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LanChester Grill & Hearth Blog

How to Design Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor Kitchen design process
Outdoor Living

As summer sizzles closer, daydreams of outdoor entertaining and the smell of grilled foods start to waft through many homeowners’ minds. The cold grip of winter begins to loosen and everyone spends more time outdoors. While a gas or charcoal grill can be great for anyone’s outdoor cooking needs, sometimes the lack of space or bringing food in and out of the kitchen can be a hassle. So the question is…why not bring the kitchen to you instead?

Fortunately, people have been cooking outdoors for centuries—whether it’s over a camp fire, a grill, or in an oven, the timeless tradition of outdoor cooking doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. That’s why we’re beginning a new post series that will walk you through every step and detail of planning for your outdoor kitchen. From placement to design, make sure you stop back to our blog frequently in the coming months to check for the next blog installment in this series. Continue reading How to Design Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen →

What is an Infrared Gas Grill and How Does it Work?

Steak on a grill
Outdoor Living

One of the latest trends in outdoor grilling is the growing popularity of the infrared grill. Once a feature only available on high-end models, infrared technology has gone mainstream, showing up in grills at many price points. But what is an infrared grill and should you be thinking about adding this latest technology to your grilling arsenal?

Today, we take a closer look at infrared grills and help you decide whether this technology is right for you. Continue reading What is an Infrared Gas Grill and How Does it Work? →

Discover the Mendota Fireplace Secret

Wide Grace Room Fireplace
Indoor Living

Have you grown tired of the mess and hassle of your wood-burning fireplace? Would you love to add the ambiance, comfort, and beauty of a fireplace to just about any room in the house? A gas fireplace could be the solution for you!

Once shunned as fake imitations of the real thing, gas fireplaces have vastly improved in recent years. Gas fireplaces from Mendota are a prime example, combining stylish beauty and clean, efficient heat that we’re proud to recommend to our customers every day.

If you’re ready to ditch the mess and hassle of your wood-burning fireplace or want a fireplace that really makes a statement, it’s time you discover the secret behind one of the best gas fireplace brands in the business. Continue reading Discover the Mendota Fireplace Secret →

9 Tips to Keep Your Fireplace Running Efficiently This Winter

Relaxing near the fireplace
Indoor Living

Do you love the warm glow of your fireplace on a cold winter night, but wish it could warm your home more efficiently? While most homeowners don’t count on their fireplaces as a primary source of heat, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be nice to turn the main thermostat down a bit and save some money on your heating bills.

Fortunately, there are some great ways to improve your fireplace’s efficiency and keep your home cozier throughout the winter. Here are our best tips for getting the most from your fireplace this winter. Continue reading 9 Tips to Keep Your Fireplace Running Efficiently This Winter →

Why You Should Not Choose a Vent-Free Fireplace

chimneys
Indoor Living

Are you looking to add a new fireplace to your home or upgrade an existing one? If so, you’ve probably read about vent-free gas fireplaces, and you may also now be well-acquainted with the debate about whether or not they are safe. Vent-free fireplaces are advertised as being a “smokeless” and worry-free heat source that allows you to retain heat from burning gas instead of venting most of it away.

Sounds a little too good to be true, right? It is.

Here at LanChester Grill & Hearth, we always strongly caution our customers against installing these unvented, gas-burning fireplaces in their homes. We simply don’t believe the risks they present to your family’s health and safety are worth the cost. (And there are other big issues with these fireplaces, as well.)

Today, we’re highlighting our objections concerning vent-free fireplaces so all of our customers can make more informed purchasing decisions. Continue reading Why You Should Not Choose a Vent-Free Fireplace →

Options for Revitalizing Your Old Fireplace

stone fireplace in den
Indoor Living

Are you unhappy with the look and feel of your current fireplace? Had you always dreamed of having a fireplace, but are disappointed with the one you ended up with when you bought your home?

It may seem surprising, as fireplaces are primary focal points in living rooms, family rooms, and dens in many homes across the United States, but it’s often a home’s builder that chooses the fireplace, not the people who will be living with it. And some fireplaces have just “always been there” in older homes where no one is sure who chose the fireplace or even how it was used over time.

No matter your fireplace’s history, you know that you don’t like your fireplace today. It’s drafty when not in use, and you rarely use it because it’s such a hassle and doesn’t work well. Perhaps it’s completely nonfunctional. But you want to like your fireplace and use it often!

As we prepare for the upcoming colder weather, it’s time to finally do something about your existing, disappointing fireplace. And the good news is that you have several options for restoring or revitalizing it depending on the type of fireplace you have now. Let’s take a closer look. Continue reading Options for Revitalizing Your Old Fireplace →

Why You Need a Fire Pit

fireplace by pool
Outdoor Living

Have you created the perfect patio or poolside retreat in your backyard? If you don’t currently have a fire pit as part of your setup, you’re missing out! It’s true that some people skip over fire pits out of concerns about safety or fear of big messes caused by wood ash and soot, but today’s popular propane and natural gas-fired pits are easy to control and virtually mess and maintenance-free.

Much like your gas fireplace in your home, modern gas fire pits create a cozy feeling in your outdoor entertaining space and can be turned off and on at the flip of a switch. You don’t have to spend time and effort cleaning up after each time you’ve been enjoying them, either. Here are a few great reasons why you need to add a new gas fire pit to your patio or even your deck. Continue reading Why You Need a Fire Pit →

3 Big Perks of DaVinci Custom Fireplaces

modern fireplace wall
Indoor Living, Outdoor Living

Many people often think of fireplaces as fitting into traditional decorating schemes or only being appropriate in certain styles of homes. Fireplaces are cozy and quaint and stir thoughts of rustic mountain lodges or historic homes that originally required wood fires for heating, but one may seem out of place in your house. If you tend to like a more modern look, or your unique home just doesn’t have the customarily necessary features to easily accommodate a fireplace (like an existing chimney or an expanse of open wall in a living room or family room), you’ve probably just assumed that a fireplace wasn’t for you. Today we’re taking a look at why you will want to reconsider that assumption!

DaVinci Custom Fireplaces present an award-winning gas fireplace option that’s more flexible and safer than most traditional models. DaVinci fireplaces fit in literally any type of room in your house and require no chimney – these high-tech, decorative fireplaces utilize a power venting system that’s innovative with regard to the exhaust. No matter where you decide your DaVinci fireplace will look best, whether in the middle of the room or installed in any wall, these statement pieces can make your fireplace visions a reality. And we’re proud to offer DaVinci Custom Fireplaces as a distinctive new choice here at LanChester Grill & Hearth. Continue reading 3 Big Perks of DaVinci Custom Fireplaces →

How to Get Started with Grilling

child at grill
Outdoor Living

Summer weather has arrived, and you may be thinking about having some great backyard parties with friends and family. Maybe you went to a barbeque over the Memorial Day weekend and felt envious of your host’s awesome grilling setup. One of the highlights of summer is going to barbeques, after all. But, how about throwing your own? If you’ve never grilled before, it may seem a bit intimidating to get started. Even if you’re a great cook in your regular kitchen, grilling outdoors presents a whole new set of challenges.

First, it can be tough just to decide how to choose the right grill. If you’ve never owned one before and you’re shopping for your very first grill, you may not know what features you really need, or even what fuel type you might prefer between charcoal, propane, or even wood pellets or electric. Then, you need to do your homework on all the ways you can prepare food on the grill. And do you need a smoker? There’s a lot to consider, but no need to stress! We’re here with some easy tips to help you buy your first grill with confidence and get up and cooking quickly. We’ll take a look at determining the best grill for your needs, and consider the differences between smoking and grilling meat, veggies, and more. Continue reading How to Get Started with Grilling →