Fireplace Insert Installation in Colorado
Need fireplace insert installation? Donovan Chimney & Fireplace serves Denver, Fort Collins & Colorado Springs with 25+ years of experience. Family-owned since 1998 · Licensed & insured · Open 24/7.
About This Service
An insert is a sealed, high-efficiency heating unit installed into an existing open fireplace — and it's the single biggest performance upgrade an old hearth can get. Open fireplaces send most of their heat (and your paid-for indoor air) up the flue; a quality insert turns that same opening into a genuine heater.
We install wood, gas, and pellet inserts, each with a properly sized stainless liner run to the top of the flue — the step that bargain installs skip and the step that determines whether the insert drafts and performs as designed. Sizing, altitude setup, surround fitting, and code compliance are all part of the job.
Signs You Need Fireplace Insert Installation
- Your open fireplace looks great but heats poorly
- Drafts pour down the flue when the fireplace is idle
- You want real supplemental heat for utility-bill relief
- An aging prefab unit is due for replacement anyway
What Service Looks Like
Full assessment of the firebox, damper, venting, and surround — with photos.
Repairs scoped and priced in writing before any work starts.
Work done with correct refractory materials and manufacturer parts.
Operational test with you present, so you see it working before we leave.
Why It Matters for Safety
The firebox and its surround are engineered as a containment system; every open joint or cracked panel is a breach in it. Manufacturers and NFPA 211 are unambiguous: visible firebox damage means stop burning until it's repaired.
Maintenance Tips From Our Technicians
- Vacuum ash regularly, but leave an inch — an ash bed insulates and improves burning.
- Cracks in firebox joints are stop-burning findings; check monthly during season.
- Operate the damper fully monthly even off-season to keep it free.
- Glass doors closed at night reduce heat loss and stray embers.
Why Homeowners Choose Donovan Chimney & Fireplace
Founded in 1998 and family-run since, Donovan Chimney & Fireplace built its name on straight answers. You'll see photos of what we find, get pricing before work begins, and deal with technicians who treat your home like their own. From Denver to Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, we're the call people make when they want it handled honestly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much more efficient is an insert than an open fireplace?
Open masonry fireplaces run around 10% efficiency or less — sometimes net negative once they pull heated room air up the flue. Modern inserts run 70–80%+. It's not an upgrade; it's a different category of appliance.
Does an insert require a new liner?
Yes, a full-length liner sized to the insert is required by code and by physics. Venting an insert into a big open flue causes poor draft and rapid creosote condensation — we install the liner as part of every insert job.
Are you licensed and insured?
Fully. Donovan Chimney & Fireplace carries the licensing and insurance this work requires, and certificates are available on request — something we recommend asking of any company that climbs on your roof.
Request a Free Estimate
We're open 24/7. Fill this out and we'll get right back to you — or call 720-310-3798.
Book Fireplace Insert Installation Today
We serve Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and every community around them — see the full service area list.
Emergencies don't keep business hours and neither do we: our phone answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.