Get matched with top fireplace pros in Calais, ME

Q: What are the disadvantages of fireplace inserts?

• <div><p>Fireplace inserts have several potential disadvantages. The cost of the insert and its installation can be a significant investment, as the process can be complicated and expensive, particularly if modifications to the existing fireplace are necessary. Aesthetically, some people find that inserts lack the traditional look and authentic ambiance of an open, crackling fire. There are also ongoing costs for maintenance, cleaning, and fuel. Fuel type can be a limitation; for example, an insert may be unusable if you don't have access to its specific fuel source. Maintenance and repairs can also require specialized services, especially for gas or electric models. Finally, while an insert is more efficient than an open fireplace, it may not heat a home as evenly as a central HVAC system.</p></div>

Q: Do pellet stoves require a lot of electricity to operate?

• <div><p>Pellet stoves do require electricity to power their automated features, such as the pellet feeder, fans, and digital controls. However, their electricity consumption is relatively low compared to other household appliances. During a power outage, pellet stoves equipped with battery backup systems or manual ignition options can still operate, though fans and automatic feed mechanisms may not function. Have a backup heating plan in place for these situations, especially if you live in a region prone to severe weather events.</p></div>

Q: Are elm trees good for firewood?

• <div><p>Compared to certain types of firewood like pine or spruce&mdash;which burn off sticky resin contained within the wood that creates lots of smoke&mdash;elm isn&rsquo;t the worst option for burning in a fireplace.</p><p>Because elm wood is dense, it burns at a moderate pace and does a pretty good job of keeping your home warm. Hardwood like maple or oak may perform slightly better, but elm isn&rsquo;t a bad choice overall.</p></div>

Q: Do you need a flue or chimney cap?

• <div><p>If you have a chimney, you need a flue or chimney cap. The right covering keeps rain, debris, and animals from getting into your flue or chimney and causing damage. A flue or chimney cap also provides fire protection. The mesh insert around the cap keeps sparks from flying out of the chimney and igniting leaves and other materials.</p></div>

Q: Does a hearth have to be a certain size?

• <div><p>The short answer is yes, as hearths need to extend a certain distance out from the fire. This is usually around at least a foot in front but is often more, closer to two feet even. There is another distance to consider, which is the distance beyond the opening of the fireplace. Each municipality will have different code requirements. </p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Fireplace Service pros in Calais, ME

*The Angi rating for Fireplace Service companies in Calais, ME is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Fireplace Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Fireplace Service companies in Calais, ME is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Fireplace Service needs.

Last update on January 15, 2026

Reviewed in January 2026
Eric’s crew has done a number of big tree jobs for us. Has nothing to do with stump removal but there’s no review category option for taking down dead trees and/or removing trees knocked down by storms. They’ve done some complex work requiring coordination with utilities as lines had to be...
3 C's Professional Tree Removal
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Reviewed in July 2023
Reliable and good! Happy with results.
Demolet Decorating
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Reviewed in July 2023
Great! Did my roof in 1 day. 3 man team. Efficient.
C P Hanscom and Son's LLC
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Reviewed in May 2023
They did a fantastic job, the tree was down and everything cleaned up in a professional manner. I highly recommend and I would hire them again in a heartbeat.
Sons Of Thunder Tree Service
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Reviewed in March 2023
Mr. Seely recognized that I have a lot of projects that need to be addressed .He.took.the time to reach out to other pros in the area that would.be appropriate for.each project. Mr. Seeley was quick to respond to the ice dam over moms wheel chair ramp. Very professional young man.
Fitzsee Property Management
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Reviewed in May 2022
I met Daniely at my house and talked about the clean. Everything we went over was done with a white glove touch. I hired her for the season with 10 more cleans from Father’s Day to mid September. I feel confident that I hired the right company! Chris
Daniely Cleaning Service
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Reviewed in December 2021
2 Spry young men hustled up and down 3 flights of stairs in somerville for 3 hours. Yeah I got my moneys worth!
Otto's Moving and Storage, LLC
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Reviewed in November 2020
Nate and Dave are a great father and son team. They kept me informed of costs and installation date and came all the way to down east Maine for no extra charge. They took care of all the paperwork, rebates, and were at the work site right on time.The installation is very professionally done and...
Dave's Mechanical Maintenance, Inc.
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Find Fireplace pros in Calais

McBriens Fire & Flue

5.0(

)

Clean and Inspect a wood fireplace chimneyBrick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - RepairBrick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - Install+2 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I had birds chirping in my fireplace. Mcbriens safely removed the birds and nest and installed an animal guard to prevent future critters! Thank you guys so much."

+19

Response time9 hrs

Response rate100%

34 neighbors recently requested a quote

Clean and Inspect a wood fireplace chimneyGas, Pellet, or Wood Stove - InstallBrick or Stone Fireplace (Gas) - Install+6 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We hired Josh to completely transform our fireplace area and couldn’t be happier with the results. From the initial inspection to the final install, everything was explained clearly and handled professionally. The stonework and stove setup came out absolutely beautiful and completely changed the feel of the room. Josh was clean, punctual, and took real pride in his work. The before and after difference is night and day. I’d highly recommend him to anyone looking for quality chimney or stove work done right."

11 neighbors recently requested a quote

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HANDY ANDY SPECIALTY SERVICES LLC

4.9(

)

Clean and Inspect a wood fireplace chimneyBrick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - RepairBrick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - Install+1 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I had them do a cleaning and inspection of my chimney and they found damages to the brickwork and the top of the chimney. They installed a new cap and their cost was so reasonable. All their work is guaranteed as well, which is reassuring. They were clean, efficient and courteous. I would highly recommend Handy Andy and in fact they are doing an estimate for my neighbor to whom I recommended them to."

11 neighbors recently requested a quote

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Shamrock Maintenance Corp.

3.4(

721

)

Clean and Inspect a wood fireplace chimneyBrick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - RepairClean and Inspect a wood burning stove or pellet stove+3 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Excellent job! He did an excellent job on the chimney and fireplace. Neat work, cleaned the chimney from top to bottom and took care of the fireplace as well."

+90

Response time5 hrs

Response rate97%

20 neighbors recently requested a quote

Brick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - RepairClean and Inspect a gas fireplaceClean and Inspect a wood burning stove or pellet stove+7 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"The workers and office staff were easy to talk to, well informed, courteous , and efficient. They performed a thorough inspection. Recommended and installed a stainless liner and cap for the furnace flue and a new damper on the fireplace flue. Their price was better than previous quotes and even set up a partial payment plan. I am very pleased with the work they did."

Response time1 hour

Response rate99%

Recommended by85%of homeowners

Clean and Inspect a gas fireplaceClean and Inspect a wood burning stove or pellet stoveClean and Inspect a wood fireplace chimney

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"very well the main office was very helpful when I needed them"

Recommended by93%of homeowners

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New England Home Renovations LLC

4.0(

311

)

Brick or Stone Fireplace (Gas) - InstallBrick or Stone Fireplace (Gas) - RepairBrick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - Install+12 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 1983

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"NE was responsive to what we needed and was helpful with their recommendations.Along with the roof we need some plumbing remodeling delt with,and they were more than capable in doing that. All the projects were completed in 2 weeks,and looks great.
"

+37

Recommended by89%of homeowners

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Northeast Chimney Services

5.0(

)

Brick or Stone Fireplace - RepairClean and Inspect a gas fireplaceClean and Inspect a wood burning stove or pellet stove+1 more

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 1989

Free estimates

"I called Northeast Chimney Services in the afternoon. Chris called that day and made an appointment for the next day. He came in, diagnoised the issue and fixed the problem right. Easy from start to finish!"

Recommended by100%of homeowners

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1ST ADVANCED PAINTING

New to Angi

Brick or Stone Fireplace - Repair

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 1990

Free estimates

1st Advanced Painting Solutions has extensive experience and knowledge of interior & exterior painting. Our commitment is to delivery of quality work, responsiveness, and competitive pricing.

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W & W Remodeling

New to Angi

Brick or Stone Fireplace (Non-Gas) - RepairBrick or Stone Fireplace - Repair

Serving Calais, ME and surrounding areas

In business since 2004

Established in 2004, W & W Remodeling prides itself on an outstanding record of quality service and attention to detail. Our philosophy is to treat your home as we would our own, and this is complimented by our years of experience in the industry. You can expect the highest level of service and quality when you choose W & W Remodeling any project.

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Fireplaces questions, answered by experts

Fireplace inserts have several potential disadvantages. The cost of the insert and its installation can be a significant investment, as the process can be complicated and expensive, particularly if modifications to the existing fireplace are necessary. Aesthetically, some people find that inserts lack the traditional look and authentic ambiance of an open, crackling fire. There are also ongoing costs for maintenance, cleaning, and fuel. Fuel type can be a limitation; for example, an insert may be unusable if you don't have access to its specific fuel source. Maintenance and repairs can also require specialized services, especially for gas or electric models. Finally, while an insert is more efficient than an open fireplace, it may not heat a home as evenly as a central HVAC system.

Pellet stoves do require electricity to power their automated features, such as the pellet feeder, fans, and digital controls. However, their electricity consumption is relatively low compared to other household appliances. During a power outage, pellet stoves equipped with battery backup systems or manual ignition options can still operate, though fans and automatic feed mechanisms may not function. Have a backup heating plan in place for these situations, especially if you live in a region prone to severe weather events.

Compared to certain types of firewood like pine or spruce—which burn off sticky resin contained within the wood that creates lots of smoke—elm isn’t the worst option for burning in a fireplace.

Because elm wood is dense, it burns at a moderate pace and does a pretty good job of keeping your home warm. Hardwood like maple or oak may perform slightly better, but elm isn’t a bad choice overall.

If you have a chimney, you need a flue or chimney cap. The right covering keeps rain, debris, and animals from getting into your flue or chimney and causing damage. A flue or chimney cap also provides fire protection. The mesh insert around the cap keeps sparks from flying out of the chimney and igniting leaves and other materials.

The short answer is yes, as hearths need to extend a certain distance out from the fire. This is usually around at least a foot in front but is often more, closer to two feet even. There is another distance to consider, which is the distance beyond the opening of the fireplace. Each municipality will have different code requirements.

The Calais, ME homeowners’ guide to fireplace services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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