Fireplace Installation for San Rafael Homes

What San Rafael's wood-burning rules mean for a new fireplace

According to the City of San Rafael's wood burning fireplace and stove rules, San Rafael does not allow new wood-burning fireplaces; a fireplace may be installed with an EPA-certified wood-burning insert or a permanently installed gas log unit. If you are adding a fireplace, a traditional open wood-burning firebox is not one of the choices. If you want a wood fire, the job starts with picking one of those two approved setups; a gas-fueled fireplace is a separate option the wood-burning rules don't restrict.

This affects the planning more than the labor. Before anything is fitted, we confirm which option you want. Then we check that the chimney, firebox or gas supply can support it properly. If you're still weighing the two, our guide to gas vs wood burning fireplace covers how they differ to live with.

Option one: an EPA-certified wood-burning insert

An insert is a closed firebox that sits inside a fireplace opening and vents up the chimney. It is the route for homeowners who still want a real wood fire. The insert you choose has to be EPA-certified to meet the city rule. We inspect the chimney and liner first, because an insert depends on a sound flue. If the liner needs work, chimney liner installation can be done as part of the same project.

Option two: a permanently installed gas log unit

The other approved route is a gas log unit installed permanently, not a loose set of logs. This suits homeowners who want flame at the flip of a switch without hauling wood or cleaning out ash. We do gas fireplace and gas appliance work, including gas log installation. If the fireplace has no supply yet, we can also run the gas line.

Wood stoves: EPA certification and the remodel rule

The same city rules cover wood stoves. In San Rafael, all new wood stoves must be EPA certified, and a non-EPA Phase II certified wood stove must be removed or replaced with an EPA-certified stove during a major remodel affecting more than 50% of the home's floor area when the stove is in a room being remodeled or enlarged.

This matters to owners of older stoves who are planning a large remodel. If the stove sits in a room that's part of the work, plan its removal or replacement into the project from the start. If you'd like a fireplace with an approved insert or gas log unit in that room instead, we can install it. For a stove that stays, we offer wood stove cleaning.

Fireplace installation in brief

A fireplace installation covers choosing the unit and fuel, then checking the chimney, liner or venting path and the firebox opening. Next comes fitting the insert or gas log unit and connecting the gas supply where one is needed. Last, we test the finished fireplace before we leave. We work on all major brands, so the unit you choose isn't limited to a single manufacturer. Our fireplace installation service explains the full scope, and how fireplace installation works walks through each stage.

When installation is the right job, and when it isn't

• You want a fireplace where there isn't a working one: fireplace installation, with an insert or gas log unit.
• You have an open fireplace and want a cleaner, closed wood fire: fireplace insert installation.
• You want to switch an existing fireplace to gas: gas fireplace installation or gas log installation.
• Your existing fireplace works but has cracked panels, a stuck damper or poor draft: fireplace repair is usually the better fit than a new unit.
• Your gas fireplace won't light or runs poorly: gas fireplace repair or service comes first.

More services in San Rafael

A new insert vents through the chimney, so the top of the flue matters too. If the cap is missing or worn out, chimney cap installation for homes in San Rafael is handled as its own job. For everything else we do locally, browse our services in San Rafael.