Fireplace FAQ

We service the greater-Springfield area including Branson and Northern Arkansas, Rolla, Joplin, Lake of the Ozarks, etc. 

Outside of Springfield city limits there is a mileage fee on top of the standard install fee. If you'd like to know what the install fee looks like for your area, please give us a call or message us for an estimate!

This is highly dependent on the type of unit and scope of the job involved. While there are no "normal" fireplaces, you can get an idea of how long different kinds of installs can take below:

Vent Free install - 1-3 hours
Wood Stove install - 2-5 hours
Direct Vent install - 5+ hours

While Maschino's does not clean or inspect chimneys, we do suggest having it cleaned once more before the fireplace is converted to a gas unit. This ensures the chimney is free of excess soot, animal nests, structural issues or other blockages.

No! If there is already a gas line in the home that is up to code, a permit is not needed to attach or replace a gas appliance to an existing gas line. The only time it's recommended to have a permit is when the gas line itself is installed, moved, or extended and Maschino's requires a plumber to do this work.

This is an objective question whos answer will be based on the features you, personally, are wanting from your fireplace. If you're unsure, try taking our fireplace questionnaire to see what kind of unit is the best for your home. 

Keep in mind that there are also many different brands available within each category of fireplace. If you've seen one kind in person that you weren't in love with, there may be another brand or model that would fit your requirements better.

The answer to this question depends on how much work you're wanting to devote to the project. Do you want to take a gas insert and replace the logs and burner? If so, they can only be replaced by the set that was tested and rated for that specific insert. Do you want to change the insert to a totally different insert or fireplace type? Yes! This is a remodeling project and it can be done. 

No. Inserts and logs go inside existing structures that are not all the same size, thus manufacturers provide customers with a variety of product sizes. The size of your firebox can even vary between different rooms in the same home - for example a large living room fireplace and a smaller one in the kitchen.

This will depend on what you are converting from as well as what you'd like to convert to as some options are easier to do than others. For example, converting a wood fireplace to a vent free gas log or even an electric insert is usually pretty easy to do. Converting a direct vent gas fireplace to a high efficiency, wood burning fireplace is going to require removing the original structure and a significantly larger amount of work, though it can be done!

Stop by or call  our sales team to discuss your unique plan.

No. Gas fireplaces are not suitable to burn wood or anything other than gas in. If you attempt to burn things in a gas fireplace or on top of a log set you may damage the fragile parts of the burner, logs, or refractory panels. You may also get debris in your burner tube or other parts of your unit which cannot be easily cleaned out if they do not cause damage as well. The byproducts of burning wood are also much dirtier and hotter than burning gas, this can ruin your pipe system and potentially cause a flue fire.

What you can do is set up a wood burning fireplace that has been plumbed with gas. From here you can use a gas log lighter if they are accepted in your city or you can use a gas logset / burn wood until you'd like to switch and install / uninstall the gas logset. Many people choose this option if they are building a new home and can burn the wood from their property, switching to a gas log years later when the ease of a button press is more appealing than hauling lumber.

Seasonally, the best time to get a fireplace is actually the middle of summer. This gives us the time to ensure we can order, install, and test fire your fireplace before the season arrives to use it.

If you're planning a home renovation or have just moved into a home with a fireplace you don't know the history of, it depends on the unit itself. If you like the unit but it's older and you're not sure if it still works, try to locate the brand, model, and even serial number on it. This will give us the information we need to tell you if we can reliably get parts for it. Most fireplaces have a lifespan of 15-20 years before parts are n o longer available.

If you just don't like the unit, there are options for simple aesthetic upgrades as well as conversions we can do any time!

The easiest way to know is from the rating plate on the unit or the original manual if you sill have it. The rating plate is a metal index card (or sometimes just a sticker) that will be behind the logs / burner or in the vent cavity underneath your fireplace opening (the sticker will be located on the floor of this cavity). If you're unable to find this information, there are some questions we can ask over the phone to narrow down the type of unit you have. 

The easiest way to know is from the rating plate on the unit or the original manual if you sill have it. The rating plate is a metal index card (or sometimes just a sticker) that will be behind the logs / burner or in the vent cavity underneath your fireplace opening (the sticker will be located on the floor of this cavity). If you're unable to find this information, there are some questions we can ask over the phone to narrow down the type of unit you have. 

Depending on your type of fireplace, there are a few different things this could be. It could be something as simple as changing some batteries or it could require a service call. It's helpful to know what kind of unit you have (a brand and model are best) and if only your burner has shut off or if both your burner and pilot have shut off.

*If your pilot has gone out, there are safety switches in your unit that shut off the gas supply.* You will not have gas flowing into the firebox.

If you give us a call with this information we can usually troubleshoot over the phone to see what the issue is.

The most common cause of fireplaces turning on by themselves is the remote or wall switch. Some remotes contain dip switches that work off radio signals which can be triggered by other things like a neighbor's remote, a garage door opener, or even airplane flyovers. Changing the switches usually solves the issue.

If you have a wall switch, especially one 7-10 years old, these can go bad. Sometimes the switch itself can be replaced and this fixes the issue but often the wire inside the wall is the problem. Most people choose to replace their wall switch with a remote at this point.

A constant blinking light or a persistent beeping is usually a low battery indicator. This may be for a remote or even a battery backup for your ignition system. Give us a call and we'll walk you through changing the batteries or troubleshooting your unit.

If you have a wall switch, especially one 7-10 years old, these can go bad. Sometimes the switch itself can be replaced and this fixes the issue but often the wire inside the wall is the problem. Most people choose to replace their wall switch with a remote at this point.

If you control your fireplace with a remote, check that you've put fresh batteries in the receiver box inside the fireplace. If you have and it's still not responding, move the slider switch to the "On" position and see if this turns the fireplace on.
If so, this means there's an issue with the remote itself. Bring the remote AND receiver box in to us and we'll clean and test it for you.
If this does not turn your fireplace on there is an issue with the fireplace itself and will require a service call.

This is a possibility, especially if you're not sure what the history of the unit is. If a fireplace was not installed to the manufacturers specifications there may be a clearance issue. We often see this when people convert a wood fireplace to gas and don't confirm the mantel clearances. If you think this may be an issue, discontinue use of the fireplace and give us a call with your unit information. 

This often happens with relatively new homes that have a direct vent fireplace installed. There are two different kinds of fireplace: heater rated and decorative. Unfortunately, many cookie-cutter builders and flippers will choose a decorative rated appliance which m ay look pretty but has a low BTU rating and will never be able to produce more heat.

If you have an open faced fireplace, you may have a substantial draft or even a vented  logset. Vented logsets must be used with the damper open and are only 25% efficient. These units also look very pretty but are not intended to heat a home.

Depending on the unit, this may be totally normal for the fireplace of there may be an adjustment needed to better disburse the gas across the burner. Give us a call with your unit info and we can see if this is correct for your unit.

Your pilot flame can also be blue! We like to see a 2-3" pilot on most units but if you have an IPI system or have recently lit the pilot, it may take a moment to warm up. If you're concerned it's been blue for too long or seems different than previous uses, give us a call with your fireplace information and we can do some troubleshooting over the phone.

It's making a clicking /  popping noise:

• This is likely the metal of your firebox or the ventilation system expanding and contracting with a temperature change. See if you notice the noise shortly after the fireplace has turned on or off. It can be a large bang, a couple of pops, or even a series of tapping noises.
• If you believe this is more of a glass popping noise, let the unit cool down completely and thoroughly check the glass pane on the front of your unit or around your burner for small cracks. If something hit the glass to create a hairline fracture or if the wrong kind of glass was put into your fireplace, it may have small cracks forming and has a chance of breaking.

It's making a wooshing sound:

• If this noise is from your pilot, there may be a pressure problem or, less commonly, a gas type issue with the valve.
• If this noise is from your burner, especially if there's a delay in the ignition, often means there's a lack of burner media. This can be an easy fix but if your media has burned away or been swept up, we suggest a service call to ensure the rest of the fireplace is working well.

It's making a whistling noise:

• This usually happens only while the fireplace is running and is a pressure problem within the line. This can usually be solved by turning down the flame height on your burner but troubleshooting within the gas line gas also be done.

Depending on the type of fireplace you have, this may be unavoidable. With direct vent and vent free fireplaces, you shouldn't notice any drafts from the fireplace itself. Some vent free logsets have been installed in masonry fireplaces that were formerly wood burning and can have the flue or ash dump sealed off to help with these issues.

If you have a vented logset, the damper must be braced open, and in some city codes removed all together. This can definitely create a draft which is unavoidable but can be mitigated with a set of fireplace doors.

There are many things that can create a smelly fireplace. While this is usually seen on vent free logsets, some smells can come from vented logs, especially if they've been installed in a former wood fireplace. Some people are also just sensitive to air changes in their home and may notice a slight smell. Propane, for example, has a slightly dirtier combustion than natural gas from the additives in it.

Vent free fireplaces are a special case since they exclusively use the air in the room to combust the gas. Whatever you put into the air will therefore combust on the logset, weather that's candles, aromatic foods, or a project in the garage. If this happens, you'll notice a smell only while the logset is burning. Some describe it as a gas smell, others acknowledge that it's similar to a burning dust or chemical smell. This will eventually fade after a few hours of burning - opening your windows or damper can help with this burn off period.

If you notice the smell while the unit is NOT on, you may have a small gas leak. Shut the fireplace off at the safety valve and have a plumber, LP company, or Maschino's come out to investigate where the leak is coming from.