Fireplaces & hearth
Fireplaces in Montgomery County, MD — and how to pick the right one
Choosing a fireplace shouldn’t require a degree in combustion. This page is the map: six routes to a fire, what each one asks of the house, and which brands we carry for it. Start here, go straight to the one that fits, and we’ll put two or three units and a written quote in front of you.
Get a free fireplace consultation
Send a photo of your fireplace or the wall
We’ll tell you what fits, what it needs, and what it would cost — no showroom visit.
Boyds, Maryland
The right fireplace,
not the biggest one
Most people who call us don’t know yet whether they need gas, wood, or electric — or whether an insert would fix the fireplace they already have. That’s the conversation we’re good at. We look at the room, the venting options, and your budget, narrow it to two or three units that genuinely fit, and put the quote in writing. Not sure which of the three suits your house? We compared gas vs wood vs electric for Montgomery County homes — heat output, venting, permits, and what each one costs to run. And each route below has its own page with the brands, the sizes and the decisions that belong to it.
Six routes to a fire
Where to start
Which one applies is usually decided by the house, not by taste: whether there’s a chimney, whether gas reaches the room, and how deep the wall is. Each page below says plainly what its route needs.
Gas fireplaces
Flip a switch, get a flame. Vents through an exterior wall with no chimney, and has more model choice than wood or electric. Most of what we sell.
Wood-burning fireplaces
Real fire, real crackle, and heat that keeps working when the power doesn’t. Needs a Class A chimney, seasoned wood, and some attention.
Fireplace inserts
Slides into the masonry opening you already have and turns it into a sealed, efficient unit. The usual answer to a fireplace that looks nice and heats nothing.
Electric fireplaces
No venting, no gas line, usually no permit. Right for condos, bedrooms and offices — supplemental heat rather than a furnace.
Outdoor fireplaces
Gas and wood units built for the weather, from a 36-inch firebox in a stone face to six feet of linear flame on a covered patio.
Gas logs
The shortest distance between an unused masonry fireplace and a fire this evening — vented or vent-free sets, with the heat trade-off explained.
Not sure which of the six applies to your house? Tell us what’s there now — a chimney, a gas line, or a blank wall — and we’ll say which routes are open to you and which are closed, before you fall in love with a model.
Ask which one fitsWhat you get from a specialist, not a big-box aisle
Brands we carry
The hearth brands
we know inside out
Regency and Majestic are two of the most established hearth names in North America, with deep lines across gas, wood, and electric — and Superior, Escea, Ironhaus, Real Fyre, Modern Flames and Monessen cover what those two don’t. We know the model ranges, venting, and cut-out specs well enough to save you a second visit. And the list above isn’t the limit: if you have something specific in mind, ask before you order elsewhere — we can source most major brands.
Gas and wood fireplaces, inserts, and freestanding stoves built for real heat and clean lines.
Gas fireplaces and inserts for new builds and remodels, from traditional to linear.
Gas, wood, electric, and outdoor fireplaces for new construction and remodels — value across a whole build.
Flexible venting for rooms with no chimney, and clearances that let a TV sit right above the glass.
Hand-forged custom doors, made to your opening — the least disruptive way to change an old fireplace.
Want a fire before the cold sets in? Hearth stock moves daily through the fall. Tell us the month you’d like it working and which route you’re leaning toward, and we’ll say what is realistic.
Ask about timingHow it works
From first photo
to first fire
We sell and advise. We don’t install — hearth and gas work is licensed, regulated, and belongs with specialists.
Not sure your wall can take a gas fireplace? Send us a photo — we’ll tell you.
Good to know
Fireplace questions we hear every week
Can I convert my wood fireplace to gas?
Usually, yes — with a gas insert if you want the room to get warm, or a gas log set if you mainly want the look. It’s one of the most common projects we see.
How much does a fireplace cost?
There’s no honest single number, and anyone who gives you one over the phone is guessing. Three things set it, and the unit is usually the smallest of them: the appliance, the venting run, and the finish work around the opening. All three depend on the wall you actually have, which is why we’d rather look at a photo and put real numbers in writing than hand you a range that turns out to be wrong. Nothing is ordered until you’ve seen the figure.
Do you sell replacement parts?
Yes, for the brands we carry. Tell us the model and serial number.
Do I need a permit?
Yes for gas and wood, and they go to different places: WSSC Water handles gas appliance permits and inspections in Montgomery County, DPS handles venting, structural work and wood. Your installer files them, but plan for it in the timeline. Electric units usually don’t need one. Here is which agency issues a fireplace permit in Montgomery County, what the fees run, and how long it takes.
How long does it take?
Most units arrive in under two weeks, and Regency is usually about a week — but stock moves daily, so we check before promising a date. Fall is peak season: add permit and installer scheduling on top of the lead time, and order early if you want the fireplace working this winter.
My gas fireplace is acting up. Do you fix those?
We don’t do service calls, but we can usually tell you what you’re dealing with and who to call for it. Start with what to check when a gas fireplace won’t light, or why a gas fireplace smells on the first fire of the season.
Do you install? Who is responsible for the installation?
We don’t install — Jesse isn’t a licensed contractor. We line up an installer we’ve worked with, lock in their price before you order, then hand you the details. We take nothing for the installation: that contract is between you and them. We stay involved on specs, delivery, and hand-off.
Can I see units in person?
We don’t have a showroom, but we can direct you to nearby manufacturer displays for the models you’re considering.
Which areas do you serve?
We sell and specify fireplaces, inserts, and stoves across Montgomery County, Maryland — Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Poolesville, and Darnestown, and nearby communities. We’re based in Boyds, work by appointment, and don’t have a showroom: we come to the house, or work from your photos and plans. Not sure you’re in range? Ask and we’ll tell you straight.
From a customer
What our customers say
I had an outstanding experience with Hearthbeats! I reached out looking for a solution for my vent-free fireplace, and Jesse’s knowledge and expertise were immediately clear. He walked me through the options and recommended replacing it with a Twilight indoor/outdoor fireplace that vents safely outside — the perfect upgrade I didn’t even know existed. The new fireplace is absolutely beautiful and adds a luxury feel to both our living room and our deck area.
Free consultation
Tell us about your fireplace project
A photo of the existing fireplace or the wall, rough measurements, and whether you have gas — that’s enough to start. We’ll come back with two or three units that fit and a written quote.
Prefer to talk? Call 240-988-9177 · Serving Montgomery County, MD · By appointment