In order for an electric fireplace insert to be installed in an existing fireplace, that existing fireplace must be removed of all existing fireplace apparatus.
This is because an electric fireplace insert sits partially within the firebox of the existing fireplace.
The existing fireplace should therefore be cleared out to make it ready for the new insert.
As an example, we’re removed an old gas fireplace insert from our kitchen fireplace (more about that removal here) that didn’t work to allow us install this electric fireplace insert.
We’ve since tidied and cleaned up this fireplace ready for installing our electric insert.
Weatherproof The Chimney
As electric fireplace inserts are electrical appliances, it’s important to consider what you can do to help prevent water from getting into the existing fireplace firebox during wet weather.
This could be in the form of a rain cap located at the top of the chimney, or by simply closing the damper, which we discuss below.
Close The Damper
Many masonry fireplaces have dampers located in the throat of the chimney.
See our guide on the parts of a fireplace for information on where you can typically find a damper.
These metal or ceramic plates can be manually opened or closed using a handle by reaching in from within the existing fireplace firebox.
While dampers should be open for other types of fireplaces such as wood burning and gas, a damper can be closed when installing an electric fireplace insert in an existing fireplace.
This is because electric fireplace inserts don’t have any real flames and therefore don’t produce any by-products that would otherwise need venting out of a home.
Closing a damper before installing an electric insert can also help keep wet weather out of the firebox.
However, not all existing fireplaces have a damper that you can use.
For example, neither of our existing open fireplaces have dampers and so we’re going to place a draft excluder within the flue before installing our electric fireplace insert.
For more information about dampers see our dedicated article on fireplace dampers right here.
Provide Power To The Electric Insert
As with all types of electric fireplace, electric fireplace inserts are electrical appliances and so must be powered by a source of electricity.
When it comes to installing an electric fireplace insert in an existing fireplace you’ll therefore need to consider where the insert will plug in.
The most common way to achieve this is to have an electrical outlet installed within the firebox of the existing fireplace, behind where the electric insert sits within the fireplace.
This arrangement also helps to hide the cord from view but requires a licenced electrician to install this electrical outlet for you.
Most electric fireplace inserts can be found as plug-in form where the units will come with a standard power cord and plug that you can plug into any of your home electrical outlets.
Another way would be to plug the electric insert into a nearby electrical outlet outside of the fireplace. This would require there to be an electrical outlet nearby, the power cord to be the right length and the power cord would need to be hidden out of view for the most realistic experience.
For example, we need to get a professional in to install an electrical outlet inside the firebox of our kitchen fireplace before we install our electric fireplace insert, as there’s no electrical outlet nearby.
With our electric fireplace insert placed within the opening of the existing fireplace, there’s enough space behind to plug the appliance into an electrical outlet.
If we choose to plug this insert into a nearby electrical outlet then we’ll need to consider how we’ll hide the cable out of view, potentially running the cord down the back of the hearth.
It’s typically advised not to use an extensions cord with an electric fireplace but check the owner’s manual for your electric fireplace insert for more information.
With electric insert units that need to be hard-wired into the electrics, you’ll still also need to consider how you’ll provide an electrical supply to near the unit.