The fireplace blog
Answers to what Phoenix-area homeowners ask us most, with Maricopa County rules, desert weather and real prices.
Why does my newer Arizona home only have a gas fireplace, and can I make it burn wood?Bought a Valley home built after 1998 and found gas logs, not a wood fireplace? Here is the Arizona law behind it and why converting it to wood isn't allowed.
Can I have a wood fire in my backyard fire pit during summer in Phoenix?Maricopa County bans recreational wood fires in backyard pits May 1 to Sept 30 in Area A. What it covers, the $200 minimum fine and why gas pits are exempt.
What should I check before starting my gas fireplace after a Phoenix summer?Your gas fireplace sat through five months of heat. What to look at before the first cool night: glass, vent, pilot, flame, batteries and the CO alarm.
What is a chase cover, and when does a rusting one on a stucco chimney need replacing?The metal lid on your stucco chimney keeps rain out of the chase. Signs it is rusting or leaking, what a better replacement looks like, and typical costs.
How do I clean a gas fire pit or outdoor fireplace after a haboob?A dust storm can fill a gas fire pit's burner, media and air intake. How to clean up after a haboob safely, and the signs that need a burner check.
How do No Burn Day fines work in Maricopa County, and how do I get alerts?How Maricopa County's No Burn Day penalties climb from a warning to $250, how the county announces restricted days, and how to sign up for alerts.
What should I check on the fireplace when buying a house in the Phoenix area?Arizona's resale contract gives buyers a 10-day inspection period by default. What to check on the fireplace and chimney in that window, and how BINSR fits in.
Does Maricopa County pay to convert my wood fireplace to gas?The county pays up to $2,000 toward a gas log set for wood fireplaces inside a central and west Phoenix boundary. Who qualifies and how to get ready.
Should my fire pit or fireplace run on propane or natural gas?Many Valley homes have no gas line. When propane makes sense for a fire pit or fireplace, when extending natural gas is worth it, and why the two can't swap.
Is it safe to use a prefab fireplace with cracked refractory panels?Hairline cracks in a factory-built fireplace's firebox panels are common. When a crack is cosmetic, when it means stop using it, and what replacement costs.
Book online
Pick a window. We'll bring the meter.
Free inspection in a 3-hour window: 8 to 11, 11 to 2, or 2 to 5, Sunday through Friday. We call to confirm before we head out.