Burlington Fireplace & Solar Blog

There is nothing cozier than sitting by the fireplace on a cold winter night with the sounds of a crackling fire filling the room. But traditional masonry fireplaces are rather inefficient pushing as much as 85% of the generated heat out the chimney, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Here’s why you should consider installing an EPA-certified fireplace insert in time for […]

It’s well-known among Realtors that fireplaces are high on the list of amenities homebuyers have a keen interest in.  Something else many buyers are interested in is efficient heating and ways of cutting down on heating expenses.  For these buyers, a traditional masonry wood-burning fireplace may not be a coveted amenity, because these units are anything but efficient and not even a very good source of supplemental heat. If you’re […]

The largest segment of the U.S. population is made up of senior citizens age 65 and over, and the majority of them believe solar energy is a good thing. Retired homeowners are often at risk for foreclosure on their home, due to the struggles of living on a fixed income. An effective cost-cutting solution that many seniors have discovered is the use of solar […]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plans to tighten emissions standards is being met with resistance from wood heater manufacturers. In 2015, the EPA made significant regulatory changes to the residential wood heating appliance industry when it required limited emissions from wood heaters to 4.5 grams/hour. It was the first major change in pollution standards since […]

With the rising cost of energy, many homeowners are going solar to reduce energy costs. And homeowners are finding that going solar in the spring or summer when the sun is at its strongest in the northern hemisphere, can harness more of the sun’s natural energy when energy usage is at its peak. The cost […]

Homeowners are right to expect fireplace smoke to go up their chimney and not into the room. Unfortunately, however, smoky fireplaces are not uncommon. Smokiness spoils the terrific ambiance that makes fireplaces such a pleasure in freezing weather. It’s a nuisance and can be a health threat. There are many different causes of a smoky […]

Chimney flues, as well as vent pipes on heating stoves and gas fireplaces, serve a critical function: they allow smoke and toxins to exit into the outside air, thereby preventing them from backing up into the home.  That said, there are some differences among vent systems that you should know about when answering the question, […]

If you’re looking for an efficient way to maximize energy savings, wood pellet stoves and solar panels may be the ultimate combination.  For more than a century, Americans across the country used wood stoves as a primary heating source. But between modern technology and the pollution generated from the combustion process wood stoves declined in […]

A fireplace is often the focal point of a room and can have a dramatic effect on the interior design of your home. But sometimes a fireplace can make a space look dated, especially when your interior space doesn’t match its existing design. Refacing your fireplace is a lot less expensive than a traditional fireplace rebuild. If your handy around the house, it makes […]

For those who prefer not to use gas to run a fireplace and really don’t want to deal with the mess and hassle of buying, storing and loading wood logs, there’s an attractive option: a new pellet-burning fireplace insert. What is an insert? Fireplace inserts are pre-built, well-made units that fit into an existing firebox.  They’re commonly installed when a homeowner is tired of the low […]