Best Fireplace Upgrades For Older Homes

Older homes have charm, character, and craftsmanship — but the fireplaces in them often fall short when it comes to modern safety, efficiency, and convenience. Whether you're restoring a historic Maryland home or updating your everyday living space, these fireplace upgrades will bring new life (and heat) to your hearth.

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1. Install a Wood-Burning Insert

If your existing fireplace is drafty or inefficient, a wood-burning insert is one of the best upgrades you can make. Inserts fit directly into your existing firebox and turn it into a high-efficiency, EPA-certified heating machine.

Benefits:

Up to 70–80% heat efficiency

Less wood used, less creosote buildup

Safe, enclosed burn behind a glass door

This is ideal for homes in Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, PG, Howard County's, and other areas where wood heat is still popular.

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2. Consider a Gas Log Set or Gas Insert

Want the convenience of a fire without hauling logs? A gas log set or gas insert may be the perfect solution. Inserts are fully sealed, direct-vent systems that require minimal maintenance.

Gas Insert Benefits:

Flip-a-switch operation

No ash cleanup or chimney sweeping

Provides supplemental heat in winter

This is especially good for older chimneys where wood burning may no longer be safe.

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3. Repair and Seal the Chimney Crown

Water is the #1 chimney killer — and older crowns are often cracked or missing completely. A formed concrete crown with a proper drip edge and expansion joint protects the chimney from the top down.

Crown sealing also extends its lifespan and prevents internal leaks.

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4. Add a Stainless Steel Chimney Cap

If your flue is open to the sky, it’s open to rain, animals, and debris. A proper chimney cap protects against water damage, blockages, and wildlife entry — all common in older homes.

Modern caps also help prevent downdrafts and keep sparks from escaping.

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5. Reline the Flue with a Stainless Steel Liner

Many older chimneys were built with clay flue tiles that are now cracked, missing mortar joints, or otherwise unsafe. A stainless steel liner brings your chimney up to current code and allows you to safely burn wood, gas, or pellets.

This is especially important for:

Converting to a new appliance

Fixing unsafe or damaged flues

Improving draft and reducing smoke

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6. Install FireGuard Resurfacing (Alternative to Liner)

If the flue tiles are intact but cracked or deteriorated, FireGuard resurfacing is a cost-effective and UL-listed alternative to full relining. It seals the interior of the flue with a ceramic coating — restoring safety and performance.

Great for homeowners looking to preserve their original chimney while modernizing performance.

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Maryland Home Tip

Older homes in Maryland have beautiful, unique fireplaces — but they weren’t built with today’s safety codes or efficiency standards in mind. Whether you're in Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, PG, Howard County's, w upgrading your fireplace can increase your home’s value, cut heating costs, and keep your family safer.

At The Dukes Chimney, we specialize in bringing old chimneys back to life with modern materials and smart upgrades — without compromising the character of your home.