When my family bought our home, we inherited a wood-burning fireplace that had been retrofitted with gas logs. Unfortunately, the previous setup never worked properly, and the open flue became a significant heat and energy drain in our family room. After living with an unreliable fireplace for too long, I found myself longing for the warmth and ambiance of a traditional wood-burning fire—a part of my childhood that I cherished.
However, our chimney height was no longer up to code for wood-burning, which meant we had to consider alternatives. While I was eager to return to my roots with a wood fire, my husband was hesitant about the mess that comes with it. After much discussion, we made the decision to go with a gas insert instead.
We turned to Berkshire Hearth and Home in Newtown and decided on the Mendota FV44i gas insert (happy to provide specs if you're interested!). Scott, the owner, was incredibly helpful; after taking some measurements, he informed us that it would take a few weeks for the insert to arrive. I was a bit discouraged, hoping to have it installed before Christmas.
To my surprise, just a week later, Scott called with exciting news: someone had canceled their order, and our exact fireplace was available for installation in just a few days. It felt like a Christmas miracle!
The installation was seamless, and we couldn't be happier with our new gas insert. It produces a tremendous amount of heat and is incredibly efficient, with expectations that our propane costs will decrease dramatically.
If you’re considering upgrading your fireplace, I highly recommend Berkshire Hearth and Home. Their professionalism and customer service made our experience one to remember, and we’re thrilled to have a beautiful, efficient gas fireplace that enhances our home and warmth during the chilly months.
Here’s to cozy nights by the fire and the joy of a perfect holiday season!
