This has been a long, cold and snowy winter. But, now the snow is melting and it is time to start considering outdoor living. Let’s face it, an outdoor kitchen is a great way to add living space to your home that is fun, different, entertaining and increases home value.

If you are considering building an outdoor kitchen in your backyard this spring, be sure to talk to a company that does it all. From the design stage to building the patio, adding the plumbing and offering the highest quality components, you should plan your outdoor kitchen all in one place.

This way there is no conflict. Your contractor works directly with your built-in gas grill and outdoor kitchen components supplier so the construction process goes as smoothly as possible. In Sudbury and the surrounding towns, you only want top-of-the-line built-in gas grills, pizza ovens, outdoor cooking islands complete with drawers and storage compartments, as well as refrigerators, beer chillers and more for your outdoor kitchen.

Need help with the layout and design of outdoor kitchens? No problem. We can custom-build an outdoor kitchen for you and supply all the necessary components. With several brands of gas grills, charcoal grills, smokers, and built-in grills, we can help you with all of your outdoor kitchen needs.

For more information on the construction, design and all your outdoor kitchen appliances, contact West Sport in Sudbury, your One-Stop-Shop.

This has been a long, cold and snowy winter. But, believe it or not, spring is right around the corner. Many homeowners in the area are forgetting about winter and starting to look ahead. If you are considering adding an outdoor kitchen to your home, now is the time to come into West Sport in Sudbury.

Outdoor kitchens are becoming a very popular item in homes in the Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, Concord and Lexington areas. Not only do they provide a great place to escape and relax all spring and summer long, they are a great place for throwing those weekend evening gatherings. But, one of the greatest advantages of outdoor kitchens is how much they increase your home value.

Buyers are looking for homes with all of the amenities. Even if you won’t be selling your home for years to come, and outdoor kitchen is a great investment. And, we work with your contractor on all of the outdoor kitchen components. Send in your designer or contractor, or come in and see for yourself. We offer built-in gas grills, under counter outdoor refrigerators, counter tops, cabinets, sinks and beer chillers. Whatever you need for your outdoor kitchen we have it.

Now is the time to start the design process. You may not be able to see your backyard, but you can start dreaming about your new outdoor kitchen. By starting the process now, you avoid all the delays and demands. You can be cooking outside by summer!

For more information on outdoor kitchens, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Many people are interested in converting a wood fireplace to gas. This winter, fireplaces have had quite a workout, but some homeowners are tired of lugging and stacking wood. They are interested in replacing the open fireplace with a gas fireplace. But, what does that entail?

A gas fireplace is easy to use and maintain. That's why so many people seem to prefer gas fireplace inserts these days.

Chimney inspection

It's important to be certain your chimney is clean and fully functional. A professional chimney sweep will give you an inspection and can tell you whether your chimney will accommodate a gas unit.

You'll also need to hire someone to extend your home's existing gas line to the fireplace. Plumbers and HVAC technicians are often qualified. If your home doesn't have a natural gas connection, and service is available where you live, you can pay for a connection.

Choose a gas insert or gas logs

Next, decide what kind of gas fireplace insert you want. When converting from a wood-burning fireplace, you have three options:

• a gas fireplace insert
• vented gas logs
• vent-free gas logs

To choose, consider how you expect to use your fireplace.

If you want to add warmth to your home, consider a gas insert or vent-free gas logs. Of these two options, vent-free gas logs produce the most heat, but they may introduce unburned combustion products into your home and aren't recommended for homeowners with allergies or asthma. Also, some municipalities have restricted or outlawed vent-free fireplaces.

Vented gags logs are your best option if you don't care about adding heat, don't plan to use the fireplace often or are mostly interested in how the fire looks. Vented gas-log fireplaces burn more gas than the other types and may draw heat up the chimney, but they cost less to install than a gas insert.

For more information on the best choice for your home and your lifestyle, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

The State

Heating and cooling your home makes up nearly half your utility bill. And it is very cold this winter, so you may be spending even more. Unfortunately, a portion of that expenditure is lost.

While most homeowners know that insulating, patching and weatherizing can reduce heat loss, there is one major energy eater in your home that you may not have considered -- that charming staple of dens, family rooms and anywhere people gather: the fireplace. Add a fireplace insert and make you home more efficient and more beautiful.

Traditional masonry style wood-burning fireplaces are a leading source of indoor air loss and draft, even more so than windows and doors.

Traditional wood fireplaces have a lot of charm, but unfortunately, they can be inefficient even when they aren’t in use.

However, you don’t need to sacrifice your fire this winter to lower your bill -- in fact, it’s possible to convert your fireplace into an energy efficient heat source with the following tips:

• Don’t send your hard earned money up and out the chimney. When your fireplace is not in use, make sure your chimney damper is closed. You may also install a flue sealer, which is an affordable, inflatable stopper that fits below the damper to further seal off the chimney.
• Ensure your chimney and fireplace is inspected, maintained and cleaned annually. A contractor can ensure the job is done safely and thoroughly.
• Add glass fireplace doors or a cover to the front of your fireplace to help reduce the draft and add a nice aesthetic.
• Consider a gas fireplace insert. In addition to lowering your energy bills and generating more radiant heat, they’re cleaner to maintain -- no ash, soot, or smoke -- and are low maintenance, turning on and off with the flip of a switch. Plus, a new insert looks great and uses energy-saving firebox technology to increase efficiency. Learn more about the benefits of a gas fireplace insert by visiting West Sport in Sudbury.
• For those who love the smell, crackle and process of building a real fire, don’t despair. Pellet and EPA-certified wood inserts can be an easy, clean and efficient alternative as well.

In the pursuit of energy-efficiency, don’t say goodbye to the tradition of a burning fire. Instead, give your fireplace a much needed upgrade with fireplace inserts.

For more information on fireplace inserts, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

KMA Land

Many homeowners in the Sudbury, Lexington and Concord area want an easy way to use the fireplace. They have beautiful homes with beautiful open hearths and expansive chimneys that are a real focal point in their living room or great room. But, they don’t want to fuss with logs or lighting a fire. They just want to enjoy their fireplace. Gas logs and glass fireplace doors are the easiest way to do this.

If you are a homeowner that loves your fireplace and hearth for ambiance with heat being an extra advantage, consider switching from wood to gas and adding gas logs and beautiful custom glass fireplace doors.

Gas logs and glass fireplace doors are an easy and beautiful way to use your fireplace. With the flick of a switch you can enjoy a beautiful fire after work or during the next snow storm. Beautifully made custom fireplace doors can enhance the beauty of your hearth and chimney too. Another added advantage is you have so many options when you choose glass doors. You can easily match your décor, making your hearth whatever you want it to be.

Gas logs are hand made from ceramic and very closely resemble real wood burning logs. There are styles of gas logs to meet every style décor and let you experience the beauty and warmth of a wood fire without the hassle of wood.

With custom-made glass fireplace doors you can also dramatically increase the efficiency of your hearth and transform your fire into a work of art while adding efficiency.

For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

The weather is cold and it just keeps snowing. During this type of weather, it is nice to be able to come home and relax in front of a fire. But, who wants to lug firewood, and struggle with lighting a fire. With gas logs and glass fireplace doors, you can have a beautiful fire burning in the fireplace in seconds.

Gas logs burn like a real wood fire. But you don’t have to stack, split and transport firewood. All you have to do to start the fire is push a button on the remote control.  When you are done, turn the fire off with the same flick of a switch.  Gas logs and glass fireplace doors are incredibly convenient.

You may have a traditional open hearth and maybe you are trying to decide how to revamp it and make it more attractive and more efficient. Well, there are many advantages of gas logs in Sudbury.

If you are switching from wood to gas logs,  be sure that you buy the right size log set for your fireplace. If it is too small, the display is not as attractive, if it is too large, the logs don’t sit right within the fireplace and it won’t vent correctly.

Gas logs are hand-made and hand-painted to beautifully replicate real wood. You can decide what style logs you would like and adding custom glass fireplace doors creates a beautiful focal point in your home all year round.  Glass fireplace doors make the fire more efficient, helping the fire to vent correctly, keeping the warm air in your home from going up the chimney and keeping cold air out of your home when the fire is not lit.

When you install gas logs and glass fireplace doors, you will have endless hours of cozy relaxation and ambiance added to your home. And, no more dealing with firewood.

For more information on gas logs and glass fireplace doors, contact West Sport in Sudbury where they are on special all month long!

There is a lot of snow outside, and it is still falling. PLEASE be sure you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home and that they are equipped with back-up batteries.

When the snowfall begins, weather forecasters and emergency management officials talk about the increasingly common threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Weather that causes power outages also often results in reports of carbon monoxide poisoning from gasoline-powered generators and other heating equipment. But mammoth snowfalls also cover and block vehicle exhaust pipes, which can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside the passenger area. And snow buildup on rooftops can block flues and vents, restricting the flow of oxygen to furnaces and water heaters and causing the deadly gas to accumulate inside the home.

Unfortunately, this happens whenever there's a big snowstorm.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas produced by burning fuel without enough oxygen for combustion. It is deadly in large doses.

During heavy snow, be sure to clear snow away from outdoor vents, as well as from your vehicle’s exhaust pipe before starting the engine.  Also, never use outdoor grills and patio heaters indoors. Portable generators should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions, which usually states to use them in open areas that are at least 50 feet away from your home.

Call 911 if you think there is any chance you or a family member has been exposed to carbon monoxide.

The National Weather Service released a list of warnings for snow storms, and guarding against exposure to carbon monoxide from portable generators and heaters is No. 1.

For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Excerpts - baltimoresun.com

There are many advantages of gas fireplace inserts over burning wood. Here a just a few: they are cleaner, safer, and easier, not to mention beautifully made. If you have an open hearth or a wood burning fireplace insert, you may want to convert to gas for any number of reasons. There is an easy solution to converting your wood fireplace to gas, gas fireplace inserts.

Gas fireplace inserts are fireboxes that are inserted into your existing open fireplace. Fireplace inserts often come with a thermostat and/or a remote control. This means they can be turned on with the flick of a switch from the comfort of your couch. This also means that you can set them to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.  These features alone make gas inserts advantageous.

Gas fireplace inserts are also very energy efficient. In fact, new gas fireplace inserts may be even more efficient than your old furnace. Open hearth fireplaces draw the warm air out of your home. Inserts recirculate the warm air back into your home. This makes gas fireplaces very energy and cost efficient.

Another great benefit of gas fireplace inserts is that they are beautifully made and there are many different designs, styles, and colors, to fit any style décor. This makes it easy to add ambiance and a focal point to your living space.  Some inserts have different surround options you can choose from as well.  This makes it easy to change the entire look of your home by adding a fireplace insert to match any style décor.

If you have a wood burning fireplace it is easy to change to the ease, efficiency and safety of gas.  Contact West Sport in Sudbury for more information.

If you are considering adding a fireplace insert to your home, consider the multiple advantages and benefits of wood burning fireplace inserts. Here are just a few of them: efficiency, cleaner burning, and warmer.

A fireplace insert is a specially designed steel firebox that is made to fit into your existing open fireplace. Air from inside your home is drawn into the firebox. The warm air from the fire is then blown back into your home. This is called radiant heat and this is actually one of the advantages of a wood insert. Open fireplaces lose hot air up the chimney, fireplace inserts dramatically improve the efficiency of your hearth. This means that with an insert you will get more heat into your home from an identical fire.

Because fireplace inserts are so much more energy efficient, they improve the efficiency of your entire home. Fires burn hotter in inserts which means you will keep your thermostats lower. Because they burn so efficiently, this means they lessen wood-smoke pollution as well. Because the heat is “radiant heat” wood burning fireplace inserts increase the output of heat into your living area.

If someone in your home has allergies or if you are concerned about indoor air quality, a fireplace insert has the advantage over an open fireplace because it is enclosed. However, inserts are beautifully designed with a full sized glass door, so your view of the roaring fire won’t be comprised.

Wood burning fireplace inserts are also more efficient because they “burn cleaner”. They burn hotter than an open fireplace, which means they get more heat out of every piece of firewood. This means you will save money all around, on firewood and on heating bills.

Besides all of these practical advantages, you have the advantage of design as well. Fireplace inserts often offer design options, so you can coordinate it’s style with your home décor. Surrounds can be beautifully blended with your home to create a focal point in your home all year round adding to your home's personality and comfort.

For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Many homeowners want to either improve the efficiency of their open fireplace or make that fireplace more attractive. Beyond that, they aren’t sure what they want; gas or wood, stove or insert, maybe gas logs or simply add glass fireplace doors.

Wood burning inserts offer convenience, ease of cleaning and style all in one. While wood burning fireplace inserts will add both beauty and heating efficiency to your old, open fireplace, they aren’t for everyone. Gas fireplace inserts are attractive and easy to use, involve less work than wood inserts and can be used as a supplemental heat source if that is what you are looking for.

And, while inserts are beautiful, you don’t have the full ability to reflect your home style and to put your creative juices to good work. Fireplace inserts consist of a firebox and its surround. They are beautifully made, but your only design options are in the color and finish of the door and the surround.

If gas is what your are after for ease and convenience, and if you want to use your fireplace more for ambiance and supplemental heat, you may want to consider gas logs and custom designed glass fireplace doors. Why choose gas logs? Because you can have a realistic fire burning with the touch of a button, no mess, and you can reflect your home through the custom design.

There are many advantages to gas logs and custom fireplace doors over wood. Gas fireplaces are easy to maintain, clean, and use. However, they still give the appearance of a real wood-burning fire. Gas logs and fireplace doors are an accessory that add an artistic appearance to your home while heating your living space.

There is nothing more cheerful than a warm fire burning in the fireplace, and with beautiful glass doors custom designed to enhance your home décor, your home will have a beautiful focal point all year round.

You best bet is to visit West Sport in Sudbury, your local fireplace showroom, to see what best fits your home, your needs and your lifestyle. For more information, contact us.