Do It Yourself and Other Educational Chimney and Fire Safety Articles

Prefabricated or factory built fireplaces are produced and also assembled in the factory before they are transported and installed in a house or commercial building.  Prefabricated fireplaces have been manufactured since the 1960s and they are very popular today. The main reason why is because they are much less expensive to install compared to a masonry fireplace and they are more aesthetically pleasing by most people’s standards.  Instead of cleaning ashes and soot in the firebox after each use, all an owner has to do is polish and dust the constructed parts once in a while, so cleaning it after a fire is less maintenance.  

While it is true that there are a convenience factors to owning them, prefabs are not built to handle the amount of use that a typical masonry fireplace can stand.  If you plan to use it to heat your house every night, you are likely to run into problems quickly as they are not meant to handle much capacity. 

Prefabs will wear and tear over the years like any other household appliance.  When maintaining your prefabricated fireplace, you should follow all the safety precautions which are followed for a traditional fireplace.  To ensure your safety and optimal operation of your heating appliance, please get annual cleanings and maintenance.  This means that a professional chimney sweep should inspect the fireplace and chimney each year in the same way that they would a masonry unit.

Every prefabricated fireplace is built with a certain life expectancy and if yours is over that limit, it may be time to replace a part or time to get a full replacement.  Prefab repair work typically includes replacing the grate, replacing the glass doors, gas log lighter installation and replacement, seal decorative facing to the firebox, replacing the metal firebox, or repairing the cement lining called refractory cement because it can get cracks or holes.  The best approach is to order an exact replacement part from the original manufacturer but if the parts are discontinued a professional chimney sweep will be able to help you find replacement parts. An untrained person might not install the correct compatible parts, be aware of all the safety codes, or understand the installation instructions completely.  The fireplace and chimney were originally built as one complete system, engineered to work safely and efficiently together so it is really important that an expert chimney sweep makes the upgrade and safety inspection.