Pre-fabricated (also known as zero clearance) fireplace systems are very common in our county. These fireplaces
are made in a factory and shipped to your home where they are installed. One thing to keep in mind is that these fireplaces
are appliances just like your dishwasher or washing machine and have a typical lifespan of 25-30 years. A majority of the
components in these systems are made of metal, which means that keeping water out of these systems is of paramount importance.
If you have an older pre-fab fireplace, it’s possible the company that made your system may
no longer be in business, or parts simply may not be available. If that’s the case then for you it’s extremely
important to be on top of preventative maintenance, because we are not allowed to “mix and match” parts from one
manufacturer to another. Likewise, most sheet metal shops will NOT fabricate a chimney part; the pre fab chimney and fireplace
components are part of a “listed” system that cannot be changed. Any deviation from the original manufacturer’s
design could pose a serious hazard.
Typically pre-fab fireplaces are not a good source of heat;
they were designed to be more appealing to the eye than anything else. Don’t despair though, if you have a pre-fab fireplace
and are interested in actually getting some heat out of it there are solutions. Often we are able to install an efficient
& beautiful gas burning insert inside your pre-fab fireplace. Check out our links to Napoleon and Osburn!
