Submitted by Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing
As the air starts to cool and leaves turn, many of us dream of cozying up by a crackling fire. But your dirty, aging fireplace may be less than appealing, especially if it shows signs of wear or inefficiency. Modern fireplaces offer a range of benefits, including improved comfort, energy efficiency, safety, and style. And with end-of-summer savings and endless design options to fit your unique needs, now’s a great time to consider an upgrade.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you have an old, wood-burning fireplace in your home, it may actually be a source of heat loss. Allowing 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to escape outside, it pulls in cold air from your home’s doors and windows, resulting in low efficiency. In fact, older wood fireplaces can be rated with efficiencies as low as -15 to +15%—a draw that can greatly impact your energy costs, especially with fuel prices that continue to rise (heatilator.com).
Upgrading to a new fireplace insert, whether gas, pellet, electric, or wood, can drastically increase the energy efficiency of your hearth, with many new models rated 85% efficiency—or even up to 99%—for advanced gas models. In addition to lower fuel costs, high-efficiency fireplaces also have improved safety features with less effect on indoor air quality, producing minimal pollution or smoke. And fireplace inserts can be swapped directly into your existing masonry or prefab fireplace, then vented through your chimney (or wall for free-standing units), proving to be a seamless way to makeover your home.
If gas is your priority, it’s hard to beat its convenience with instant warmth and flame at the flip of a switch or push of a remote. With a flame that can be extinguished as easily as it was started, temperature control is at your fingertips, and with an electronic ignition, you can save money by eliminating the need for a pilot light. But modern fireplaces of all fuel types have made great advancements in heat distribution. Many feature advanced blowers or fans that help with consistent heat delivery. By circulating heat more evenly throughout the room, these blowers help reduce cold spots and ensure a more comfortable space overall.
The wide range of sizes, shapes, and finishes available for modern fireplaces is just one more layer of the appeal to upgrade. With endless options for style, fronts, realistic logs and flame, and even LED accent lighting to add dimension, your new hearth can be incredibly custom.
“Fantastic improvements have been made over the last ten years with gas inserts and fireplaces of all fuel types; not only in efficiency, but quality of presentation and available styles,” says John Boone, Firelight expert and Outside Sales Manager at Barron Heating AC Electrical and Plumbing. And customers agree. Guests that visit our Firelight by Barron Showroom are often looking for simple, quality additions to add value to their homes and invest in their families.
Ready to revitalize your living space? We’re kicking off Barron’s Summer Sendoff Event, making now the perfect time to transform your old fireplace from forgotten to functional—and beautiful. With savings across all service divisions, Firelight by Barron is offering $500 off any fireplace, stove, or insert as part of the event. So, whether it’s curling up with a book or making memories gathered with your family, let our Firelight experts transform your home’s comfort for what matters most. As your Pacific Northwest home and building performance experts since 1972, we stand by Our Mission: Improving Lives.
