You have decided to include a fireplace in your new home – congratulations! Adding a fireplace not only creates a warm and inviting environment, it can also decrease your heating costs during Tennessee’s cold winter months and increase the resale value of your home. But where do you start?

Here are the steps you need to take to get the right fireplace for your new construction.

With thousands of fireplace styles to choose from, the task of picking one out can be daunting! Start by asking yourself these five questions to help narrow it down:

1. What room will house your fireplace?

Fireplaces can now be installed in any and every room in the house! An outdoor or bathroom fireplace (yes, people do that) may need an exterior finish that will endure the humidity of Tennessee summers and long soaks in the tub.

Knowing whether you’ll be installing your fireplace on an interior or exterior wall will make an impact on the fireplace you choose as well. Proper venting is needed to install a gas fireplace, but an electric fireplace can be installed anywhere and simply needs a power source to create a beautiful flame.

2. Will you install a fireplace for looks or functionality? Or both?

Once you know where you’ll be installing your new fireplace, thinking about what you want to get out of your fireplace is an important step. Warming a basement rec room or outside living area may require more heat, or BTU’s, than a smaller space such as a bedroom or office.

On the other hand, watching a dancing flame while eating dinner may not require any heat at all. Also, innovations in technology now allow added functionality by allowing you to control your fireplace from your phone or smart device.

3. Which fireplace style best fits your home?

Think about the type of style your home will be decorated and start there. If you have contemporary fixtures, your fireplace should probably follow suit. Deciding if you want your fireplace to be a focal point or an accent in the room is also important. A see-through fireplace is a great option if you want to enjoy your fireplace in two adjacent rooms.

4.  How will you finish the wall around your fireplace?

Choosing the fireplace for your new home is just the beginning. You’ll still need to pick out the wall and hearth (or bottom shelf) finishes (such as brick) that is typically installed. In addition, you may want to install a mantle to create that true hearth experience, allowing a place to hang those festive stockings during the holidays!

5. Find out what’s trending

Pinterest and Instagram are great sources of inspiration and ideas. But sometimes it’s nice to know what other people near you area choosing. We’ve put together an article that shows hot trends in fireplace design in the Chattanooga area.

 

 

 

 

 

We also love to help home owners and contractors pick out the right fireplace. Stop into our showrooms in Hixson & Cleveland, Tennessee to see working models burning. Sometimes you have to see in person to make a decision, and we definitely recommend taking the time to come look and learn.

We Work with Home Owners & Contractors

Most who are building a new home hire a building contractor who orchestrates all aspects of construction. Some homeowners prefer to have a more hands-on approach.

Hearthside Hearth & Home works with both you and your builder to ensure the right fireplace is selected for the room, the necessary venting and electrical is properly installed, and the overall project goes as planned.

We contract with capable installers and technicians who handle all aspects of fireplace installation including inspections, masonry and electrical work. This allows your building contractor to entrust the job is being done to your satisfaction.

After the Build

After your new home is built, regular inspections and maintenance are essential to the safety and efficiency of your fireplace. Don’t forget to schedule annual service to keep your fireplace running as new as the day your new home was built!

We at Hearthside Hearth & Home wish you all the best as you start the exciting endeavor of building a new home in the Chattanooga area (or beyond)!

Tags: gas fireplaces, linear, living room, modern
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Are you thinking about buying a wood or pellet stove or insert?

Now you can enjoy warmth and tranquility while making it easier on your pocketbook and reducing your carbon footprint. We explain how and why you should take advantage of a new and higher tax credit.

What’s new about the 2021 tax credit on wood and pellet heaters?

Over a decade ago, a $300 tax rebate was offered by the government to encourage the use of energy-efficient heating systems such as wood and pellet stoves. This incentive was just updated with new models in 2021 and generously increased to a credit of 26% of the purchase and installation costs of a qualifying wood or pellet stove or insert.

Why should I purchase or upgrade to a high-efficiency heating system?

A traditional, older masonry fireplace sends valuable heat up your chimney and can even release dangerous toxins into your living space. Having a Hearth Expert install a newer model wood or pellet stove or insert directs more heat into your room and provides a cleaner, hotter burn.

 

After hearing about the February 2021 energy crisis in the South, you may be considering living “off-the-grid” or having an option if the power goes out for a long time. Using a high-efficiency wood or pellet stove puts you in control of your heat source.

How do I get the tax credit?

We at Hearthside Hearth & Home are here to help you make sure you get the right stove or insert that qualifies for the new tax credit. We’ll provide you with all the necessary paperwork to file your tax credit easily.

Here are a few good things to know:

• The insert or stove must have a certificate showing it’s at least 75% efficient and be on the list of qualifying wood and pellet stoves or inserts.
• You’ll need to submit the certificate and your receipt for both purchase and installation with your 2021 taxes.
• You can still claim the higher tax credit if you purchased your stove or insert in 2020 but didn’t get it installed until 2021.
• If you purchased and installed your stove or insert in 2020, you can still file an amended tax return. See your tax preparer or irs.gov for more information. Additional information can also be found at hpba.org.

Which models qualify for the tax credit?

We carry the following stoves and inserts that qualify for the higher tax credit:

• Quadra-Fire Trekker Series Pellet Stove
• Quadra-Fire Trekker Series Pellet Insert
• Quadra-Fire Discovery I Wood Stove 
• Quadra-Fire 2100 Millennium Wood Stove 
• Vermont Castings Aspen C3 Wood Stove 
• Vermont Castings Dauntless FlexBurn Wood Stove 
• Vermont Castings Defiant Wood Stove 
• Vermont Castings Encore Wood Stove 
• Vermont Castings Intrepid FlexBurn Wood Stove with optional Performance Pack*  (Vermont Castings Intrepid FlexBurn Wood Stove without the optional Performance Pack does not qualify)

Have questions or wondering how to find the right wood or pellet product?

Give us a call at 423-842-1619 or visit one of our showrooms in Hixson or Cleveland, TN. Our team of hearth experts would be happy to help you find the best option for your living space.

Tags: pellet, wood
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Last year we spent a lot more time at home than we ever expected to, but a new year brings new ways to enjoy your living space in style. 

Check out the latest trends in fireplace design and technology emerging locally, then contact Hearthside Hearth & Home or stop by one of our showrooms in the Chattanooga area to speak with one of our Hearth Experts.

1. Expanding Living Spaces to the Outdoor Patio Area

Outdoor fireplaces are one of the hottest new concepts in the Chattanooga, Tennessee housing market today.

Outdoor Lifestyles by Home & Hearth Technologies offers both gas and wood fireplace options that are specially made for outdoor living spaces. Installing a fire pit next to the pool or a see-through model to enjoy from inside or out will not only increase your square footage but add value to your home. Invite the neighbors over to your open-air living space for a perfect evening by the fire.

2. Converting Old Fireplaces from Wood-Burning to Gas

Another trend gaining popularity for the new year is converting your wood-burning fireplace into an energy-efficient and clean-burning gas fireplace with a gas fireplace insert.

Gone are the days of drafts and damp logs that smoke you out of your living space! Installing a gas insert like the Escape by Heat & Glo will make starting a fire as easy as the flip of a switch. You can even control your new gas insert fireplace through voice command technology.

Converting your fireplace from wood-burning to gas is a great option for the homeowner who prioritizes safety or sustainability.

3. Adding Additional Warmth to the Farmhouse Look

The farmhouse look is here to stay – and adding a fireplace as a focal point to those neutral paint colors and vintage accents is really catching on locally.

Whether you choose a cast iron stove, a sleek gas fireplace or a modern gas insert with a stone or shiplap surround, you can be sure your room will reflect the simpler times of sitting by the fire and reading a good book or playing a board game with the family.

4. Using Natural Elements to Create a Cozy, Homey Feel

While a fireplace adds a cozy ambiance to any room, the trend of adding nature-inspired elements such as stacked stone can enhance the warmth of your living space.

When planning your fireplace in a new home or remodeling an existing room, design with your emotions in mind.

How do you want to feel when you come home after a long workday? Energized or calmed? Contact Hearthside Hearth & Home for help turning your vision into reality and creating that homey feel you’ve been dreaming about.

5. Modern, Linear Fireplaces

While traditional fireplace looks continue to dominate in the Chattanooga area, we are also seeing fireplaces taking on a more modern, linear look with new designs and finishes that compliment contemporary homes.

Fireplaces like the Heat & Glo MEZZO and COSMO provide clean lines and ribbon flames that dance and create a beautiful aesthetic in any room.

6. Adding Technology to “Talk” to Your Fireplace

We couldn’t highlight growing fireplace trends without mentioning technology, right?

The IntelliFire app is one of the most talked-about trends in our Chattanooga area showroom. Customers are amazed to see they can control their Heat & Glo brand fireplace from their phone or through voice command. You can even preset your fireplace to turn off automatically at a set time. That means no worries if you fall asleep in your chair!

 

Discover the right fireplace, stove or insert for your 2021 hearth project.

Whether you are building new or remodeling an existing space, incorporating any of these fireplace trends can increase the functionality and add more fun into your home in 2021. 

Connect with the Hearthside Hearth & Home to learn more!

• Visit our showrooms in Cleveland and Hixson, Tennessee: get store hours and directions
• Call us at 423-842-1619
• Follow us on Facebook

Tags: farmhouse, gas fireplaces, gas inserts, trends
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Have you loved your wood-burning fireplace for many years? Or maybe ignored it for many years but really wish you had a working fireplace that you could easily enjoy?

You’re not alone. Every year we help hundreds of homeowners convert their old wood-burning fireplaces into gas-burning fireplaces through either a gas insert or a set of gas logs.

Both are great choices for converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas, but gas inserts have some distinct advantages over gas logs. Here are the top 3 distinguishing differences:

1. Gas Inserts Are Fuel-Efficient

Both gas inserts and gas logs burn natural gas or liquid propane (depending on which source is available in your home) but gas inserts are installed using a sealed system with a glass door on the front of the fireplace, sealing out cold air from drafting into your home and allowing the fireplace to burn more efficiently.

Because of the sealed system and direct venting through your existing chimney (new venting is fed through the chimney during installation), your gas insert will burn its fuel at around 70% fuel efficiency, compared to only 10-20% with wood. This could save you up to $200 per year on your heating bills and is noticeably better for the environment. Monessen vent-free gas log sets are also fairly efficient, but do not offer the direct vent benefits listed below.

2. Gas Inserts Provide Zone Heating

Gas inserts are a furnace-rated appliance, which means you’ll be able to warm your room by setting the temperature to your desired setting and enjoying the temperature you choose. Our most popular gas insert, the Escape by Heat & Glo, even allows you to control the thermostat via your smart phone through an app or voice commands. Gas logs also come with wall switches or remote controls for temperature setting but are not as heat capable due to their open installation.

Gas inserts come in a variety of sizes and BTUs, which means they can heat smaller rooms or larger rooms like open concept family rooms and basements up to approximately 3000 square feet. When you shop for a gas insert, please come prepared with room size measurements and pictures of your existing masonry or prefabricated wood fireplace to help us match you with the right size gas insert to fit your space.

3. Gas Inserts Use Direct Venting

Direct venting is a technology that allows a gas insert to pull in fresh air from outside your home to operate, and to expel exhausts, fumes and moisture generated from burning your gas insert outside of your home.

During installation, a new vent system is fed through your existing chimney, allowing two-way air flow. This sealed system makes gas inserts the safer choice for in-home air quality and helps your fireplace burn fuel more efficiently. It also means no more cold air drafts coming into your room or warm air escaping out the chimney.

WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE BEFORE

AFTER, WITH HEAT & GLO ESCAPE GAS INSERT INSTALLED

Are There Price Differences?

Gas inserts are more of an investment than gas log sets, coming in at about $3000-$6500 fully installed and with options mentioned above, whereas gas logs run between $1200-$2000.

If you’re on the fence about what choice to make, consider more than price when making your decision. A fireplace is the gathering hub of your home, and with careful consideration, you’ll be able to choose the best option for your needs.

Here to Help You Choose

Our hearth experts are available to answer any questions you have about gas inserts and gas logs. Please visit one of our showrooms in Cleveland, TN or Hixson, TN to see working Heat & Glo gas inserts and Quadra-Fire gas inserts and Monessen gas log sets. These beautiful units feature advanced technology, multiple design options, and come standard with everything you need to enjoy your fireplace again.

Want to learn more about gas inserts? Click to view our Free Guide to Gas Inserts.

 

Tags: gas inserts, gas logs, heat and glo, monessen
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Have you grown accustomed to using voice commands and apps to turn appliances on and off in your home? Do you ever wish you could say “Alexa: turn on my fireplace”?

Well, now you can!

Smart Controls for the Way You Live

This new, advanced technology called IntelliFire was recently introduced by Heat & Glo, the number one name in gas fireplaces and inserts. Voice command capabilities are available through both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and the IntelliFire app that allows you to control and monitor your fireplace from anywhere is available to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

What Can I Control?

• Turn fireplace or insert on/off
• Increase or decrease flame height
• Set and change temperature
• Pre-set burn timer
• Turn interior lights on/off
• Turn fan on/off

For app and voice control, installation of a Wi-Fi module is required. To find out if your fireplace is compatible, or schedule an appointment for module installation, please contact us. If we have recently installed a Heat & Glo brand gas fireplace or insert in your home, you may be able to upgrade your device with the new Wi-Fi module (installation and product charges will apply, please call for quote).

Compatible with these Heat & Glo Fireplaces & Inserts:

• Phoenix
• True
• 6000/8000
• Mezzo
• SL-X
• Cosmo
• See-Through Pier Corner
• Escape Gas Insert
• Supreme Gas Insert
• Cosmo Gas Insert
• Fortress

Experience the New Fireplace Controls in Person

We have working fireplace and gas insert models with IntelliFire modules in our Cleveland and Hixson showrooms. We’d love to help you experience this great new technology first-hand, and see the very latest innovations from Heat & Glo.

Download the Heat & Glo IntelliFire brochure.

Tags: gas fireplaces, gas inserts, heat and glo, technology
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Grilling season is far from over, and here at Hearthside Hearth & Home, we’re looking forward to some cooler nights spent on the patio.

Cooking up your favorite proteins and veggies is easy when you’ve got the right gear for the job. That’s why we’re sharing our top 3 grill picks to help you know what’s next in the grilling world.

1. Fire Magic’s Echelon Grills

The Echelon grill series by Fire Magic offers pure performance wrapped in sleek designs that will knock the socks off your old grill. These grills come as built-in units that can be incorporated into a custom outdoor kitchen counter or island, put into a Fire Magic pre-built island (as shown below) or as stand alone portable grills you can move anywhere.

Echelon is Fire Magic’s top-of-the-line series, and it’s number one on our list for a lot of reasons, including its stainless steel double thick hood that traps in heat, its ¼” thick cast 304 stainless steel burners that are specially designed with a protective lip above the ports to prevent grease clogs and its beautiful lighting that makes cooking in any time of day a delightful experience.

We’re proud to be the exclusive Fire Magic dealer in the area and would love to help you discover the perfect Fire Magic grill to take your patio cooking or outdoor kitchen to the next level.

Learn more about the Fire Magic Echelon e660i shown here. And island system.

2. American Outdoor Grills (AOG) Portable or Built-in Grills

Coming in second on our list is the tremendously well-built lineup of portable and built-in grills from AOG.

Grillers looking for the same power, performance and durability of Fire Magic, but who want something a little less spendy need not look any further than AOG. This gorgeous line of grills is actually made by the same great people who brought us Fire Magic, and is positioned as its “entry level” series — but this entry level series blows all other “top level” big box brands out of the water!

AOG grills feature large cooking surfaces, solid brass valves for precise temperature control and long life, and heavy duty 300 series stainless steel construction. Owners of AOG grills rave about the easy maintenance and high-quality craftsmanship. We’re sure you’ll love being the proud owner of an AOG grill as well.

Photo source.
See all available AOG grills and options.

3. Vermont Castings Vanguard™ Grills

If you’re looking for performance and durability, plus the same 304 stainless steel burners and heat plates from top-of-the-line models (but for a lower price point), then we highly recommend giving this new grills series from Vermont Castings a look.

Vermont Castings grills use heavy duty construction that seals in heat for year-round grilling and makes you the grill master no matter what you throw at it. It’s designed to be long-lasting and easy to clean, and features porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates. We like the sound of that sizzle!

We’re excited to have models in our showroom for you to come take a look at. You won’t believe how much better these are than big box brands. See for yourself why investing in the right grill will give you so much joy in your outdoor cooking.

Learn more about Vermont Castings Vanguard™ Grills.

Tags: fire magic, grills, outdoor kitchen
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