The Wilderness Insert 34 is a complete, enclosed gas heating appliance installed inside a suitable existing wood-burning fireplace. Its Wilderness logs create the flame presentation, but the product is an insert, not a stand-alone gas log set. It uses a sealed combustion system and dedicated vent liners to bring combustion air in and send exhaust outside.

No. It is installed inside a suitable existing fireplace. Ortal’s installation manual allows installation in approved solid-fuel masonry or factory-built wood-burning fireplaces, subject to the full installation requirements. That does not mean it can go inside any factory-built fireplace or an existing built-in gas fireplace.

A built-in gas fireplace is a different type of appliance: it has its own firebox and enclosure requirements and does not need another fireplace to sit inside. Chimneys Plus can help you determine whether an insert or a fireplace replacement makes sense for your home.

Ortal lists these minimum cavity dimensions for the IN34:

• Front width: 33 3/4 inches.
• Rear width: 24 3/8 inches.
• Front height: 23 3/4 inches.
• Rear height: 19 1/2 inches, at the location shown in Ortal’s opening diagram.
• Depth: 18 inches.

These are cavity dimensions, not the viewing area or finished surround size. Ortal recommends another 2 1/2 inches of front height for service access, bringing that recommended height to 26 1/4 inches. The complete opening diagram also controls the tapered shape and vent-connection space; the measurements above alone do not establish fit.

Mantel and nearby side-wall clearances, hearth construction, chimney condition, vent routing and surround coverage also matter. So do the location and protrusion of an existing gas line, which can interfere with the space needed for the insert and its service connections.

Chimneys Plus can help determine whether this insert is right for your fireplace and identify any adjustments needed for installation.

Yes! It can keep its gas flame operating during a power outage when the gas supply is available and four working AA backup batteries are installed in the receiver. That makes it a useful source of room heat when your regular heating system is unavailable.

The backup batteries do not power the blower, lighting or Wi-Fi functions. Ortal calls for annual replacement of the receiver batteries. We’ll help you understand the backup setup and what to expect from the insert in your room. It should not be presented as a guarantee of whole-home heating.

Ortal lists remote, wall-switch and Wi-Fi control options. The available setup should be selected with your appliance package, rather than assuming every controller is included. The insert brochure identifies the fan kit as standard equipment.

The fan helps circulate warmth during normal powered operation. It needs household electricity, so it does not run from the flame-control backup batteries during an outage.

The Insert 34 offers a larger viewing area and a maximum input of 35,000 BTU/hr with either fuel. The Insert 29 is smaller and may suit a tighter fireplace opening. Choosing the larger insert is not automatically better: the available space, room’s heating needs and finished proportions all matter.

We can help compare both sizes and other suitable inserts without expecting you to know the answer before reaching out.

Yes! Chimneys Plus is licensed in North Carolina to install gas piping, and we routinely handle this work as part of gas fireplace appliance installations. We can evaluate your existing gas supply, install the piping needed for your new appliance and handle the required permitting.

Permit requirements depend on the work involved and your local inspection department. Installing a new gas line requires permitting. Replacing the fireplace itself also requires permitting, even when the gas line already exists.

For gas logs or an insert installed inside an existing fireplace, we’ll confirm the requirements for your project. Whenever a permit is required, Chimneys Plus handles the permitting for you.

The right choice depends on your existing fireplace and what you want from it. Vented gas logs are primarily chosen for the appearance and ambiance of an open fire. If you want regular room heat and a sealed combustion system, a direct-vent insert is often a better fit. A model with verified outage operation can also provide backup heat.

Vent-free gas logs can provide a quick burst of warmth, such as taking the chill off a room in the morning. They also release combustion byproducts and moisture into the home and are intended for supplemental, intermittent use rather than continuous heating. Chimneys Plus recommends short operating periods, generally a couple of hours at a time, with ventilation that may include cracking a window as required by the appliance instructions and room conditions. An open window does not replace those ventilation requirements.

For longer periods of heating, a sealed direct-vent insert is often the better choice. If you are adding a fireplace where none exists or replacing the entire fireplace, a built-in gas fireplace may be more appropriate. We can help you compare these options around your home and the way you want to use the fire.

No! You don’t need to know which brand or model you want before reaching out. Tell us what you’d like to improve about your fireplace, whether that’s warmth, ambiance, convenience or backup heat, and we’ll help you compare suitable options.

We can guide you through the differences in fit, performance and style so you can choose with confidence.

Yes. Ortal requires a 120V, 15-amp, 60Hz duplex receptacle (two outlets) at the side or back of the fireplace, within 36 inches of the pilot. This is part of the installation requirement, even though the gas flame can operate on backup batteries during a power outage. Battery backup does not make this an approved battery-only installation.

If a suitable, code-compliant outlet is already in the required location, new wiring may not be needed. If an outlet must be added or moved, that is additional electrical work and investment to include in the installation plan. Chimneys Plus coordinates the required electrical work as part of your fireplace installation, so you do not need to arrange it separately. Electrical work is performed by a qualified licensed electrician according to local code.