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What is a Fireplace Insert?

If you’ve considered putting a new fireplace in your home, but don’t want to go through with a full remodel, a fireplace insert may be just the perfect solution! A fireplace insert is a great alternative to a traditional fireplace. It is essentially a firebox surrounded by a steel shell. In a fireplace insert, heat is trapped as the air flows between the firebox and the shell as it is warmed. This makes sure that the heat is being delivered into the room and not into the masonry structure. Therefore, heat is not being lost up the chimney or absorbed into the stone. A fireplace insert can be a good addition if you have an older wood burning or masonry-style fireplace. You may also consider one if you start to feel like the heat you’re getting from your current fireplace is not sufficient. A fireplace insert can use a variety of fuels and provides several other benefits that make it a great addition to your home.

Fireplace inserts can be heated using several types of fuel:

  • Natural Gas
  • Propane
  • EPA Certified Wood
  • Pellets
  • Coal
  • Electricity

Benefits of a Fireplace Insert:

  1. One of the biggest advantages of a fireplace insert is its efficiency. Traditional open fireplaces typically have a low efficiency rate of only about 5-10% since most heat is lost through the chimney. Because fireplace inserts have a sealed, air tight door, the fire burns slower generating more heat. They have a significantly higher efficiency rating, some up to  80%.
  2. Going hand in hand with efficiency, fireplace inserts can help save money on your energy bill. You will be using less gas, oil or electricity to heat your home with the increased efficiency of your fireplace.
  3. Fireplace inserts can also reduce your environmental footprint substantially, with wood burning emission of almost zero. Many fireplace inserts are EPA-certified, making them an optimal choice if you’re making an effort to “go green.”
  4. Fireplace inserts are also an aesthetically pleasing, more affordable option to add a new look without a messy remodel. You can add the fireplace box to your existing structure for a much simpler installation.
  5. They are also easily operated. With a touch of a button or flip of a switch, you will have instant heat. Many fireplace inserts even come with a remote control so you don’t even have to leave the couch to start a blazing fire!

Contact New England Hearth & Home

To learn more about fireplace inserts and how they work, contact the fireplace experts at New England Hearth & Home! Fill out our contact form or call us today at 781-562-0771!

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Benefits Of A Retractable Awning

retractable awnings

Retractable awnings have been a popular home feature in Europe for years now. More and more homeowners in the US are entertaining the idea of an awning for their home, and for good reason! Awnings provide several benefits to homeowners, from weather protection to reduced electric bills. Here are a few of the major advantages that are intriguing to homeowners:

 

Shade From The Sun

The summer months don’t last long, so us New Englander’s love to spend as much time outside as possible! However, the harmful UV rays of the sun may be causing you to rethink your time outside. By using a retractable awning, you can create an area of shade for those concerned about the UV rays. It provides protection, as well as a shady, cool area to enjoy on hot days. On less sunny days, you can retract it to get direct sunlight.

Protection From The Rain

Let’s face it, New England weather is unpredictable. The forecast could be clear as day,  but as soon as you invite guests over- Surprise! It starts to drizzle. With a retractable awning, you’ll have a little extra space for guests to still hang outdoors, without getting soaked. An awning extends your outdoor living area, no matter what the weather may bring.

Save Money

If you have a room that is exposed to constant sunlight and gets too hot in the summertime, a retractable awning can help deflect these rays. An awning will provide shade to the room, saving you from cranking up the AC and fans inside. With some natural cooling tactics like a retractable awning, you could save big on your electric bill this summer!

Attractive

A retractable awning is a much more affordable, and simple addition to your house than many other home improvement projects. Awnings can add a burst of color or texture to your home or office space. Choose from different sizes and patterns to put a personal touch on your home!

Easy to use

With a manual awning, all you need is a little elbow grease to crank and unroll. And with an electric awning, it’s as simple as pushing a button to retract or extend automatically! All of our awnings are motorized for your convenience.

 

Contact New England Hearth & Home

New England Hearth & Home offers 0% financing on all major awning purchases! Choose from our selection of motorized awnings, available in numerous different sizes and styles. Stop by our showroom, or contact us at  781-562-0771  to learn more!

 

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Dressing Your Fireplace For Summer

decorative fireplace with candle display

The blizzards, bitter cold days, and brutal winter months are finally behind us. As we step into the warmer, sunnier months of summer, we can’t wait to turn down the heat and crank the AC. You probably won’t be lighting your fireplace anytime soon, so why not turn your functional heating unit into a decorative piece for the summer? We’ve created a list of some of our favorite design ideas to keep your fireplace looking stylish all summer long!

Paint it Bright:

Rather than painting the entire room, adding a pop of color to your fireplace surround can create the same cheery effect, with about half the work. For a bold look, try a sunny yellow to liven up your space. If you’re feeling daring, spice it up with a chartreuse to quickly transform your interior. Or to obtain a more clean look, using a stark white can still brighten up the room with a more subtle touch. Add some pastel accents in and around the fireplace to still achieve a lighthearted summer look.

Create a Display:

Perhaps even easier than adding a coat of paint, creating a simple display inside of your fireplace can be a unique way to dress it up.  A ceramic vase of hand-picked flowers or long twirly twigs can bring a touch of nature into your room. Grab an antique statue that’s been lying around for years, or that hand-woven basket you never knew what to do with, and place it in your fireplace. You can even turn traditional logs into decorative pieces by painting and carefully stacking them in and around your fireplace. Try installing a mirror to bounce natural light all around the room and make your space appear even larger.

Decorative Screen Divider:

For the simplest solution of all, choose a decorative screen divider to hide your empty fireplace for the summer. Choose any design or color you’d like to make your fireplace pop. You can even make it a DIY project by using removable wallpaper on an existing foldable screen!

 

Contact New England Hearth & Home!

At New England Hearth & Home, we have some of the best fireplaces in all New England & Massachusetts as a whole. Fireplaces can provide all the benefits above and MORE! If you are interested in getting a new fireplace, contact us today at New England Hearth & Home by filling out our contact form, or by giving us a call directly at 781-562-0771.

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3 Great Ways to Update an Old Fireplace

old fireplace

Moving into a historic home can be very exciting! After all, you can’t replicate the character and history of an old house in a new construction project. There are, however, also some challenges that come with living in an older residence. Fireplaces can be one such issue.

While most families enjoy having fireplaces, they are sometimes very unhappy with the appearance of older ones. They often look outdated and bring down the overall appearance of an entire room. This guide will give you a few ideas for how you can bring new life to an old fireplace. There are dozens of different kinds of updates you can do; you are only limited by your creativity! Here, however, we will look at three awesome options.

  1. Paint – If your budget is tight, but you want a quick, dramatic change for your fireplace, a little bit of paint can go a long way! Painting a red brick fireplace bright white, for example, will completely change the look of your room. Paint is actually an especially good option for brick fireplaces because the paint will adhere easily. To further update your old fireplace, consider adding a new mantle made from affordable materials, such as pallet wood.
  2. Tile – Cool tiles don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you can find gorgeous, affordable tiles at salvage yards, thrift stores, and even brand new from home decor shops. Tile work can be a bit challenging, but if you do your research, you should absolutely be able to DIY your fireplace project. If, however, you think you need professional help, don’t hesitate to hire a contractor to help.
  3. Stone Veneers – Stone veneers are a great way to update an older fireplace because they’re incredibly easy to install and are relatively affordable for a small space like a fireplace surround. These veneers give the look of real stone without all of the efforts, plus they’ll completely change the appearance of your outdated fireplace. They are especially good for homeowners who are going for rustic or Northwoods themes in their houses.

Your fireplace should be a source of enjoyment for you and your loved ones. Don’t let the idea of updating it stress you out! Hopefully, these ideas have gotten you thinking about what you can do to make your fireplace truly fit into your home for decades to come.

Contact New England Hearth & Home!

At New England Hearth & Home, we have some of the best fireplaces in all New England & Massachusetts as a whole. Fireplaces can provide all the benefits above and MORE! If you are interested in getting a new fireplace, contact us today at New England Hearth & Home by filling out our contact form, or by giving us a call directly at 781-562-0771.