A cool breeze on a hot summer day is paradise, right? But what about in the cold of winter? If you have a pre-1995 era house built with a traditional fireplace, you might have noticed an unwelcome draft of cold air coming from the fireplace just when you want to snuggle up and stay warm.

Back then, builders constructed homes to current building codes, which weren’t as stringent as today’s with regard to energy efficiency. By modern standards, these older fireplaces can feel really drafty and cold underfoot, leaving many homeowners in search of an efficient and affordable fix to the problem. So what’s a homeowner to do?

For lots of folks, a gas fireplace insert is the hands-down best option to replace a wood-burning firebox. The insert fits into almost any existing fireplace, supplying 75-99% of the heat into the room compared with just 10-30% with a wood-burning fireplace. Some of the features you might expect in a gas insert include:

- High efficiency heat at the flick of a switch
- Variable flame adjustment
- Electronic ignition
- Accent lighting to add ambiance to the flames
- Battery backup in case of a power outage
- Built-in fans to blow warm air
- Styles for every home ranging from modern to traditional to rustic

So take a browse around our website and get to know some of the beautiful options Hearthside offers for your fireplace upgrade. It may be scorching out now, but winter’s coming and we want to make sure you’re all set for a cozy, inviting fireplace season. Featured below: gas inserts by Fireplace Xtrodinair. ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

Looking to rejuvenate an existing fireplace and masonry chimney? Look no further than a contemporary gas burning fireplace insert. Today’s inserts fit right into the space of your old masonry wood burning fireplace and are an effective and simple way to convert your wood burning unit into a gas fireplace.

The replacement unit is basically a metal firebox with gas jets that hook into a gas line. The unit is connected to a gas jet near the device's bottom. A venting pipe runs through the chimney's length and safely dispels any fumes away from the home's interior.

You can lose the hassle of burning logs (and lose all the inefficiencies of an old fireplace) without sacrificing the beauty and warmth of your fireplace. Options abound in terms of the fireplace surround design, wood/log style, and price points, so this wonderful home improvement project can be a reality for practically any homeowner.

Below, check out some of the beautiful Kozy Heat gas insert models available from Hearthside. Have a great weekend everyone! ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago