Fireplaces

No. Direct-vent fireplaces vent through an exterior wall or the roof with sealed coaxial pipe, and vent-free models need no vent at all. Only inserts use an existing chimney — they run new liners inside it. If you have no gas line, an electric fireplace just plugs in.

Direct vent is a sealed system — combustion air comes from outside and exhaust goes back out, so nothing enters your room. Vent-free burns room air at ~99.9% efficiency with an oxygen depletion sensor for safety, but adds moisture to indoor air and is banned in California and restricted in Massachusetts. Full comparison in our DV vs VF guide.

For heat: roughly 20–35 BTU per square foot for supplemental heat (more in cold climates). For looks: match the fireplace to the wall — traditional 30–42″ boxes suit standard rooms, 48–74″ linears suit large modern walls. The Fireplace Finder sizes it for you from your room dimensions.

Usually not — venting, and on some models a required log set, liner, or front, are separate line items. That’s why every fireplace on ExceptionalFire has a configurator that adds each required step for your exact model, so your order arrives complete with nothing missing at install.

Free freight shipping in the contiguous US. Fireplaces ship factory-new via FedEx, UPS, or AIT freight — the carrier calls ahead to schedule delivery, and typical transit is 3–6 business days once shipped. Inspect before signing and note any damage on the receipt; confirmed transit damage is repaired or replaced at no cost.

Yes — every door ships with a hardware pack, install instructions, and template. Masonry overlap doors need a hammer drill with a 1/4-inch masonry bit; prefab doors anchor to existing factory mounting points. Plan on 30–60 minutes for the install. The installation guide walks through both fit types.