As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, the cold starts to creep its way back into our lives. To turn back the chill, curling up next to the bright, warm glow of a fireplace brings many of us a sense of comfort and joy.
“Each one is like a fingerprint,” says Tony Leggett, owner of Fireplace Professionals. “Fireplaces continue to be an important back up heating and light source, especially in the Midwest. They’re kind of this way to bring some happiness to a dark area of your room.”
That’s been the goal of Fireplace Professionals since they opened their doors.
“My parents started it up really to provide this alternative heating products retail store. We sold wood- burning stoves, instantaneous water heaters, kerosene and infrared space heaters and some woodburning fireplaces for new construction,” Tony explains.
Throughout the 1980s, they sold much of the same. In 1988, new technology emerged out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“That was for a wood-burning fire box that had a gas log set in it, with sealed glass over it. At first a lot of people in the industry thought that it was just a gimmick or fad – that it wouldn’t even last a year and we’d be back to woodburning again soon,” Tony notes.
Instead, it revolutionized fireplaces and the entire industry forever.
“We were right here on the front lines,” Tony adds. “No longer was our primary focus the alternative fuels. Gas fireplaces have dominated what we’ve done for a long time. The wood-burning counterparts are still there, but now we have other options, too.”
Options like electric fireplaces, which have become extremely popular in the last 15 to 20 years.
Electric fireplaces are designed to fit in a lot of places. You can put them in places that weren’t possible 10, 15 or 20 years ago,” Tony states. “You can have a fireplace wherever it may seem kind of dark.
Maybe it is the foyer area when you’re welcoming peopleintoyourhome,orthebasement,kids’roomor even the bathroom. Maybe it acts as a sort of night light on the way to the refrigerator in the middle of the night for a snack,” jokes Tony.
So, how do you choose the right fireplace for you – wood-burning, gas, or electric?
“A lot has to do with aesthetics or how authentic it is. A wood-burning fireplace is at the top of the scale. I’d say a gas fireplace comes in as a close second,” Tony notes. “They’re still realistic looking and some people prefer them because of the control options and electric options that are built right in. The electric one, of course, is the most flexible and versatile. They can work anywhere in the house.”
Heat power also sets the three apart from one another.
“Electric fireplaces are available in different horsepower in terms of output. Most gas fireplaces these days are in the 70-80 percent efficiency rating. Wood fireplaces are only limited by how much wood you can put in the fireplace,” Tony explains.
Tony says having a powerful heat source is increasingly more important.
“It’s becoming evident, especially in the upper Midwest, that we need to have redundant heat sources in our homes. So, if something would happen to your main heat source, you have a backup. And, it’s become more important to us that those heat sources either blend right into the décor of the house or they are an additive decorative amenity to the room like a piece of furniture.”
One area that seamlessly blends in fireplaces is in outdoor spaces.
“The outdoor area started to get popular around 2000. It’s only gotten more mature since then. People have started to insist on higher quality materials so they can withstand our rugged winters. They also have to be able to light in the wind,” Tony explains.
Want to customize your fireplace? No problem.
“You can order some of them in whatever size you want. We can make it go with a swimming pool, spa or apartment complex aesthetic. They’re really regarded as a piece of furniture for outdoors that can go with whatever your design is,” adds Tony.
But they don’t just equip outdoor spaces with fireplaces.
“We also have fire bowls. A company out of the Twin Cities brought us the first fire bowl. We have a whole line of those here that are finished with all American made products – only the safest ignition systems and they’re very realistic looking fires.”
One of Tony’s favorite projects they got to be a part of was in Flandreau, South Dakota.
“We actually helped with fire burners for a ceremonial area for Native Americans. They needed something that could maintain a consistent fire as the ceremony goes on. If it happens to blow out, it will re-light itself, too. We seem to find ourselves in all kinds of great places. You never know what is going to happen,” Tony adds.
That’s one of Tony’s favorite things about the job. Another is seeing the progression and development of hearth products.
“This last year has been very interesting. We’ve started to see the development of what we call an open-hearth gas fireplace, which are glass less,” Tony notes.
It’s the opposite of the gas fireplaces they started with in the ‘80s.
“Today, people wish they had a way to be closer to the fire. We don’t want glass over a fireplace. We almost wish that we could put our hands right up against the radiant flames.”
With all the options for hearth products like stoves, barbecues, outdoor kitchens, wood-burning fire pits and of course fireplaces,
Fireplace Professionals is the place to turn to.
With their online showroom, “You’re always looking at the newest ideas and a picture is worth 1,000 words,” Tony states. “So, if you can get that and show it to the person building your home or outdoor area, it will show exactly what your idea is.”
To their excellent service, Fireplace Professionals stands behind their products and service.
“We strive to provide you with the highest quality, most innovative products available and all at a price you can afford! We are here for you,” Tony assures.
