I had called around to many plumbers to get a quote for replacing my water heater. Many plumbers did not call back. However, Chrissy at Mike Fauser Plumbing was very good about returning my calls and answering all of my questions. When I booked the appointment for the water heater...
We are a full service fireplace and chimney professionals.
"The repair was never done; my $1000.00 paid deposit was returned to me after more than a month of waiting for the repair. These are the details: A brick on my chimney was loose and then was dislodged during a wind storm, and other of the chimney bricks were becoming loose. A written estimate for repair of the chimney was provided by Excel. I paid $1000.00 up front, which was half of the estimate, and agreed to pay the other $1000.00 after the work was completed. The Excel company employee set up the scaffold and was preparing to climb and do the repair when an employee of the City of Peoria's electric company, Ameren, pulled up and told the Excel employee to immediately disassemble the platform because it was unsafe: it was too close to the electric lines - that no-one had notified the company that this work was planned so that the wires could be turned off by Ameren during the work. The Ameren employee then called the Excel company owner himself to tell him this, and then the Ameren employee did not leave until the scaffold was completely removed and the Excel employee had left with it. The Excel employee told me before he left that the company would be back in a few days to do the repairs. But more than a month went by and I heard nothing more from them. After more than a month with no repairs done or attempted again, I contacted Excel again and asked them to either do the repairs or return the $1000.00 that I had already paid them. At that point, the Excel company said they would return the money, and they did so."
Lin W on March 2020
We are a full service fireplace and chimney professionals.
"The repair was never done; my $1000.00 paid deposit was returned to me after more than a month of waiting for the repair. These are the details: A brick on my chimney was loose and then was dislodged during a wind storm, and other of the chimney bricks were becoming loose. A written estimate for repair of the chimney was provided by Excel. I paid $1000.00 up front, which was half of the estimate, and agreed to pay the other $1000.00 after the work was completed. The Excel company employee set up the scaffold and was preparing to climb and do the repair when an employee of the City of Peoria's electric company, Ameren, pulled up and told the Excel employee to immediately disassemble the platform because it was unsafe: it was too close to the electric lines - that no-one had notified the company that this work was planned so that the wires could be turned off by Ameren during the work. The Ameren employee then called the Excel company owner himself to tell him this, and then the Ameren employee did not leave until the scaffold was completely removed and the Excel employee had left with it. The Excel employee told me before he left that the company would be back in a few days to do the repairs. But more than a month went by and I heard nothing more from them. After more than a month with no repairs done or attempted again, I contacted Excel again and asked them to either do the repairs or return the $1000.00 that I had already paid them. At that point, the Excel company said they would return the money, and they did so."
Lin W on March 2020
A gas log fireplace should be inspected and serviced as needed once a year. Preventative maintenance can help keep your fireplace in working condition and save money in the long run by avoiding more costly repairs on parts that could have been fixed sooner with a regular inspection.
The cost difference between a gas fireplace and a wood-burning fireplace depends on the type of wood-burning fireplace installed. The cost to install a gas fireplace tends to be cheaper than the cost to install a brick wood-burning fireplace. Installing a gas fireplace costs about $3,600 on average, whereas the cost to build a masonry wood-burning fireplace can go up to $30,000. The cost to install a wood-burning fireplace insert or stove can cost from $700 to $6,500, about the same as a gas fireplace on average.
The cost to repair a fireplace depends on the type, extent of repairs needed, and your location. The average cost to repair a fireplace varies depending on the part of the fireplace that needs work:
Firebox: $160–$2,500
Refractory panel: $200–$300
Hearth: $150–$800
Mantel: $500–$1,200
Pilot light: $100–$350
Igniter: $100–$150
Gas valve: $150–$300
Thermocouple: $75–$350
Thermopile: $75–$350
Yes, it can be worth installing a gas fireplace, depending on your home heating needs. The cost to install a gas fireplace can be much lower than the cost to install a comparable wood-burning fireplace. The convenience of starting a fire with the flip of a switch and turning it off just as quickly makes a gas fireplace a big time saver over starting and maintaining a wood-fueled fire. A gas fireplace also does not require ash cleanup or frequent chimney cleaning to remove creosote and other buildup that can lead to chimney fires. Gas fireplaces burn and heat much more cleanly than wood fireplaces.
A gas fireplace insert costs about $3,600 to install, on average. The cost to install a gas log insert ranges from about $700 to $6,500, depending on the size, type of insert, how it works, and heating needs. Gas fireplaces need electrical and gas lines installed properly, so hiring a pro is recommended rather than trying to DIY installation.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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