Now is the time to purchase and efficient wood burning product! Why, you ask?

The available tax credit makes the option of buying an efficient wood burning product an affordable project.  Plus, you will be helping small businesses that are taking a huge hit by the economy.  Most small businesses can’t get credit now because their financials show the hit from the economy over the last two years (yes, it has been that long).  While getting credit is essential to small businesses, the major concern is lagging sales.  So, please save yourself some money and move to a greener energy option by going to an efficient, EPA approved wood stove, fireplace, or insert. 

You can get a 30% Tax Credit (up to $1500.00) on the cost of having an efficient wood burning appliance installed in your home (must be a primary residence; cannot be new construction or rental property for the tax credit).  The credit is determined by the cost of installing an efficient wood burner, not just the cost of the appliance itself.  This is a HUGE savings! 

So, you are thinking about purchasing a wood stove or fireplace and you realize that if you do; you will feel so good about yourself.  Because you were smart and saved money, because you helped a local small business survive for another day, and now you are socially conscious because you are heating your home in a “GREEENER” way!  Plus, now you can come home after a hard day and revert back to your primal instincts and play with fire, or just relax while watching the beautiful, efficient flames; while knowing your heating bill will not break the bank this year or next.

If you already have an open style fireplace, you can heat efficiently too by choosing a good quality wood insert.  There is an efficient wood appliance out there for everyone, every style, every size.

Don’t hesitate to call your local Specialty Hearth Retailer and find out how you can start saving money!

I tried to force myslef to blog around this time last year because everyone tells me it is a must.  I find that I am seriously lacking the self-discipline to make myself do it consistently, but it is a new year and I am determined to blog!  Maybe I have felt that I don’t have anything to blog about, or maybe I am so disheartend by this economy and the world we are trying to survive in that I have found it difficult to be excited about the business of selling stoves and fireplaces.  As I write this I am chuckling about my wording; three years ago I was working my tail off to “Thrive” our business was growing and it was an exciting time!  A mere three years later - three years that feel like 50yrs - I am struggling to keep our business alive (notice I didn’t say “Dream - keep the dream alive” because it is not the dream I had).  Probably not the PC thing to write on the blog that is a “must” have, but the truth at the moment.

Nevertheless, I am here as your determined blogger to remind everyone that Wood is Good!  That there has never been a better time to invest in a wood stove/insert or efficient fireplace.  I know what you’re thinking!  “Winter is almost over and I have made it this far without that expense, why would I buy one now?” You know what I have to say to that? Well, you’ve got a point.  (I am assuming that now you can see why I am such a good sales person).  If you are on a fixed income, or have lost your job, then you absolutely have a point.  But, if you have the means and desire for a fireplace/stove (weather wood or gas), then now is the time.  You will still have plenty of cold weather to enjoy the new appliance and you’ll be able to take advantage of the Tax Credit for efficient wood products installed.  OK, I did my selling bit. 

I think tomorrow I will talk about what growth I am finally seeing in the contemporary gas world.  I was personally predicting it to take off about two years ago, but I am slowly seeing its’ growth in the last year or so.  I think I will also be more upbeat tomorrow as I feel strangely excited about my new commitment to blogging.

Hello -

Our store has had many requests for a wood stove that sells for $500.00 or less.  While I understand that everyone is looking for a deal in this economy, I just don’t have them.  I have been concerned about this!  I have been researching the big box chain stores that I continually hear is offering a wood stove for $300-$500.00.  Our Fireplace and Wood stove Guru has always stated that when you put fire in your home, saftey must come first.  That being said he has always stayed away from the “Cheap” wood stove.  I started doing some research to see if there really was cause to not offer a “cheap” wood stove.  What I found out was very interesting.  Many of the “cheap” wood stoves were not UL Listed (meaning that they did not pass the rigerous saftey standards required or never even attempted to do so).  I also learned that most (if not all) insurance companies will not cover a fireplace or stove product that is not UL listed!  How terrible to have a house fire, and then to find out that it won’t be covered under your insurance policy!!  So, while I agree that one shouldn’t spend more than they have to one a wood stove or fireplace; safety is a requirement and knowing that your insurance company approves the wood stove you are installing is also a huge relief!  Please don’t be swept away by the price tag alone.  Speak to an industry professional and understand what you are paying for.  If having a stove that is efficient, and EPA approved isn’t important to you then knowing that it is UL listed should be!

I was just reading my “Hearth & Home Magazine” (www.hearthandhome.com) and there was a great article by Dr. James E. Houck In the Zone The Three E’s; Energy, Economy and Environment.  This article talks about how using room heaters or Zone Heaters can help reduce the cost of heating by allowing home owners to turn down their central system and focus on heating the rooms they are in.  This makes so much since to me!  Many homes have 5 or more rooms, yet we seem to spend most of our time in just a few of those.  “Zone heaters, sometimes referred to as room heaters, can offer energy and money savigs if used to augment centralized heating systems.  Households can turn down the thermostat and turn on the room heater when and where it is needed.”  “Inefficient heat delivery and the heating of empty rooms means wasted energy, wated money and wnwarranted greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions.”  The other part of the article that impacted me was Dr. Houck’s discussion of Radiant Energy.  “At rest, humans are comfortable at an air temperature of about 70 degrees F.  When we sit in the sun we feel warm even if the air temperature is less than 70 degrees F due to radiant energy.  Zone heaters can have the same effect; they can provide warmth without the need of heatig the iterior of the home to a comfortable temperature.  If all else is equal, radiant heat from a zone heater can be far more efficient than covection heat from a centralized hot-air furnace.”  Again, this makes sense!  I know that my electric bill has been much larger this year than last.  I have become obsessed with turning off appliances etc.. and then watching my meter spin in the hopes of keeping the electric bill in check.  I can only imagine how much worse it would be if I didn’t have my Direct Vent Gas Fireplace in the living room.  Not only is it capable of heating more than one room but it feels nice to have the family sitting by the fire.  So by zone heating it makes sense that I am saving energy, saving money, and doing this by creating a warm ambiance in my home all at the same time.  Talk about a win-win situation.  Zone heaters can be free standing stoves, fireplace inserts, and masonry heaters.  These heaters can be fueled by cordwood, gas, oil, coal, corn and pellets.  OK…  So there are lots of options for a zone heater and one will fit your needs and style.  In fact the options are so numerous that you have to be careful that you choose something that fits your needs.  Factors to consider; size of the room or rooms you want to heat, aesthetics, efficiency, installation (how do we vent it and what makes the most sense for our situation), quality (yes, you can buy a product that will last 20-30 years), up keep (physically speaking can I lift a 40lb bag of pellets, do I have a source of wood, do I want to manually light my unit or is a remote a better option etc..), and finally budget. 

I wanted to pass along the information on zone heating from this article, as it conveyed the idea better than most articles I have read on the subject. 

(About the author: Dr. James E. Houck is president of OMNI Environmental Service.  www.omni-environmental.com)

There is a real change in the hearth industry to include contemporary design options.   The picture at the bottom is one of the most recent contemporary designs completed by Pardo Hearth Designs.  Our customer chose the Regency HZ54 Direct Vent Gas Fireplace Unit as the focal point.  You can see the Regency contemporary options at this link: http://www.regency-fire.com/Gas/Contemporary/.  There are contemporary options available in wood, direct vent gas, gas logs, and one of the most contemporary lines available burn Ethanol.  If you are in the market for a contemporary fireplace or stove option, there are products to fit your specific need.  Check out the links below.

For contemporary wood burning options I would recommend looking at the RAIS and Max Blank web sites: www.rais.com or www.maxblank.com

For contemporary alternatives to gas logs I would recommend looking at the www.rasmussen.biz web site.  Rasmussen is offering some nice alternatives to the traditional gas log options.  Options range from colored pebbles to geometric shapes; from river rock to colored glass.

For cotemporary Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces I would recommend looking at the Regency and the Town & Country Web sites.  Both offer a great sleek look with a multitude of options.  Both offer a great quality products that are efficient.  http://www.regency-fire.com/Gas/Contemporary/ or http://www.townandcountryfireplaces.net/

My last contemporary recommendation is Ecosmart Fires.  These units are quite incredible.  In fact, they are the only ventless (no flue needed) fireplace option that we would recommend.  The Ecosmart fires burn Ethanol which burn more cleanly than the traditional natural gas or propane ventless fireplace options.  In addition to having a “GREEN” focus, the Ecosmart Fires are great looking!  Check out Ecosmart Fires at www.ecosmartfire.com

Newest Contemporary Design by Pardo Hearth Designs

Hello to all -

My name is Kathryn Pardo and I am new to blogging but I look forward to this new adventure.  I think this will be a great way to update past, current and future customers of tips, tricks, and must have information on fireplaces, stoves, mantels etc.  There are many new innovations in the hearth industry and lots of ways to save on energy and heating bills.  I look forward to passing along information that can positively affect many out there.  More to come.