What a selection - whether you're building your new dream home, remodeling or making an addition to your existing place there is a fireplace to fit your needs. Think through your goals carefully: will it be primary heat or just a little added comfort? Just for looks is okay too, it's your home. We have a dedicated fireplace staff to help you choose the right unit for your home.
DESIGNS TO GET FIRED-UP ABOUT!
We all remember when gas fireplaces started showing up in new homes in the 1980's. They were black holes with louvres at the top and bottom, four pieces of cement and a candle that was supposed to be a fire. Wow, have things changed! Probably the single largest advancement came in the last 5 years when manufacturers started hiring female designers, taking the designs from simply "function" into adding form and style.
Hearth products are now designed for virtually every room in the house - bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms - as well as the traditional living and family rooms. Even entry ways can now benefit from the style and attention that the warmth of a fire can bring. The range of styles from rustic stone to sleek contemporary brushed nickel frames and faces can fit your taste and lifestyle.
TO HEAT OR NOT TO HEATHearth products are available in decorative, heater-rated or furnace-rated designs to fit your heating needs. Decorative units have efficiencies in the 10 - 50% range, meaning that for every dollar of fuel that you put into it, you get 10 - 50% back as usable heat in the space. Heater-rated units are 50 - 60% efficient, and furnace-rated units 67 - 80% efficient.
Where you put your furniture in relationship to the fireplace is critical in deciding which rating is best for you. If your furniture is close to the fireplace a decorative or heater-rated unit will add warmth without overheating. Either heater-rated or furnace-rated units will provide heat in the event of power outages. A heater-rated unit will give you a cozy spot to cuddle up beside, and some furnace-rated units can heat most of your home.
FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS
Of course, the fireplace should be the focal point of any room, But you may have just invested $12,000 in the giant-sized flat-screen TV with full surround sound and 6 theatre-style chairs. Or you may have spent $2,000,000 on that killer view out the window. Whether the firplace is the focal point or not, your decision will affect the placement, size and style for your hearth.
Here are a few design tips:
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A fireplace set at floor-level gives a traditional or more formal look to a room
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A fireplace set with a raised hearth (or bench) gives a more casual, comfortable feel to the room
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When you look at the fireplace wall, consider it in thirds; the bottom third should be firebox, the second thrid should be mantle and accessories such as pictures, mirror, candlesticks, clock, etc., and the upper third should be blank wall or negative space (as the designers would say). For example, with 9-foot ceilings, you would have a three-foot tall fireplace.
The experienced hearth shop at Handy's Heating is the place to find answers and help with all of these decisions, we're also knowledgeable in whole-house heating. After all, your hearth product is part of your home's complete comfort system. It needs to compliment your central system and not fight against it. We have professionals who can aide with design, installation and continuing service, and we are able to help you with all phases of your installation without relying on subcontractors. We have "HEARTH" certified technicians, your assurance of continuing quality. Visit Handy's Heating today conveniently located in Mount Vernon, WA.
MT. VERNON, WA 98273 
