by Mark Hudson | Dec 31, 2019 | Gas
If you’re looking for a new fireplace system, but don’t want the hassle of firewood, you can still have a beautiful fireplace to cozy up to. Your gas fireplace has the aesthetic you want and all the convenience you long for. Which will serve you better—a gas stove, insert, or fireplace? Our team at Hudson Chimney can help you determine which appliance will produce the heat you need with all the beauty you want.
Why Choose Gas?
Our customers in and around Jacksonville, Florida prefer gas fireplaces for a variety of reasons. First, gas fires are easier to control. In our mild climate, it is easier to maintain a steady temperature with a gas fireplace. You can enjoy the ambiance of a beautiful flame without being overheated and run out of the house! Gas is also the most efficient fuel source, so it burns cleanly, creates less pollution, and is safer than other fuels. Since gas systems are manufactured and tested in factories, when they are installed correctly, they burn exactly as they should. When you hit the button, it ignites. When you turn the temperature control up or down, the fire responds. In fact, gas is so safe and controlled that more and more property managers are putting them in apartments and condos. The hospitality industry is choosing gas for cabins, hotels, and inns. Wood is work and gas is IN!
Quality Gas Appliances in Jacksonville
Home and business owners in and around Jacksonville, Florida have been depending on Hudson Chimney for all their chimney and hearth needs for over 30 years. The products and services we provide the community are unrivaled and we stay on top of the best brands and trends in the industry in order to continuously keep our customers safe and warm. Gas fires used to be sub-par to wood. They were the second-resort only if you couldn’t have a wood fire. They were ugly and produced less heat. This is no longer the case.
Regency Gas Stoves
The best gas stoves on the market are the ones that ADD to your home. They add heat, ambiance, style, and convenience to your home. A Regency freestanding stove is available in steel and cast iron and comes in a variety of styles. You can choose a sleek and contemporary stove that fits perfectly into your minimalist décor or you can choose a rustic cast iron stove with all the traditional details of a wood stove. If you have a historic home but want to update with a classically styled freestanding gas stove, the Hampton is a perfect choice.
Installation Options – When you choose a freestanding gas stove the options are endless. Choosing gas means you can install in a small bedroom, large living space, upper level, or basement. As long as there is a gas connection, your gas stove can be installed using proper ventilation and refractory materials. Talk with your fireplace expert while choosing your new appliance so that we can help you determine the best stove for you.
Regency Direct-Vent Fireplace
Regency’s line of traditional fireplaces features direct vent technology that allows for a closed unit independent of the home. The air for combustion is drawn from outdoors, the toxins are vented outdoors, and there is no need for a chimney!
Installation Options – Direct vent fireplaces can be installed directly into an existing firebox or in an exterior wall when installed by a certified professional.
Regency Contemporary Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces come in many sizes, shapes, and styles. One does not fit all and they aren’t merely a firebox and log set anymore. When you choose a gas fireplace from Regency’s line of Contemporary Gas Fireplaces you can mix and match your log sets, crystals, surrounds, finishes, and more. All the design details can be up to you, including where it goes! These contemporary styles are ideal for new condos and entertainment spaces. Fix a linear gas fireplace into a wall, choose a multi-view fire, a dramatic styling with a specific flame or reflection, and more.
Installation Options – Contemporary gas fireplaces can be installed in any room with a gas connection. They can be placed between two rooms with fire-viewing options for both and more.
It is essential that while you plan your new fireplace installation you involve the advice of a professional. Hudson Chimney sells, installs, and services gas stoves, fireplaces, and inserts by Regency and we can match one exactly to your needs.
If you reside in the area and own or manage properties, you can increase their value by installing a gas fireplace or stove. Whatever space allows, we will find a fire appliance for you. Whatever your budget is now or in the future, we can help you plan for it. As you use your new fireplace year after year, we can service it.
Put your trust in Hudson Chimney today and for a safer tomorrow.
Call and schedule your appointment at 904-282-4159.
by Mark Hudson | Oct 17, 2019 | Gas
Gas fires are more and more popular among homeowners, contractors, developers, and property managers. Even the hospitality industry has begun using gas fireplaces in hotel rooms and cabins, allowing for an extra level of ambiance for the user while also lowering the cost of central heating. If you have a gas fireplace and you aren’t sure what kind it is, we can help. If you’re looking to add a new gas fireplace to your home or property, we can help. There are many different types of gas fire units, including fireplaces, log sets, inserts, and stoves. It’s important to know what you have so that you can properly use and care for it. If you’re converting from wood to gas, it’s important to know your options so you can choose wisely.
Converting to Gas
A popular wood-to-gas conversion can be accomplished by installing a gas log set or a gas insert directly into the existing firebox. Your chimney professional may recommend this type of action if you’re looking to convert to gas without a lot of repair or fuss. The log set and the insert are very different, however, regardless of them using the same fuel type. Your chimney and fire expert will determine which is best based on a few factors: ventilation, budget, and need.
Gas Log Sets
If your budget is tight, a gas log set is a great way to convert a wood fireplace to gas. It will require a new natural gas line installed in or near the fireplace. If you choose a vent-free gas log set, you don’t even need to use the chimney. This is a great advantage if the chimney is in poor health. If costly repairs are out of the question, you can install a gas log set and close off the chimney completely. If your chimney is not an issue and the liner is appropriate for gas fires, your new fire can be a vented gas log set. It will burn with a beautiful, realistic yellow flame—unlike vent-free fires which burn blue—and will vent soot and harmful vapors up the chimney.
Gas Inserts
If the goal is to convert a wood fireplace to a gas one and your budget is a bit more generous, a gas insert is a fantastic option. Your gas insert should be ordered by a professional who has measured the space exactly. An insert is a closed unit that is retrofitted directly into the existing firebox. Attempting to install a unit that is too large or small can result in a fire hazard, and using a new insert with an existing chimney can lead to devastating results as well. Your chimney expert will need to pipe up from the new insert to change the chimney size to meet the new smaller capacity of your insert. Once it’s installed, the liner will give the entire hearth a whole new look. Inserts come in styles ranging from contemporary to rustic and everything in between.
Are you looking to convert an existing fireplace with a new gas log set or insert? We can help you understand which gas unit is best for your fireplace. You should only hire a professional to complete this work to avoid problems with your gas fireplace.
by Mark Hudson | Sep 13, 2013 | fireplaces
Wood vs. Gas Fireplace
There is something comforting about gathering around a fireplace when the weather is cold. Those who already have them in their homes can count themselves lucky. But what if you are looking to add one to your home? Should you choose wood-burning or gas? This is a debate that has been going on for years, but the reality is that there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
There are advantages and disadvantages for both wood and gas fireplaces. A certified sweep can help you make the best decision for your lifestyle.
Most real estate agents agree that adding a fireplace of any kind will add value to a home but a wood burning fireplace will most likely add a little more than a gas fireplace. Most people enjoy the authentic nature of a wood burning fireplace and having heating and cooking independence from utility companies is a big plus. When the power goes out those with wood-burning fireplaces will have heat and cooked food. They also provide a convenient way to dispose of fallen branches or other wood debris that may have collected around a property. There is also something to be said about the atmosphere a wood-burning fireplace creates that is unmatched by any of its contemporaries. There are however some disadvantages. Wood-burning fireplaces can be messy and expensive to maintain. The burning of wood produces gases that will cool as they go up the chimney and turn into creosote which will stick to the sides of the chimney and can create a fire-hazard. This requires that the chimney be regularly cleaned. The cost of owning and operating a wood-burning fireplace is also higher than it is to operate a gas fireplace. Gas is cheap and burns cleaner than wood and takes a lot less time and maintenance to operate.
To those who may not want to deal with the mess and maintenance or a wood-burning fireplace gas logs may be the answer. Gas logs are dependent on the gas supply but they are cleaner burning options and offer a measure of safety. You don’t have to worry about a stray spark igniting your home and there is no need to stock up on firewood. The cleaning and maintenance of a chimney with gas logs is much less than that of a wood-burning fireplace but it still requires some attention especially if it was originally a wood-burning system. Water can do more damage to a chimney than fire and if unchecked can cause extensive damage.
Whether you choose wood-burning or gas logs a fireplace is a great addition to any home with the proper respect. They both produce fire and both must be protected from children and pets and require proper maintenance to maintain a safe functionality. If you do that you will be happy with whatever decision you make.
by Mark Hudson | Aug 26, 2013 | fireplaces
What is a prefab fireplace and why might I want one?
The term “prefab” gets a bad rap sometimes — people use it often enough to drop a sideways insult on boxy houses or assemble-at-home furniture. But prefab can be a thoroughly positive descriptor. When it comes to fireplaces, “prefab” is an indicator of a whole bunch of benefits, including quick and affordable installation, safe and efficient construction and broad flexibility, from placement to design.
Prefabricated or factory-built fireplaces are hugely popular nowadays — according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, they make up a full three-quarters of all fireplaces installed each year. And these benefits are a big part of why:
A pre-fab fireplace is generally less expensive than a masonry fireplace.
Benefits Of Prefab Fireplaces
Installation Flexibility
Custom masonry fireplaces and chimneys are beautiful, but a whole lot of work and time goes into their construction. Technicians need to install a concrete footing to hold up the weight of all that masonry, and account for proper clearance between the chimney and nearby combustible materials. Those factors limit your installation options a bit. A prefab fireplace, however, is made out of much lighter materials (glass and metal, mostly), so it won’t need a footing. And many units are designed to be zero clearance fireplaces, which gives your technician much wider framing options.
Broad Mix Of Design
We’ve installed prefab units designed to mimic classic masonry units, and we’ve designed modern glass and stainless steel fireplaces that open on two sides, creating a view between two rooms and an eye-grabbing focal point in both. Odds are, there’s a prefab fireplace that matches your design preferences to the letter — and we’d be glad to help you find it.
Affordability
Between materials and labor, a brand new masonry fireplace and chimney can get pretty pricey. Prefab units, on the other hand, are made out of relatively inexpensive materials and are much quicker and easier to install, so they can be really affordable additions to your home.
Safety and Efficiency
Pre-fabricated fireplaces and chimneys are constructed together as a unit, designed to work together effectively, efficiently and safely. EPA-certified fireplaces, in particular, are made to meet exceptionally high levels of safety and efficiency, wasting little to no fuel and burning remarkably clean. Before pre-fabricated fireplace and chimney units hit the market, they have to pass strict tests to meet standards developed by the American Gas Association and Underwriters Laboratories. All that testing means you’re buying a unit that’s made to pollute less and produce more, with proof to back those claims up.
We love installing and maintaining prefab fireplaces for our customers — we’ve surprised more than a few homeowners who never thought they’d be able to enjoy their own fireplace by introducing them to these beautiful and affordable additions. Give us a call if you think a prefab fireplace is right for your home!