How do I figure out what brand and model my fireplace is?
Look for the metal rating plate — every listed fireplace has one stamped with the brand, model number, serial number, fuel type, and clearances. It's usually behind the lower louver or grille, on the firebox floor or side wall, or inside the control-access door where the gas valve lives. Snap a photo of it; that label tells us everything.
Where the plate hides
The rating plate is a small metal label required on every listed fireplace, and where it lives depends on the type. On a gas fireplace, pop off the lower louver or grille — it usually lifts or unclips by hand — and look on the firebox floor, an inner side wall, or the control panel behind the access door where the gas valve sits.
On an insert, it's often on the surround or trim, under the door, or only visible with the surround pulled. On a factory-built wood fireplace, check the inner firebox wall or up in the smoke dome. On a freestanding stove, look at the back panel or underneath.
No plate, or can't read it?
Older plates fade, and a well-used firebox can bake the print right off. When that happens, clear photos of the whole unit, the log set, the controls, and any castings or door shape help a lot — we work on these brands weekly, and the burner layout, valve, and trim often tell us the maker even without a legible label.
One thing to know: if it's an open masonry fireplace with a gas log set dropped in, the firebox itself has no brand — it's the log set and burner that carry a model number, so that's what we'll look at.
Why the model number matters
That model and serial is the key to everything downstream — ordering the right parts, checking for recalls, confirming warranty status, and making sure any gas work matches the correct fuel and orifice. The serial number usually encodes the build date too, which tells us how old the unit is and whether parts are still easy to get.
We capture it on every [inspection](/services/fireplace-inspection) or repair visit and keep it on file, so you only have to find it once. Snap that photo, bring it to the Asheville showroom, or call (828) 545-0525.
How we can help
Related questions
- How do I find out how old my fireplace is from the model or serial number?
- Where do I find the model number on my Heatilator fireplace?
- How do I find out if my fireplace has been recalled?
- How long do manufacturers keep making parts after a fireplace model is discontinued?
- My fireplace brand went out of business — can I still get parts and service?
- Is Napoleon a good fireplace brand?
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