Tag: types of fireplaces

How Long Do Fireplaces Last?

Written by Rachel Martin on March 4, 2025. Posted in Blog.

As a homeowner, you undoubtedly invest careful thought and resources into maintaining and enhancing your property. While these improvements contribute to your home’s peak aesthetics and performance, it’s important to recognize that every component, including fireplaces, has its lifespan. Fireplaces can significantly enhance your home by providing warmth, light, and a cozy atmosphere. But how long will they last? The fireplace specialists at The Stove Shoppe offer insights on estimating your fireplace’s lifespan!

Evaluate Your Fireplace’s Fuel Source

The primary consideration for your fireplace’s longevity is its fuel source. Each type of fuel influences not only the burning efficiency but also the durability of your fireplace. Gas fireplaces typically last between 10-25 years, whereas traditional wood-burning and electric fireplaces can have a lifespan spanning 10-20 years. Take the time to research your fireplace’s lifespan given its fuel source, and cross-reference it with your date of purchase. If its age is on the higher side, you may want to consider looking at replacement options.

Usage Patterns and Purpose

Every homeowner is going to have different needs regarding their fireplace. Some fireplaces act as a property’s primary heating source, which means that they’re subject to heavy usage and maintenance throughout their lifespan. Others serve a more decorative purpose, with a primary heating source already in place. It should go without saying that decorative fireplaces are used far less frequently, which means that they’ll typically last longer than those used primarily for heat. Depending on how long you’ve had the fireplace and your use cases for it, you could be looking at two completely different sets of lifespans!

Condition of Fireplace Components

Consider your fireplace as a complex system with several interworking components. When one component breaks down or suffers from overuse, it can affect the efficiency of the entire system. Because they’ve been used far more frequently, older fireplaces tend to have components that break down easily and require constant maintenance. It may be helpful to examine your history of fireplace repair services to determine how much longer your fireplace can be viable for.

Upgrade Your Fireplace with The Stove Shoppe

If you’re contemplating a fireplace replacement, The Stove Shoppe offers high-quality upgrades. Our showroom in Windham offers one of the largest selections of fireplaces and stoves from manufacturers who have earned the trust and reputation of their clients. We can accommodate both decorative and heating purposes with our selection, ensuring that you obtain the fireplace or stove that best caters to your desires. For those in MA or NH needing a new fireplace, contact our team for the best solution tailored for your home!

A burning natural gas fireplace with a stone wall

Is Installing A Fireplace Insert Worth It?

Written by Rachel Martin on February 20, 2024. Posted in Blog. No Comments on Is Installing A Fireplace Insert Worth It?

Heating your home through a brutal winter can sometimes be a tough task, so you’ll need to ensure that whatever heating solution you have has been optimized to its fullest potential! If you have an existing fireplace or stove within your home, there are things that you can do to upgrade its performance. A popular and effective route that you can take to accomplish this is to install a fireplace insert. However, as with any upgrade of this magnitude, you’ll need to know everything you can about it before you make the decision to purchase it. So, is installing an insert for your fireplace really a worthwhile investment? We’ll break down the answer for you below!

It Increases Your Fireplace’s Efficiency

Did you know that a fireplace insert can actually increase the effectiveness of your unit? The biggest reason behind this is that they decrease the amount of open space within your fireplace. More open space within your unit means that more heat that’s supposed to circulate around your room gets trapped within the fireplace. Since fireplace insert seals are airtight, the hot air is forced to exit the unit and populate your space, making it much easier for your unit to heat the room effectively. As a result of the increased efficiency, it will take much less energy to make your room comfortable, lowering your monthly energy bill costs in the process!

It Prevents Bad Gas From Infiltrating Your Room

Especially if you use a wood-burning fireplace, the importance of having an insert installed cannot be overstated. Older fireplace models have the potential to generate noxious gasses, such as carbon monoxide, which can infiltrate your room and cause serious harm to your physical health. Because a fireplace insert is designed to seal off air and contain these noxious gases, installing a new one will only help to increase the safety of your current unit. These units help to contain these harmful gases and prevent them from doing any damage.

Fireplace Inserts Reduce Your Environmental Impact

The switch to eco-friendly materials and practices has certainly ramped up in the last couple of years, and a new fireplace insert can help you stay up-to-date with the times and trends. Because of the fact that fireplace inserts can trap a lot of harmful air, it ensures that this air isn’t released into the outside world, either! If you’re looking to decrease your carbon footprint, a fireplace insert is a great way to accomplish this.

Fireplace Inserts With The Stove Shoppe

If you need a new fireplace, stove, or insert for an existing unit, The Stove Shoppe has the most advanced and effective options! Especially with weather conditions as volatile as New England’s, ensuring that your home stays at a comfortable temperature throughout the winter months is paramount. Secure the comfort and luxury of a new fireplace or stove when you contact The Stove Shoppe today!

A closeup of a home's mantle with a gas fireplace burning

What Fireplaces Add The Most Value?

Written by Rachel Martin on December 20, 2023. Posted in Blog. No Comments on What Fireplaces Add The Most Value?

Are you thinking about putting your home on the real estate market soon? If so, it’s a wise idea to make improvements to it before you do so! Making necessary upgrades to your property can have a big impact on how much you’ll be able to get for it on the market. If your home doesn’t have a fireplace yet, it can be a great investment to boost your home’s property value! In order to command the most return for your investment, you should have a good idea of which fireplaces add the most value to a property. We’ll give our expert advice on which fireplaces and stoves meet the criteria below!

Electric Fireplaces

There are pros and cons to every fireplace in terms of the value that they can bring to your home, but no fireplace will detract from your property value! Electric fireplaces are simple to install, more affordable than other fuel types, and can add inviting aesthetics to any room that it’s placed in. They also require less maintenance, as there’s no need for adding any venting! The main drawback with electric fireplaces is that they don’t always add the aesthetic appeal that homeowners want. Regardless, they’re an investment that brings in more potential buyers than otherwise possible.

Wood Fireplaces

In terms of aesthetic appeal, a wood-burning fireplace will add more than any other option! They give the room a cozy feeling that makes it an inviting space to be in. They tend to be the focal point of the room and can act as a place where people go to hang out. Other prospective homebuyers point to the idea of romanticism when considering a wood fireplace, as they can add a flair of intimacy as well! Wood-burning fireplaces require the most maintenance of the three, however, and logs can rack up a hefty bill depending on how frequently you use them.

Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces are some of the easiest to use, operate, and maintain out of all of the types of fireplaces out there! The heat is far easier to regulate, as you simply need to move a needle or flip a switch to get it to the temperature you want. Like electric fireplaces, gas fireplaces are also more versatile in terms of the areas you can install them in. They can even work without power! However, the big drawback with gas fireplaces is the cost. As a fuel source, gas is significantly more expensive today than other eco-friendly options, which can affect how many buyers look your way.

Install A Variety Of Fireplaces & Stoves With The Stove Shoppe

Do you know what the above three heating sources all have in common? The Stove Shoppe carries all of them! We can install a variety of fireplaces and stoves for your New England-area home to help you get through those brutal winters. Learn more about the ways we can make you comfortable in your home by contacting us today!