"We have Frontpoint at two houses. We had been looking for ways to cut our monthly expenses (Frontpoint is approx. $100 per month total), so I called them to find out what I could do. They informed me that I was under contract for another year, and that I cannot get out of the contract without an early termination fee that is equal to the cost of the service. I'm a little disappointed, because the upfront cost of the system was very expensive ($1,000+) for each house, so it seems odd that I would get sucked into this contract. Nevertheless, I forgot that I signed up for this with them. My calendar is marked for the day that my service ends, and I will be switching to a company that charges about half of what they do. They have OK customer service and are very responsive, but the wireless system had some issues with reception in my house due to a fireplace, and then they didn't want to work with me to get that resolved. They're OK, but I can't really recommend them."
No, there are no ventless pellet stoves. Because pellet stoves burn wood pellets, they produce wood smoke—which contains carbon monoxide. This harmful substance needs to be vented out of your living area. That said, there are vent-free and ventless fireplaces that run on natural gas and propane. These offer the heating and ambiance of a fireplace without the need to vent thick and hazardous wood smoke.
You don’t need electricity for a wood-burning stove unless it has a blower fan. Some wood-burning stoves include blower fans to help with heat distribution, but blower fans have a motor and use electricity to power the fan. You can still operate a wood stove without using the blower fan, so it’s a good source of heat if you have a power outage or are looking to lower your electric bill during winter.
Fireplaces can theoretically help you save on heating bills if you lower the temperature throughout the rest of your home and heat only a single room that you occupy using the fireplace. However, in most cases, homeowners won’t save any money on heating bills. Gas and electric fireplace inserts could actually lead to a spike in your respective energy bills if you use them frequently, and if you don’t keep up with chimney maintenance and repairs, your traditional masonry fireplace could actually be a source of heat loss in the winter.
There is no universal remote that will work for all gas fireplaces or electric models. That’s because different remotes are designed to work with specific fireplace wiring, so some remotes may only work for on/off functions, while others work with fireplaces that have extra settings, such as timers or programmable thermostats. If you need a new remote, ensure the replacement is compatible with your specific fireplace model.
How big a fire pit should be depends on how many people you want to get around it on a regular basis, and how big your space is. The average fire pit size is between 36 and 44 inches. However, if you regularly host big gatherings and have the appropriate outdoor space, you can go as big as 72 inches.
The Pearce, AZ homeowners’ guide to fireplace services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
With a gas fireplace, it’s important to stay up-to-date on your inspections. Learn more about how much gas fireplace inspections cost before you book one.
Find out if you really need a chimney to install a fireplace in your home. This guide helps you understand your options, such as a ventless fireplace, when choosing the right fireplace for your home if you don't have a chimney.
