When winter’s chill sets in, there’s nothing quite like the comforting warmth of a stove. At our fireplace store in Pennsylvania, the team at Kring’s Hearth & Home understand the importance of choosing the right stove to transform your home into a cozy retreat. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the distinctive features and benefits of three renowned stove brands – Harman, Quadra-Fire, and Vermont Castings – offering you insights to make an informed decision for your heating needs.
Vermont Castings Stoves: Timeless Craftsmanship and Style
Tradition Meets Modernity – Unveiling the Beauty of Vermont Castings Stoves
For those seeking a harmonious blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, Vermont Castings stoves are an impeccable choice. The Vermont Castings Dauntless FlexBurn Wood Burning Stove and the Intrepid FlexBurn Direct Vent Gas Stove are just two products that perfectly exemplify this unmatched brand’s commitment to artistry and functionality. What’s more, Vermont Castings stoves not only heat your home efficiently, but also serve as stunning focal points for you and your guests to enjoy.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Vermont Castings stoves. Visit our Bechtelsville or Schnecksville, PA showroom to witness the elegance firsthand, or contact us online for personalized recommendations.
Read the rest of this entry »When it comes to enhancing your home with a fireplace, the fireplace installation process is a crucial step. At Kring’s Hearth & Home, our experienced team of fireplace installers are here to guide you through every stage, ensuring a seamless and efficient transformation of your living space.
Choosing the Right Fireplace for Your Home
Selecting the right fireplace for you is the first step in the fireplace installation process. Whether you’re drawn to the classic charm of a wood-burning fireplace or the convenience of a gas fireplace insert, our showrooms in Bechtelsville and Schnecksville, PA offer a diverse range of options to choose from. We understand that each home is unique, and our hearth experts are ready to help you find the perfect match for your style and heating needs.
Expert Installation for Lasting Comfort
The skilled fireplace installers at Kring’s Hearth & Home are not just skilled fireplace technicians; they are artisans dedicated to their craft. We prioritize both aesthetics and functionality, ensuring that your fireplace becomes a focal point in your home. From the positioning of the hearth to the installation of a gas fireplace insert, our attention to detail sets us apart.
Read the rest of this entry »Update your fireplace with a gas insert.
You will love your fireplace again by updating your fireplace with a gas insert. This can be completed in as little as a day. For your convenience this is a video explaining the Gas Inserts by Heat & Glo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hLfRuyUQys
In this paragraph, I will explain the benefits of updating your fireplace with a gas insert.. Firstly, a gas insert is a quality way to improve the use of your fireplace, as well as, increase your home value. Secondly, you have no more mess from your wood burning fireplace. Thirdly, these gas inserts are designed to fit in an existing wood burning fireplace and improve the efficiency of your fireplace. Finally, this home improvement looks fantastic.
Choose your style of gas insert.
- Modern inserts will have crushed glass for the media and black glass on the walls.
- Traditional will have logs and brick on the interior walls of the insert (as shown below).
Review the Guide for gas inserts (the link is below).
Here is a guide to everything you want to know about updating your fireplace with a gas insert. In this guide you will have a great amount of information on how easy and beneficial it is to have a gas insert. For Example, most gas inserts are installed in one day there is not extensive remodel. Most homeowners will keep the existing material on the fireplace wall. Some homeowners will complete a refacing of the existing wall.
Furthermore, you will enjoy how easy it is to use your new gas insert. The inserts come with a fan and remote control. In fact the remote will have many features to control your insert. What’s more you will have the full control of the flame height and heat output. In addition, the fan will help distribute the heat in your room.
Standard Features
- Intellifire Touch Ignition System
- Fan
- Propane or Natural Gas
- Remote control
- Wifi option
- Heat at the touch of a button
- Battery back up
- Choices of doors with a protective safety screen
- Vented and safe to use
- Ceramic Glass or Anti-reflective Glass
- Accent lights.
There are THREE easy steps you need to take to upgrade your wood burning fireplace with a gas insert.
- Firstly, stop in our showroom with your fireplace measurements (opening width, opening height depth) and a picture.
- Secondly, select the style of front for the insert to compliment the decor in your home.
- Finally, select the options to complete the finishing touches for your insert.
Last but not least, Kring’s will take it from here. We will schedule an appointment for a site visit in your home to confirm the selections will work. Finally, Kring’s will schedule the installation of your new gas insert. You can have this home improvement in as little as a day.
What is a fireplace insert?
When it comes to updating an existing wood-burning fireplace, many homeowners set their sights on fireplace inserts. But what exactly is a fireplace insert and how does it work? This overview will cover what a fireplace insert is, types of fireplace inserts available, how much they cost to install and run as well as tips for making the fireplace insert selection and install process seamless and easy.
What is a Fireplace Insert?
Simply put, a fireplace insert is a self-contained appliance designed to fit into an existing wood fireplace. Fireplace inserts can be fueled by gas, wood pellets, wood or electricity, and are installed by a hearth professional.
While traditional, open wood fireplaces offer the ambiance and nostalgia homeowners cherish, existing wood fireplaces can boast outdated styles (think: brass doors, etc.). And homeowners often want to eliminate soot, ashes and odor that goes hand-in-hand with burning wood. In addition, an open wood fireplace can be drafty and inefficient, resulting in a fireplace that is rarely used. All of these issues can be solved by installing a fireplace insert!
And the good news is that any wood fireplace can be an option for a fireplace insert. “Anytime a homeowner is looking to upgrade or renovate, a fireplace insert will bring convenience along with updating the style and design of their home,” says Randy Wendolek, director, marketing category management at Hearth & Home Technologies, Heat & Glo’s parent company.
“Any fireplace insert will improve the efficiency since there is no longer an open chimney to the outside of the home. With a gas fireplace insert for example, you can boost heating efficiency from 15 percent with wood to around 70 percent. This means more fuel is converted into useable heat and you stay warmer.”
Should I update my fireplace?
There are a few options for updating your fireplace. First you need to determine if you have a masonry fireplace, a factory built fireplace or a direct vent fireplace.
To start with a masonry fireplace; you will have a brick or stone fireplace and a masonry style chimney. These fireplaces are built with brick an mortar and most commonly have a metal damper in the fireplace. Homeowners burn firewood occasionally and leisurely. Often we have the homeowner who is looking to improve the heat in the fireplace and also they are looking to have a fire with out all the work. A gas insert will substantially increase the heat output and ease of use while upgrading the look of the fireplace.
A factory built fireplace or zero clearance fireplaces are manufactured fireboxes that are built in framed walls with a variety of finish material. These fireplaces you will have 2 options for improvement. As long as the fireplace is a functioning wood fireplace a gas insert can be added. A gas insert will offer and updated look, ease of use and efficient heat. The gas insert will not require new finish material on the face of the existing wood burning fireplace. Simply, you will update the look and function of your wood fireplace easily by adding a gas insert.
Finally, if you have a direct vent gas fireplace and it needs to be updated you can change the existing fireplace. Commonly, a remodel is required for a fireplace changeout. Visiting the showroom will assist you with conceptual ideas for the remodeled fireplace. Ideally you will have some ideas when you visit the showroom or we can help you visualize some ideas. Dry stacked stone with a barn beam or a modern linear fireplace are options you have available for the new fireplace in your home.
https://www.heatnglo.com/ideas/inspiration-gallery#
Chimineas are back
Have you ever wanted to have the experience of an outdoor wood fire but without the mess of having to make your own fire pit? Kring’s Hearth & Home has a limited number of colorful Chimineas and wood burning fire pits available for purchase. These chimineas offer another option for your outdoor entertainment needs as we head into fall and the cooler whether begins. You might be wondering what is the the history of the Chiminea and where they came from.
One of our Chimineas for sale.
The origin of the Chiminea lies in southern Mexico in the ancient history of the Mayan people, according to The Oklahoman. The Mayans discovered that the clay they found in dark, damp places, like caves, could be fired and used to cook food. These ovens became more popular over time and began to move north over time. By the 17th century, people in northern Mexico were using chimineas to bake bread and heat their homes at night when the desert gets cool. These ovens later found their way to America when contact between Mexico and the United States became widespread.
Chimenas are made out of terracotta, put in a fired kiln and dried. Many Chimineas are then painted in decorative styles, but originally they were not painted.
We think a number of these Chimineas could be a good fit for an outdoor patio or entertainment space and can offer you and your guests an inviting look, along some heat as we head into fall. Stop by our stores in either Bechtelsville or Neffs to see our selection of Chimineas.
These wooden fire pits offer an alternative to messy home made fire pits.
One of our available Chimineas.
Upgrade your fireplace with a gas insert
Do you have an old wood burning fireplace that you no longer know what to do with or are tired of looking at? What better way than to give yourself an upgraded look with a gas insert from Heat & Glo or Quadrafire? Natural gas or propane inserts offer the convenience of having heat at the touch of a button and are much less maintenance intensive than pellet or wood heating products. These products are a great fit for homes where gas is already existing or for people who would like to have supplemental heat without the trouble of caring for pellet and wood units.
Kring’s Hearth & Home offers a number of gas insert products that could give you many years of warmth and roaring flames, along with an upgraded look. Both Heat & Glo and Quadrafire gas inserts have a number of aesthetic and styling options to fit a range preferences for consumers who would like either a more traditional or modern upgraded look. For a consumer who would like a more traditional look, one of our most popular gas inserts is the H&G Escape 35 with a Chateau forge front. This option gives your insert an elegant and traditional styling that reflects traditions of years past.
If traditional isn’t your cup of tea, not to worry! An option for a consumer who would like a more modern look is the H&G Cosmo gas fireplace insert with a simple firescreen front and glass media, which can give your fireplace an upgraded, but stylish look for those consumers who tastes are more anchored in the present age. Kring’s Hearth & Home has these inserts and many more in our showrooms in Neffs and Bechtelsville. Stop on by sometime to see how you can take the next step to upgrade your fireplace with a gas insert.
The Cosmo gas fireplace insert offers a stylish upgrade to your fireplace in line with the tastes of the modern age.
Recipes for your 4th of July Holiday
The Fourth of July holiday is quickly approaching and that means that its time to fire up your grill and get ready for any family or friends that you might be having over. Not sure what to make yet? No problem. The makers of Napoleon and Weber grills have online libraries of recipes that you can look up and make on your grill this holiday. These recipes are delicious and include the Bacon Mac N Cheese Hotdog recipe from Napoleon and Chipotle burgers from Weber.
To make the Bacon Mac N Cheese hotdog you’ll need the following ingredients:
1½ cups macaroni, 2/3 cup evaporated milk, 1 cup+ shredded cheese, cheddar, Monterey jack, etc., 1 tsp. Dijon mustard Salt and pepper to taste 4 strips bacon, cooked crisp, 4 hot dogs, 4 hot dog buns, sturdy Fresh chives or jalapeno for garnish.
To make this meal, you’ll want to shred the cheese, cook the bacon, prep any garnish toppings like chives or jalapeno first. Next, preheat the barbecue with a hot and cool zone by lighting one or two burners to medium-high. On the side burner, place a wide pot with a lid over high heat. Add the macaroni noodles and put over water until just covered. Bring it to a boil, stirring and cooking until the liquid is nearly gone and the noodles are a little less cooked than al dente. About 6 minutes.
Bacon Mac N Cheese hotdogs from Napoleon.
While the noodles are being cooked, grill the hot dogs close to, but not directly over, the burners, turn frequently until they fat. Once the pasta is cooked, add the evaporated milk and mustard bringing the mixture back to a boil again. Turn off the heat and add the cheese, stir until the cheese melts. Add salt and pepper. Place the lid onto the pot and move it to indirect heat on the main grill to keep warm while you sear the hot dogs. Finish the hot dogs over the burners to get marks and char. Put them in a bun, then add the macaroni. Top with bacon. Garnish with fresh chives or sliced jalapeno.
To make the Weber Chipotle Burgers, you will want to have these items:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 pound grape or cherry tomatoes, 1 tablespoon minced chiles in adobo, 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, Patties 2 pounds ground chuck (80% lean), 2 garlic cloves, minced or pushed through a press 2 tablespoons minced chiles in adobo, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground cumin ,½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 4 hamburger buns, split Lettuce leaves, Red onion slices, and 1 avocado, pitted, sliced.
To cook this recipe, on a stove top you’ll want to preheat a skillet on medium heat for several minutes. Add oil and tomatoes and stir to saute. Cook them on medium until the tomatoes begin to break up, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring a few times. Stir in the remaining ingredients and continue to cook until the tomatoes release juics and the sauce becomes thicker, 3 to 5 minutes, stir a few times. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature.
Mix the patty ingredients, and then gingerly and briefly form 4 patties of similar size, each about an inch thick. With the back of a spoon, make a shallow indentation in the center of each patty to prevent them from forming a dome as they cook. Refrigerate the patties until you are ready to grill. Ready the grill for direct cooking over medium (350° to 450°F). Grill the patties over medium heat, with the lid closed, until cooked to 160°F, 8 to 10 minutes for medium, turning once or twice. During the last minute of grilling, toast the rolls, cut side down, over direct heat. Serve the patties on the toasted rolls with the jam, lettuce, red onion, and avocado.
Do these recipes look tasty or what?! If you are still looking for a grill to make these recipes a reality this holiday, our Bechtelsville and Neffs locations still have a number of Napoleon and Weber grills in stock to make your holiday gathering meal a sizzling success. Credit for recipes and pictures goes to Napoleon and Weber grills respectively.
Weber Chipotle Burgers
Let Napoleon and Weber grills complete your summer
It’s June, which means summer is officially here. Between the warm weather and vacations, this month is the perfect time to start thinking about how you can complete your outdoor living space in time for the July 4th holiday. Not sure where to start? No problem! Let us offer a friendly suggestion. A Napoleon or Weber grill would be the perfect addition to any porch or backyard living area. Kring’s Hearth & Home has a number of these grills, many of which offer inviting and premium features that could put you at the center of your own summer grilling experience.
First up is the Napoleon Prestige Pro 665. This grill offers you the ultimate outdoor features including infrared rear and side burners and LED spectrum light knobs that can change to a variety of different colors. The stainless steel body of this grill offers a strong and hearty durability that is made to last. The cooking grids, tube burners, and sear plates are also stainless steel as well. This grill retails for $2,999.
The Napoleon Prestige Pro 665 features a stainless steel body and LED light up control knobs.
A second grill we have is the Weber Genesis SX-335 Smart Grill. This stainless steel grill will connect directly with your phone through a Weber app to keep you in the loop while you do things like socialize, prepare sides for your guests inside, or are even simply just watching a game. This grill also offers the Sear Zone which is a high heat cooking grate which can add sear marks to your food. The best part of this grill is it offers the ability to let you know your food has reached your desired cooking level, track your fuel levels, and more! The Genesis SX-335 is priced at $1,549.
The Weber Genesis SX-335 offers a smart grilling experience.
Finally, those looking for a more basic grilling experience, the Napoleon Prestige 500 offers a quality grilling experience, without the fuss of fiddling with extra gadgets and gizmos. The grill has the same stainless steel construction and quality 15 year warranty that Napoleon grills are known for. This grill retails at $1099.
Both of our stores in Bechtelsville and Schnecksville offer a selection of Napoleon and Weber grills. We would be more than happy to help you select one that works best for your outdoor living needs.
How to maintain Harman pellet stoves
Harman pellet stoves are a popular choice among our customers who are looking to both save money on their heating bills and enjoy the warmth that a pellet stove has to offer on cold nights. As the weather gets warmer as we head further into June, you may be thinking you might not have to use your pellet stove for the next few months as summer begins. Despite this, it is still important to be on top of properly maintaining and cleaning your Harman pellet stove to be prepared for when the cold weather comes back this fall.
If you have a model like the Harman P-series, for example, we recommend that you give this pellet stove a thorough cleaning every time you burn 1 ton of pellets, in addition to regular tasks like emptying the ash pan and scrapping the burn pot. In order to do this cleaning, you will need to turn off your stove. You should wait until your stove has stopped running and is no longer hot before cleaning it.
First, you will want to take your scrapper tool and clean your stove’s heat exchanger to remove the excess ash there. It’s okay to let these ashes fall into the ash pan. Next you will want to scrape the burn pot and make sure the burn pot holes are free of any debris. Use an Allen key to clean out these holes as well. You can also remove the flame guide to reach further back into the stove in order to clean any built up carbon deposits. Use a Shop-Vac with a fine dust filter to finish removing any debris from this area of your stove.
Another task you can do to maintain your stove is by cleaning the viewing glass. This should never be done while the stove is still hot. This can be done using a soft, non-synthetic cloth and either a vinegar and water mixture or a non-abrasive glass cleaner. Do not use sharp objects on the glass.
You can also access the burn pot clean out cover by loosening the thumb screws there. After that, try cleaning out the ash there. Use a Shop-Vac to sweep up debris from this area. Put the burn pot clean out cover back when you are finished. The last task you will want to do as part of your cleaning process is to remove the combustion blower cover to expose the wheel and flue and carefully clean the blower wheel with a paint brush. Next, clean the flue exit with either a 3 or 4 inch flue brush, but take care not to damage the exhaust sensing probe. When you are finished, put the blower cover and ash pan back in.
We also recommend getting your Harman pellet stove professionally cleaned and serviced on an annual basis. If this interests you, you can call us at either of our locations, 610-367-4488 (Bechtelsville) or 610-224-5050 (Neffs) and we will make sure someone from our service department gets in touch with you to schedule your annual pellet service. This is just a brief overview of some of the things you can do to keep your pellet stove in top shape for when colder weather returns.
Use your scrapper to make sure pellets stay in the burn pot and scrap the ones on the edge into the ash pan.
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