We’ve been investigating replacing our fireplace insert since before the City of Medford Oregon where we live passed an ordinance making it a requirement that fireplace inserts like the one that came with the house we bought in the East Medford Hills in 2004 need to be removed upon sale if they don’t meet the new criteria. Of course, being in compliance with the particulates being released in to the air is important to us. Important, too, is the overall cost of using the wood fireplace insert for our heat source, since our home also has a central heating/AC system. We were finding the “recapture period” for replacing our fireplace insert was going to be a long one, since the wood fireplace insert we have did not get installed with the chimney liner and parts required today, as we discovered after having an installer come take a look and give us an estimate last year. So, this project kept getting put on the back burner in the “one day” part of our “to do list”, and we kept watching those big winter gas bills and/or blazing through 2 ½ cords of wood during the winter. We had already replaced our windows & doors, and figured we’d stick with those energy savings for the time being.

Along comes Uncle Sam with the 2009 Economic Stimulus Package, and we dust off our “to do list” and have another look at this replacement project. Now, we can receive up to $1,800 in Federal and State tax credits for replacing our wood fireplace insert. Well, THAT got our attention! Now, not only will 40% of the expense be offset, but the efficiency with this new wood fireplace insert will bring the overall annual expense down AND shorten up our recapture period to about three winter seasons. Sign us up!!!! Happy birthday to me, I got a brand new wood fireplace insert for my birthday last week. With 30-percent federal tax credit for costs incurred up to $1,500 AND the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit program which offers up to a $300 tax credit, we’ll be saving roughly $1,400 of the $3,500, and expect to get by with only one cord of wood.

We had been talking to store owners at the Fall Home Show and around town for a couple of years, one of whom really stood out in our minds when we decided to consider taking on this project again. Mike at Home Comfort Hearth was knowledgeable and professional when we first spoke to him. Being the types who do a great deal of research online before making a major purchase, we discovered that Mike knew his stuff and so does his crew. People we spoke to about Home Comfort Hearth spoke very highly of Mike and his crew. Now we can, too. From our early Saturday morning visit with Bob in the Phoenix store of Home Comfort Hearth who asked us the questions to help find the right wood fireplace insert that would meet our needs while helping us make our decision between pellet and wood, to the owner Mike’s home visit to confirm the installation cost, and the prompt installation as promised/scheduled by Bobby and Jason, we would recommend Home Comfort Hearth in Grants Pass or Phoenix Oregon to anyone looking for a wood stove or fireplace insert for their home. If you, too, are in the market for a fireplace insert or wood or pellet stove, go to Home Comfort Hearth in Grants Pass or Phoenix. Their professionalism, experience, service and reliability are commendable! It’s no wonder they’ve been in business since 1979.

Home Comfort Hearth                       Home Comfort Hearth

224 SW “G” Street                            166 South Main Street

Grants Pass, OR 97526                     Phoenix, OR 97535

(541) 955-4446                                   (541) 535-3080

And, now, for a shameless plug. My husband happens to be the owner of Superior Windows & Doors of Ashland and Medford Oregon. Energy efficient Windows and Doors are also included in these Federal and State Tax Rebate programs. The guys at Superior Windows & Doors of Ashland and Medford Oregon have made a point of  knowing about how homeowners may meet the material requirements in order to obtain these credits when replacing their windows & doors, and can point homeowners to knowledgeable, reputable general contractors who can install these windows & doors for you. So if part of the energy efficient home improvement projects on YOUR “to do list” includes replacing your old drafty windows and doors, and you, too have been waiting for the time when this project would become cost effective with a quicker return on your investment, contact Superior Windows & Doors:

Superior Windows & Doors              Superior Windows & Doors

300 E Hersey Street # 6                    1121 Helicopter Way #100

Ashland, OR 97520                            Medford, OR 97502

(541) 482-0061                                   (541) 773-9999

http://superior4windows.com/gogreen.htm

See you out there!