturer.

We run the gas line for the appliance as part of the install—that’s part of the price. If you need a new gas service to the house or major plumbing work upstream, we coordinate with a licensed plumber to handle that piece. We never improvise on gas line work, and we never sub the install itself out.

Most municipalities in Wisconsin require permits for new gas line work, chimney structural changes, and certain new-build installs. We pull the permits as part of the install—it’s included in the price. For a straight replacement using the same venting path, the paperwork is usually simple. New construction or major venting changes are more involved, but either way, we don’t leave you to figure it out.

No. Most gas fireplaces use direct-vent technology—a sealed, double-wall pipe that exits through an exterior wall or roof. No traditional masonry chimney needed. This gives you more flexibility in placement and significantly reduces installation cost.

A fireplace is a standalone unit framed into a wall or built into new construction. An insert slides into an existing masonry fireplace opening and turns a drafty, low-efficiency hearth into a real heat source. If you’ve got an old open fireplace that loses more heat up the chimney than it puts in the room, an insert is usually the right move. If you’re building new or starting from a blank wall, you’ll want a fireplace.

Gas: instant heat, low maintenance, runs without power if you pick a millivolt model. Wood: best heat output, no utility bills, the experience of a real fire—but you have to handle the wood. Electric: easiest to install (no venting), great ambiance, lower heat output, doesn’t run during outages. Your fuel preference and how you want to use the unit are the biggest decision factors. We help walk through the tradeoffs in the in-home appointment.

If you live in southwest Wisconsin, it’s worth serious consideration. When the wind chill drops and the power goes out, a central furnace stops being heat. Wood stoves and wood-burning inserts run off-grid—no electricity required—and a properly sized unit can hold a living room or even a whole house through the worst nights of the year. We carry Hearthstone, Jotul, Pacific Energy, Stuv, and other brands built for exactly that job.

We carry 22 brands across gas, wood, and electric—including Kozy Heat (our overall best seller), Valor, Mendota, RSF, Renaissance, Stuv, Pacific Energy, Hearthstone, Jotul, Vermont Castings, Town & Country, Marquis, Majestic, Osburn, Enviro, True North, Morso, Kuma, Modern Flames, Simplifire, Dimplex, and British Fires. Browse them all in our online catalog or stop by the Richland Center showroom to see live burns.

Yes—direct-vent gas fireplaces and electric fireplaces are designed for exactly that. We route the venting through an exterior wall or up through the ceiling and roof depending on your floor plan. Wood-burning fireplaces require a chimney, which is a bigger structural commitment but still possible on most interior walls.

Once a year for gas units—typically before fall—to clean the burner, check the pilot assembly, inspect the venting, and confirm the gas valve is operating safely. Annual service catches small problems before they become emergency calls in January.

Yes. We work on most major hearth brands across gas, wood, electric, and pellet—whether we sold the unit to you or not. If you bought from a company that’s gone out of business or stopped returning your calls, we’re often the next call people make.

Call us. We prioritize no-heat emergencies through the cold months, and our trucks carry common parts for the brands we carry. Most service calls are diagnosed and repaired in a single visit. If we need an order-in part, we’ll tell you the cost before we leave and come back as soon as it’s in.

Standard service calls start at a flat-rate visit fee that covers the diagnosis and most simple fixes. If we need to order parts, you’ll know the part cost and any additional labor before we leave—no surprise charges when we come back to install.

Once a year for any wood-burning appliance—that’s the CSIA standard, and the NFPA 211 code. Even if you don’t burn much, an annual sweep and Level 1 inspection catches creosote buildup, animal nesting, cap damage, and small flue problems before they become a chimney fire or a carbon monoxide issue. Gas appliances should also be inspected annually, though they don’t generally need sweeping.

Level 1 is the standard annual inspection—readily accessible portions of the chimney, structure, and connection. Level 2 adds a video scan of the flue interior plus inspection of attic and crawl spaces along the chimney’s path. After a chimney fire, lightning strike, or major storm, a Level 2 is the minimum standard for confirming it’s safe to use again.

We sweep and inspect chimneys in-house, and we service the appliances we sold and installed. For chimney masonry repair, relining, crown work, or tuckpointing, we refer customers to specialists in the area who do that work day in and day out. Our focus is sales, installation, and service—and the chimney sweep and inspection that keeps it all safe.

Inspection pricing depends on the type of chimney, accessibility, and whether you need a Level 1 or Level 2. Call us for a quote—we’ll ask a few questions about your setup and give you a clear price before we schedule.