FIREPLACE INSTALLATION IN SAULT STE. MARIE
About Fireplaces
A fireplace does two things — heats the room and anchors it. Done right, it's both. Done wrong, it's a liability on the wall and a draft down the chimney. Sault Ste. Marie has every vintage on the spectrum: old masonry wood-burners that nobody feeds anymore, aging zero-clearance gas units that are overdue, and new builds where an electric linear has replaced the whole conversation.
Tombari HVAC sells, installs, and services the four categories that cover 99% of what people actually buy: gas fireplaces, gas inserts, gas stoves, and electric fireplaces. Because we handle the gas fitting and the electrical in the same truck, you get one install date, one permit file, one warranty contact. No coordinating between a gas fitter, an electrician, and a framer who blame each other when the surround doesn't line up.
What kind of fireplace makes sense for your house?
- Built-in gas fireplace. A new unit where none existed before, or a full replacement of an old masonry wood-burner. Direct-vent models don't need a chimney — we run venting out a side wall or up through the roof. Best for new construction, additions, and major renos.
- Gas insert. Drops into an existing masonry fireplace to turn it into a clean, efficient gas unit. No more hauling wood, no more heat loss up the chimney when it's not running. The right answer for a lot of older homes in the west end and Steelton.
- Gas stove. A freestanding unit vented out a wall — no built-in surround required. Good for cabins, cottages, basement rec rooms, and any space where you don't want to frame in a full fireplace.
- Electric fireplace. No venting, no gas line, runs on a 120V or 240V circuit. Supplemental heat and ambience only — not a primary heat source. Cleanest install and lowest upfront cost. Fits condos, apartments, and rooms where running a gas line isn't practical.
Not sure which one's right? That's what the free in-home consult is for. We'll measure the space, look at what your house can support, and give you two or three real options before anyone quotes anything.
What you get from Tombari HVAC
- Gas and electrical in-house. Every install has a gas side and an electrical side. We do both. No second trade, no scheduling gap between rough-in and finish.
- Proper venting. Direct-vent, B-vent, or power-vent — sized and routed to the manufacturer spec, not the easiest wall to punch a hole through.
- TSSA-registered gas work. Every connection, every line, every inspection, on file.
- Permits pulled. TSSA for gas, ESA for electrical, building permit for the surround if your municipality requires one.
- Framing and finish coordination. We confirm rough framing dimensions, clearances to combustibles, and hearth requirements before the unit ships — not after drywall goes up.
- Warranty handled at one number. Your install, your service, one call.
What a fireplace install actually costs
Equipment and installation vary by category. Real-world ranges for Sault Ste. Marie:
- Electric fireplaces: $1,000–$3,500 installed
- Gas stoves: $4,000–$7,500 installed
- Gas inserts (dropped into existing masonry): $4,500–$8,500 installed
- Built-in gas fireplaces with new venting: $5,500–$12,000+ installed, depending on vent run and surround work
Gas installs need a gas line extension if one isn't already at the fireplace location — typically $400–$1,500 depending on run. Electric installs may need a dedicated circuit, which we pull without subbing out.
Unlike heat pumps and furnaces, gas and electric fireplaces don't currently qualify for federal or provincial energy rebates. The case for a fireplace is comfort, resale, and keeping a room livable during an outage — not a rebate cheque.
Book a free in-home fireplace consultation
Call us today to get a quote and schedule an appointment.
Our certified local technicians have over 40 years of combined experience serving Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma.
(705) 943-7390 or