I’ve been handling fireplace and grill orders for about six years now. In my first year—2019, I think—I made a mistake that cost me $450 in rework and a week of schedule delay. It was a Napoleon electric fireplace insert, a straightforward model, or so I thought. The homeowner wanted it installed in a built-in media wall. I skipped a few checks because I’d done similar units before. That was the problem.
This article is the checklist I now run before every fireplace install. It’s not theoretical. It’s the list I made after that $450 mistake. If you’re a contractor, builder, or DIY homeowner installing a Napoleon gas or electric fireplace, this is for you.
Step 1: Check the Manual Specifics (Not Just the Model Number)
I ordered the unit based on the model number. The box said “Napoleon Allure Vertical.” I assumed I knew the specs. I didn’t open the manual until the unit was on site. Bad move.
The manual—specifically the Napoleon electric fireplace manual for that model—called for a 15-amp dedicated circuit. The existing wiring was a shared 15-amp line that also ran three can lights in the same room. I didn’t check until after the unit was installed and the breaker tripped when we turned on the lights.
What I do now: I download the PDF manual from Napoleon’s site before I even quote the job. I look at the electrical requirements, clearance dimensions, and venting notes—before I show up.
Should mention: the manual also includes a note about not sharing a circuit with motor-driven appliances. I missed that entirely. The homeowner’s media console had a subwoofer plugged into the same circuit. That caused a ground loop hum that took another service call to diagnose.
Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), if you’re advertising a fireplace install as “plug-and-play,” you need to be truthful about what that means. A dedicated circuit requirement is not a minor detail. If you claim “easy installation” without disclosing electrical work needed, that’s a potential issue under the FTC’s substantiation rules.
Step 2: Verify the Wall Cavity Depth (Don’t Assume)
This sounds basic. I thought the Allure Vertical needed 7 inches of cavity depth. The spec sheet said 7 inches. But the spec sheet was for the 36-inch model. I was installing the 42-inch model, which needed 8.5 inches. The difference was 1.5 inches. That 1.5 inches cost me a reframe of the entire media wall opening.
I’d ordered 42 units—a 42-inch unit in a 36-inch opening. The homeowner wasn’t happy. The rework involved cutting drywall, moving a stud, and repainting. Total: $450 in extra labor and materials, plus the awkward conversation with the homeowner about why I didn’t catch it earlier.
Now I measure the rough opening and the unit’s depth with a tape measure before the unit leaves my truck. If I’m ordering the unit sight unseen—like for a new build—I triple-check the cut sheet dimensions against the available cavity space. A 1-inch clearance is not enough for airflow in some models, and the manual will tell you that.
Step 3: Confirm the Canister Purge Valve (If Applicable)
This one’s specific to gas fireplace installations, but it’s a mistake I made twice before I learned. The canister purge valve on a propane tank can be a problem if it’s not properly purged before connecting to the fireplace. I had a call back where the unit wouldn’t ignite. The problem was air in the gas line. The install guide said to purge the line before final connection. I’d skipped that step because “it’ll purge itself when it runs.” It didn’t.
The fix: disconnect, purge the line using the valve, reconnect, test. Took 45 minutes on site. Cost me nothing in parts but lost a morning of other work. The lesson: treat the purge valve as a pre-start checklist item, not a post-troubleshooting step.
If you’re installing a Napoleon gas fireplace on a new propane system, the purge should happen at the tank or at the closest accessible valve. The manual will specify the procedure. Read it. Don’t assume the installer before you did it right.
Step 4: Check the Venting Path (Especially for Inserts)
Napoleon electric fireplaces are often vent-free—they’re just heaters with a fan. But gas models need proper venting. I installed a gas insert into an existing masonry chimney once. The chimney had a clay flue liner that was cracked in two places. The crack wasn’t visible from the fireplace opening—I had to run a camera up. I didn’t.
The unit ran fine for two months. Then the homeowner smelled smoke. The flue inspection revealed the cracks. I had to reline the chimney with a stainless steel liner. That added $1,200 to the job, which I ate half of because I should have caught it during the pre-install inspection.
What I do now: I visually inspect the flue with a borescope, even if it’s an insert going into an existing chimney. If I can’t access it, I recommend the homeowner get a certified chimney sweep to inspect before I start. This is not a corner you want to cut. The NFPA 211 standard requires a flue inspection before installing a new gas appliance. I have a copy of that standard bookmarked.
Per USPS regulations (usps.com), if you’re mailing a vent kit or chimney liner to a job site, use a large envelope or a box that’s at least 6.125" × 11.5" and no thicker than 0.75" to qualify for flat rate. I’ve had vent components shipped in too-small packaging and arrive damaged. Not a direct install tip, but a logistics one that’s saved me reorders.
Step 5: Test the Thermostat and Remote (Before Mounting)
This is the step I added after a 2023 install where the remote paired fine during setup but lost connection after the fireplace was framed in. The issue was interference from a metal stud nearby. The remote receiver was inside the unit, but the signal couldn’t penetrate through the framing I’d added during the build.
Now I test the remote and the wall thermostat (if included) with the unit sitting in the final location, not on a workbench. If the signal drops, I adjust the antenna orientation or move the receiver. This has caught two potential failures in the past 18 months. Both would have been service call nightmares.
I’ve learned that some Napoleon electric fireplace manuals specify maximum remote distance and material penetration limits. For example, the Allure series manual states 30 feet line-of-sight and 15 feet through drywall. Metal framing reduces that. Read that section before you model the framing.
Step 6: Document Everything (Especially Electrical and Gas Connections)
I take photos of the wiring, the gas connection, the venting path, and the unit’s model/serial plate before I close up the wall. I save these to a job folder on my phone. Why? Because when the homeowner calls in two years saying “the fireplace stopped working,” I can pull up the photo of the gas connection and confirm no leaks were present at install. I’ve had two warranty claims resolved by photos alone. No photo = he-said-she-said. Photo = evidence.
I also keep a digital copy of the Napoleon electric fireplace manual for each model I’ve installed. The manual is the authoritative document—not my memory. When I argued with a supplier about a part number, I referenced the manual PDF. They accepted it because it matched their own specs.
Oh, and I should add: document the graduated cap if you’re terminating a gas vent through an exterior wall. The cap size must match the vent diameter and manufacturer spec. I had a job in 2020 where the cap was too small for the vent—it was a leftover from a different brand. The flame was unstable because of restricted exhaust. The manual says “use only the supplied cap.” I’d ignored that. The reorder cost $85 plus shipping.
Bonus: How to Clean Grout (Yes, It Relates)
If you’re tiling around a fireplace—especially with natural stone or porous tile—grout residue on the surface is a common issue. I’ve had customers ask how to clean grout off tile before we can install the fireplace surround. My approach: use a mixture of white vinegar and water (1:4 ratio) on a microfiber cloth. If the grout is cured for more than 24 hours, you’ll need a commercial grout haze remover. Never use abrasive cleaners on tile near a fireplace—the heat can cause the chemicals to vaporize. That’s not a rule I’ve seen in a manual; it’s a lesson from a call I took where the homeowner had used oven cleaner on the surround. The fumes were noticeable when the fireplace ran.
Per FTC Green Guides, if you claim a tile cleaner is “safe for use near heating appliances,” you need substantiation. I don’t make that claim. I just tell people to test in a hidden spot first.
The mistake I made that first year cost me $450 in rework and a week of schedule. The checklist above has caught 47 potential errors in the past 18 months. I’ve documented each one in a log—not because I’m organized, but because I don’t want to make the same mistake twice. If you install Napoleon fireplaces, or any fireplace, copy this list. Modify it for your models. Test it. It’ll save you a lot more than $450.
