Frequently Asked Questions

Helpful information about buying a fireplace or hot tub

Why is a wood stove better than a wood fireplace?

There are wood stoves and wood efficient fireplaces. There are also traditional open burning fireplace that are not at all efficient. We do not sell or promote open burning open type fireplaces as they are only 12% efficient at best and when not burning is taking away at least 15% of your total household heat.

The reason why we have these non heating units in Alaska in the first place is because of demand. Folks come up to Alaska from the lower 48 and remember all the heat that their fireplace provided them. They were in a zone 2 or 3. We are in a zone 5. Basically you are in the wrong place on the globe to entertain this style of a heating appliance. We sell a lot if "INSERTS" both in gas and wood to repair their open type fireplace unit to one that is more efficient.

Why is a gas fireplace better than a wood fireplace?

1000 to 1! In my own personal opinion. I can make out a check with a pen or cut wood. I used to own a tree farm and I've cut all the wood that I ever want to in my lifetime. It's someone else's turn. Wood is the most expensive fuel in the world!!

How much room do I need to install a stove or fireplace?

A wood heating appliance requires much more room than a gas heating appliance.

A standard footprint for wood is 48" wide X 54" in depth. You still have to keep combustibles at least 36" away from the sides of a wood stove and a minimum of 60" in the front from couches etc.

Gas appliances on the other hand have much less of a requirement depending on the size of heater that you choose.

Can you install it for me?

We install all of our products and do a very good job!

Do you warrantee and repair the products you sell? For how long?

Our warranty is what the manufacturer covers. We do not sell extended warranties beyond that. Each manufacturer has different coverage and I could not memorize all of them but we can provide you a copy of any product that
Your interested in with that information.

Is my old fireplace safe?

This is a NO answer until a professional looks at it and can deem it as being safe. We get asked this question from time to time and this answer requires a visit to the site to make that determination.

Will I save money with a wood stove?

Any investment in a professionally installed wood stove will give you 25 times your return on your investment. When one buys heating oil he is left with an invoice and a thankful of oil lasts about 3 months. At the end of 3 months one has to make another investment in oil and gets an invoice. At the end of 25 years one has a stack of invoices and nothing to show for it. After 25 years with a wood burning stove one has a marketable unit that still has value and can also keep producing heat.

A recent customer from Dillingham called and said he just spent $4.84 per gallon on oil in his village to fill a 500 gallon tank. In doing the math that is $2,420.00 of oil he just bought. He call me and asked me how much a Blaze King "KING" wood stove would cost and we replied at the time $2400.00. The customer asked to have one shipped his way. Sale made!

How big of a house can you heat with a wood stove?

Our largest wood burner is rated for 3,000 sq. ft.

My friend's hot tub broke after about a year. Is that normal?
How long do your hot tubs last?

A hot tub can be in need or repair at any time. Just like any mechanical device. Having a retailer that supplies and carries stock in parts to make that repair is important. We carry a supply of parts to fix most of the problems that one could incur. There is no charge except for travel to fix a Beachcomber Hot Tub as their Guarantee would pick up the cost of parts and labor for 2 years! This is all included with the purchase of a Beachcomber Hot Tub!

Many hot tubs are of very poor quality. Learn why Beachcomber Hot Tubs are far superior.

Won't the plumbing in my hot tub freeze if we install it outside?

As long as you have electrical power to the tub and sufficient water in it to operate properly there is no reason why your Hot Tub should freeze. Just like anything else there is a time line to becoming an ice cube and causing major damage to any Hot Tub should one not take action in an expedient manner, Sort of running a car engine without oil for any length of time.

Do you deliver to the Alaska bush?

We ship to the bush all the time and do not charge to getting the Hot Tub or Heating Appliance to a major air carrier in the Wasilla, Palmer or Anchorage bowl.