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Choosing Between a Charcoal or Gas Grill

grill with flames

While there’s no right or wrong way to cook your food, there are certain reasons to choose either a gas or a charcoal grill depending on your preference. Before you stop by your local hearth and home store, you should consider a few things about each type of grill when purchasing your next one.

Benefits to Using a Gas Grill

A significant benefits of a gas grill is that there is no need to wait for the charcoal to ignite. A lot of people who use gas grills like them for convenience reasons. It is ready to be used right after you turn it on, so it’s great for some quick grilling. As well as the efficiency of using a gas grill, here are some other benefits of gas grills:

  • Gas is usually a cheaper option than charcoal
  • Gas grills are easier to clean than charcoal grills
  • Gas grills can be hooked up to the gas line in your home 
  • Some gas grills come with extras which can include burners or a smoke box. 
  • Gas grills give off steam and it can give off good moisture to the meat you are cooking

Gas grills are very easy and simple grills to be able to use. Some gas grills are produced to use both gas and charcoal so that you can switch between the two depending on what you’re feeling that day. Just remember these grills are usually on the more expensive side. 

Benefits of Using Charcoal Grills

Charcoal grills are a lot less expensive than gas grills are. Charcoal grills can be as cheap as under $100 if you get a standard model. Besides the cost, here are some more advantages to buying a charcoal grill:

  • Heated coals will cook your food without using much of a flame
  • Charcoal grills are a more portable than gas grills. This makes them great for camping trips or weekend getaways where you want to do some grilling.
  • Charcoal can become hotter than gas
  • You can’t turn the heat down on a charcoal grill, but you can leave some areas without the briquettes in order to control the heat
  • Many people like the smokey flavor a charcoal grill gives their grilled food, so they are a popular option for those who do.

Contact Us

New England Hearth & Home can help you choose a grill that is the right fit for you! Contact us to learn more about our grill options and our professionals can help you choose the right one. Give us a call or fill out our contact form for more information.

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Benefits of Adding Awnings to Your Home

awning

Awnings are coverings you can add to your home to go over windows or doors. Are they worth it for your home? They are great for added style and protection from the elements. Check out some reasons why you should consider this investment:

Avoiding Water Damage

Awnings can protect your home’s exterior. This includes doors, windows, window sills, and more. Especially with windows, awnings can stop rain from leaking into the windows.

Save on the AC Bill

Having awnings installed over windows can greatly decrease your home’s energy costs during the summer and warm months. The air conditioning won’t have to be on as much. Window awnings give enough shade to your windows to stop a great heat from seeping through the windows. Also consider ventilated awnings/ They are ideal because they block heat from being trapped around the outside of your windows.

Preserve interior furnishings

Having awnings installed over your windows can keep your furniture’s coloring lasting longer. They provide shade so direct sunlight won’t be hitting your couches or carpets.  

Protect the environment

Having awnings can help you protect the environment. You’ll be saving energy and saving money each month. Utilizing less energy can help you be a part in helping global warming because you’ll use less greenhouse gases.

Increasing your home’s value

Exterior awnings can help increase your home’s value in three ways. This includes strengthening your curb appeal. Having awnings can make a homebuyer interested. Another is more outdoor living space because an awning installed over a patio or deck can make it more usable as the summer heat and sun sets in. The last is energy efficiency. Homebuyers will usually place a higher price on homes with superior energy efficiency. Since window and door awnings enable you to use less energy, buyers will notice your house as being more marketable than one that doesn’t provide the same kind of energy efficiency.

Talk to an expert

Before choosing a suitable awning for your home, consider your professional choices because of the array of features and styles. An awning professional can help you choose the right awning that fits your budget and demands. With so many varying styles out there, it’s good to get an opinion from a professional when choosing the one that best fits your house’s architectural style.

Contact New England Hearth & Home

Along with fireplaces and other hearth options,  we are proud to offer awnings. Contact New England Hearth & Home so we can help you choose the right awnings for you and your needs! Give us a call at 781-562-0071 or fill out our contact form for more information.

 

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Planning for an Outdoor Fireplace

outdoor fireplace

Looking for a way to add some flair to your backyard? Outdoor fireplaces can provide warmth and can be an inviting area where guests can gather and relax! It can also be a focal point of your yard and make a statement. Spring or winter, a fireplace is great for all season. Lighting a fire in the summer is great for cooler nights. If you are considering an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, it’s essential to know the facts to figure out the one you’d want.

Outdoor Fireplace vs. Fire Pit

There are many opportunities to enjoy and use a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. Outdoor fireplaces can take up a lot of space, which is excellent for a big area to work with. They can be custom-built, portable, and prefabricated. Custom-built ones are a more expensive option and designed from the ground up. A portable fireplace is ideal for people who like to change around the setup of their yard or move around a lot. Prefabricated fireplace kits are an option for people who like certain designs and want to build around that design at a cheaper cost. An outdoor fire pit is a more casual option, and are fairly less of a price to construct. However, since it’s open, smoke with have more areas to drift around, and using it for cooking may be harder to do.

What is the purpose of building an outdoor fireplace?

Outdoor fireplaces are a great gathering spot for backyard barbecues, cookouts, and more. You can add comfortable seating around it, including outdoor couches and lounging chairs. You can also enhance the landscaping around the fireplace area by adding potted plants or new flowers. This is an excellent opportunity to make your yard visually appealing and create a new space.

Are there safety concerns when planning for an outdoor fireplace?

Just like having a fireplace indoors, thinking about fireplace safety is normal. Try to keep water nearby, whether it’s a hose or even from a pool. Never install an outdoor fireplace on bare wood. That’s asking for trouble! Don’t burn plastics, trash, or treated in your outdoor fireplace. Even though you are outside, they still release toxic gases that are dangerous to breathe in. Have the fireplace installed at least 100 feet away from the home and any other surrounding structures. Be sure there no bushes, hanging tree limbs, or branches nearby. 

Contact Us for Outdoor Fireplace Services

New England Hearth & Home can install a fireplace for you anywhere in your home – or outside! Whether you want to make your pool area more inviting or set one up around your outdoor kitchen, we can make it happen! Give us a call or fill out our contact form to get in touch.

 

 

 

 

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Preparing Your Fireplace for the Spring

Fireplaces need to properly be taken care of when shutting them down for the warmer months. Whether you have a wood burning fireplace or gas, there are steps you need to take to keep yours last longer and staying in good condition!

Wood Burning Fireplace

Clean Up Any Ash

It is super essential to make sure you clean out remaining ash and soot that is in the fireplace. It keeps the air quality in good shape and keep the fireplace looking its best. Make sure to close the damper after you clean the ask out. By doing this, it stops air from getting into your house and stops any extra ask from blowing around from wind.

Closing the Damper

Most people do not need to use their fireplace after April or so, especially in Massachusetts. That being said, you don’t need the damper to stay open. Shutting the damper will help stop drafts, water leaking on rainy days and will keep away backyard animals. This can also save on energy costs by avoiding any air-conditioning from leaking out.

Scheduling a Chimney Cleaning or Fireplace Inspection 

A lot of people are unaware that the prime time to schedule a chimney cleaning is during the Spring. It is usually more convenient because there are fewer appointments for the professionals in the spring. Getting your chimney cleaned gets rid of a lot soot buildup that’s in the flue. When a professional comes to your home for the inspection, they’ll check the flue and chimney and to look for any leaks or cracks. They’ll also make sure that damper and chimney cap are all set.

Gas Fireplace

Clean the Glass Panel

If you have a fireplace with a glass panels, you should be cleaning it regularly. Remove the glass, then use a cleaner that is recommended for fireplace glass. For gas fireplace owners with glass doors, the same type of thing recommended. Use a cloth and use a cleaner that doesn’t have ammonia in it. 

Brush off Soot 

Brushing off soot with a clean and dry paintbrush is an easy way to get rid of any remaining. Get as much as you can out! 

Contact Us

Contact New England Hearth & Home about questions involving your fireplace. We are happy to provide you with answers on how to make your fireplace ready to go through the spring and summer seasons. Give us a call or fill out our contact form!