Fuel for Thought – Fireplace Inserts

If the beautiful masonry fireplace at the center of your home isn’t doing the job, don’t despair.Afireplace insert may be all you need. A fireplace insert gives you terrific options while offering benefits your traditional fireplace can’t match.

Old-Fashioned Wood

If splitting logs is your favorite form of exercise, and you’ve been building fires since you were in Brownies, you’ll still be able enjoy a fire the old-fashioned way.Wood inserts let you enjoy real wood burning merrily away in your fireplace, while increasing the heat efficiency and warming the entire room.

Heating with Gas

Gas inserts require an existing gas line in your home that they can tap in to. If the fireplace you have has a starter line, you can usually convert that for a gas insert. They essentially turn your fireplace into a heater that can efficiently heat an entire room in your home.

Pellets Add Options

Pellet stoves can be used in places that traditional wood-burning inserts cannot, like mobile homes and some apartments. If gas isn’t available, pellet inserts burn compressed wood pellets or biofuels to produce an extremely clean, steady, and reliable heat.

Repair or Replace

Inserts come in a variety of sizes, meaning that even if your existing fireplace is an odd shape or size, it’s easy to find something that fits. Facings can give a facelift to your entire wall, and combine in stunning ways with a new mantel for a wow-worthy centerpiece to your room.

To learn more about fireplace inserts in San Diego, click here.

Best of Both Worlds: Indoor/Outdoor Gas Fireplaces

If you’ve been dreaming about having both an indoor and outdoor gas fireplace, but your wallet is only thick enough for one, keep reading...read more

Be the King of Summer with an Electric Barbecue Grill

When it comes to grilling, you are the backyard boss. Whether it’s the allure of freshly charred meat, or the convenience of cooking outside, here are a few ways an electric barbecue grill can help you be the King of Summer.

Commanding Authority

It’s not just the long spatula. Maybe it’s that you decide when and what people get to eat, or the throne-like majesty of your beautiful shiny grill. Or it could be the apron you’re wearing that says “King of the Grill”. Regardless, everyone knows that the guy standing behind the fire is the one in charge.

Perfect Temperature Control

You might not be able to control the weather, but you can control the heat. Perfectly sear steaks, char corn, and grill vegetables with individual temperature controls. Use different zones for different cooking methods.  And for those late-arriving guests, don’t worry, and don’t subject them to Aunt Mildred’s potato salad just because they missed the three-minute window of perfect charcoal. It’s easy to flip a switch, turn a knob, and cook them something so good, they’ll never be late again.

Rain or Shine

Just because your favorite baseball team gets rained out doesn’t mean you have to be. With an electric grill, it’s easy and safe to cook under a balcony or pavilion, allowing you to extend the summer into the fall. And if you’re craving a juicy chargrilled steak in the middle of winter, what’s to stop you?

When you’re ready to enjoy the delicious convenience of year-round grilling, visit this website to find out about gas barbecues in San Diego.

Have Your Fire Wherever You’d Like!

Gas fireplaces can only be installed on outside walls of the home, right? WRONG! While that was the case several years ago, technology has come a long way since then...read more

The Convenience and Comfort of a Freestanding Gas Stove

Before the conventional four-burner stove was invented, people used wood-burning stoves to cook their food. Now these vessels resemble modern fireplaces, and often times that’s precisely what they’re used for. Another key difference between the original versions and today’s new standard is an option of using gas instead of wood to heat the stove. There are a few reasons why you should consider gas when purchasing your new freestanding stove.

• Maintenance

To keep your gas stove operational and safe, all that’s truly required is a yearly inspection from a professional, who will also clean it and give it a good tune-up. This makes maintenance easy and hassle-free.

• Heat and Efficiency

Gas stoves are brilliant sources of warmth, and because there’s less need for ventilation, that heat is directed into the room instead of up through a chimney. You’ll find you can enjoy the warmth from a comfy chair several feet away instead of huddling around the flames. The low level of emissions means gas stoves are environmentally friendly too.

• Ease of Use

It’s nearly effortless to operate a gas stove, and most models simply require you to press a button or flip a switch. This means that anyone can operate it, and you can turn your fire on and off with no prep or clean-up.

A gas stove can be an ambient addition to any living space, and the benefits of using gas rather than wood make it a worthwhile investment. To find out more about gas burning stoves in La Mesa visit this website.

Open Flames Yield Delicious Results

Grilling gives meat and veggies a distinct flavor that many people find irresistible. Treat yourself to that flavor by choosing a great grill that can serve you well for years to come.

What Is a B Vent System?

Whether your stove is gas or wood-burning, it’s necessary to ensure that proper ventilation is installed and working well to promote safe air quality. With gas, you have a few different options to vent combustion gases, including a B vent system.

• What Is a B Ventilation System?

This ventilation system involves the use of a pipe that extends from the stove up through the roof and is typically enclosed in a chimney structure. The pipe will pull in oxygen from the room to aid in combustion, and because heat rises naturally, the fumes will be sent up through the pipe to exit out the roof. As the gases vent through the pipe, the chimney will heat up. The hotter the chimney, the faster the fumes are pulled into the ventilation system. Therefore, the longer the stove burns, the more efficient it becomes.

• Why Use B Vent?

What’s wonderful about B vent is that it always vents through the roof, making sure fumes are out of range of affecting breathable air. While it does use oxygen from the surrounding area, it does not take away from your home’s air quality. The cost of purchasing and installing a B vent system is also quite low in comparison to other systems, making it an economical option.

A B vent system is only meant for natural gas stoves and fireplaces, but if you already know that you prefer gas, then consider your ventilation options carefully. To learn more about B vent stoves in San Diego, visit this website.

Four Reasons to Add an Outdoor Fireplace

Your patio might already be an inviting place to receive guests and even just yourself, but there are great advantages to adding a fireplace to your outdoor living space, including warmth, entertainment, design and value.

1. Warmth

If you live in a region where winter comes early or autumn is particularly brutal, having a fireplace outside enables you to extend your use of the outdoor space all year round.

2. Entertainment

A fireplace can be the focal point of a great party, even during the summer when the weather’s already warm. You could have campfire themed get-togethers and perhaps roast marshmallows over the flame. Either way, guests will enjoy the comfort and coziness that your fireplace will provide.

3. Design

Fireplaces also have aesthetic appeal when you consider the many varieties of stone and brick you could choose for the facade. A fireplace also anchors a living space, and it’ll give you a starting point to place outdoor furniture around it.

4. Value

You cannot discount what installing a fireplace will add to your home’s resale value. In a market that’s constantly fluctuating, it’s never a bad idea to add value to your home in ways that you will also get years of enjoyment out of. Well-designed and fully-equipped outdoor spaces really help sell houses.

An outdoor fireplace is an easy addition that will make your patio space a much warmer and inviting place to spend time. You’ll love it, your guests will love it and down the line, prospective buyers will love it too. If you’re interested in exploring your options, visit this website to learn more about electric fireplaces in San Diego.

Prep for a Party the Right Way

Enjoying a party with family and friends can be an awesome treat, especially when the host chooses to grill. Next time you feel like a party, choose to grill with a barbeque that can give you years of delicious food and great memories.