How to avoid big problems with your do-it-yourself project

On a warm sunny day, you might not want to think about the cold days of fall or the snowy days of winter. But recalling them could revive your wishes for a cozy fireplace or the need for extra heat in the family room.

Summer is a good time to make choices and decisions. Choices include low-cost prefabricated wood-burning units, personally designed masonry fireplaces and high-efficiency gas fireplaces. Your first consideration should be the purpose of the fireplace. One that is for purely aesthetic purposes is different from one that provides needed heat.

Free-standing wood stoves are a popular choice for adding heat, as are fireplace inserts. An insert converts fireplaces into an efficient heat source.

Some homeowners want to buy a fireplace or insert they can install themselves, but household advisor Angie Hicks of Angie’s List recommends hiring a professional.

Professionals will do a site survey to make sure that where they put it meets code requirements and that they can do the chimney or venting on the appliance properly.

They will advise do-it-yourselfers and help them as much as they can, but the homeowner must check with local government to ensure there are no restrictions or heating requirements involved.

With a wood-burning stove, a flue pipe has to go up through the height of the house and out the roof.
With gas, you may not have to do that. Some gas fireplaces can be vented through the wall. Some are unvented, but you have to be sure the square footage of the room is sufficient.