We're all hearing the daily reports of rising energy & home heating costs that will put further strain on our family's budget, but the hearth industry stands ready to help with simple, easy and stylish hearth product solutions.

 

 

 

While one of the first options you might think of in alternative home heating options may be a wood burning stove or insert, we want to offer you other alternatives that probably better fit your lifestyle, and even your budget. The first reason we don't offer woodstoves is due to the demographics of our average customer, who lives in an older home; existing fireplaces are simply too small to install a woodstove; the chimneys are often old and deteriorated; and most often this home is in an urban area where wood delivery is expensive and there's little space to fit a proper wood pile. 

 

For these reasons we focus our appliance selections on gas and electric fireplaces, inserts and freestanding stoves. Most urban homes already have natural gas service and, well, they all have electrical outlets to just plug in an electric fire in any room.

 

Every 1 degree you turn down the central heating thermostat, you save 1% on fuel and heating costs.   Turn down the furnace 10 degrees when you're gone and while you're sleeping; 10° equals 10% fuel savings  and saves 326 pounds of CO2 per year!

ZONE HEATING _____________________ Here's the easy, simple answer to managing heating costs:   *Turn down your central heating system thermostat There's no logical reason to heat unoccupied rooms to the same temperature as the rooms your family really uses   *Use a fireplace, insert or freestanding stove to heat the primary space your family occupies to a comfortable temperature Add ambience to your family's gathering spaces and add value to your home   *Enjoy a 20-40% fuel savings this winter!

 

PRACTICAL OPTIONS         

Installing a vented gas fireplace, stove or insert is usually not a major renovation; most installations can be completed in a few hours.

 

GAS Provided you already have gas service to your home, a plumber or HVAC technician extends the gas line to where the new appliance will be installed. There are gas appliances suitable for any room in your home so long as there's a means to vent the stove or fireplace to the outdoors. Appliance designs make it easy to vent most models either vertically through the ceiling, horizontally through a wall, or into an existing chimney. Note that for safety reasons a building permit is generally required to install a gas hearth product. Gas appliances do feature a REAL flame and can heat several rooms, even when the power is out. Remote control, timer and thermostat operation available on most models.
  SEE ALL GAS HEARTH APPLIANCESØ

 

ELECTRIC fireplaces, stoves and inserts have no special installation requirements; most are plug-and-play and you merely need to remove it from the box, follow simple assembly instructions if any, and plug into a standard household electric outlet. Electric hearth products are 99% efficient, require NO VENTING, no building permit. The heater is a hot air blower system. Another enthralling feature is that the electric fireplace can be used without the heater to add a warm and cozy glow to the room at any time of the year without putting heat in the room. The flame is electrically simulated, uses no more electricity than a light bulb and although it's very realistic, there are NO HOT SURFACES to burn children or pets even when the heater is turned on. Remote control and thermostat operation available on most models. 
  SEE ALL ELECTRIC HEARTH APPLIANCESØ

 

Our industry association, the HEARTH, PATIO & BARBECUE ASSOCIATION (HPBA) has created a terrific chart for you to understand all the features of wood, pellet, gas and electric heating appliances. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

 

DO THE MATH   

The HPBA has also developed a customized tool to compare current fuel costs in your area. Research fuel costs where you live, plug in the numbers, and figure out which option will save you the most money. (Be sure and go to second calculation form at the bottom of the page to see YOUR SAVINGS if you install a new wood, pellet, gas or electric fireplace product).CLICK HERE TO GOØ