Thinking About Buying A Wood, Pellet, Gas Stove or Fireplace? Think Again...

Many Homeowners Are Turning To Wood, Pellet Or Gas Burning Stoves And Fireplace Inserts, To Keep Their Homes Warm. While this is a viable option, you may be at risk.

After visiting six Stove & Fireplace Stores, right here in Connecticut, I was taken back by the lack of concern they had for the safety of my home.

I asked 3 simple questions that EVERY HOMEOWNER SHOULD ASK.

1. Do you install the heating unit? They all said they have someone who does it for them (A Subcontractor). A subcontractor’s job is to get the tankless water heater installed as fast as possible so they can get on to the next job, and be done with you. They rarely answer their phone when something goes wrong and you are not their priority if a warranty issue arises... The next paying job is their priority

2. Do you need to pull a permit to install a fireplace or stove? They all said “it is the homeowner’s responsibility to get the permit”. What does the homeowner know about the installation of a stove or fireplace? There is a 200-page code book, written to ensure the safety of this type of installation. How could the homeowner be responsible for this?

3. Can I install it myself? They all said “Of course you can”. They’re trying to sell stoves and valor fireplaces. What do they care if you burn your house down? The instructions for these heating units are written for a licensed, trained professional. There are clearances to combustibles that NEED to be met, there is flue piping that carries poisonous gasses from the heating unit to the outdoors, there is electrical wiring needed if a fan is being installed, there may be gas piping needed... It sounds to me like a Licensed Professional should be doing this type of installation.

Choosing the right contractor to install your fire place is just as important as the brand of heating system you choose. Choosing the wrong contractor, or letting the Stove & Fireplace Store choose one for you, can increase the chance of a home fire that your insurance won’t cover.

5 Things To Consider Before Purchasing A Stove or Fireplace Insert.

License: The State of Connecticut requires a contractor to carry a heating license to do work in a home that includes flue piping, gas piping, electrical and other work that the installation of a stove or fireplace requires. This license insures that the homeowner has professionals installing their stove or fireplace and that they have been trained and tested, to make certain that your system has been installed safely.

Permit: The State of Connecticut requires that a Permit be obtained for the installation or replacement of a stove or fireplace. The permit should be obtained by the installing contractor, NOT the homeowner. The contractor is the one who should know about all of the specific details involved in the installation, in order to get the permit, and it is the contractor who should be responsible for the installation to be up to code. They are dealing with flue gasses that contain carbon monoxide and combustible gasses such as natural gas or propane. Don’t leave that to the amateurs!

Warranty: Most stove & fireplace stores hire low-cost sub contractors to install and service their product. These subcontractors usually go out of business every few years and are never to be found. This leaves you wondering, is there a real warranty or will anyone be there to answer the phone when I need them? The answer is usually NO. Subcontractors do not make YOU the priority nor do they answer the phone, especially if it is a complaining customer. They just want to get in your home, do a quick installation and be done with you.

Free Estimates: How can other Stove & Fireplace stores install a stove properly, when they never saw your home? They ask you to take pictures of the room and bring them to their store so they can guess, from a picture, to see if it will fit, never considering the dangers that may be lurking around the corner. This is an appliance that creates and/or contains a FIRE, not a TV or Washing Machine. This can't be “GUESS WORK”!

Price: Most stoves and fireplaces don’t include all of the installation materials needed for a complete installation. This can add up quickly. You can purchase a $2000 fireplace insert and end up paying $2000 more, for aesthetic options, installation materials and labor. You should know the full cost, up front, so there are “No Surprises”.

Air, Inc. Also Installs, Services And Maintains:

• Furnaces & Boilers
• Central Air Conditioning
• Ductless AC & Heat Pumps
• High-Efficiency On-Demand Water Heaters

I Finally Decided To Offer Wood, Pellet & Gas Fireplaces & Stoves, Because It Is The Right Thing To Do. I can't allow my customers to be in jeopardy of having unprofessional people install their heating system.

So... Why choose me and my company?

We've been in business, installing all types of heating systems, since 1991. So we know the codes, climate and construction of homes in Connecticut. We are not going to use your home as our testing ground.
We have a full office staff to answer any comments or concerns.
We offer service agreements to make sure your stove or fireplace is working safe, year after year.

There are plenty of reasons for us to take care of your Stove & Fireplace needs.

Air, Inc. offers a variety of the most efficient Pellet, Wood and Gas, Stoves, Fireplaces, Grills and Gas Fire Tables and more.