Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we hear most about buying a fireplace, stove, or insert—fuel types, installation, financing, and seeing it all in person.
Shopping at Champs
What to expect when you shop with us—and why folks come see the showroom first.
Do you install everything you sell?
Yes. We’re a full-service shop—we sell, deliver, and install every fireplace, stove, insert, and gas log set in our showroom, and our own team handles the work start to finish. We’ve been family-run since 2001, and we don’t hand your install off to someone else.
Can I see fireplaces burning before I buy?
Absolutely—and we’d encourage it. Our Queensbury showroom has working displays so you can watch the flame and feel the heat before you decide. Seeing one lit in person tells you more than any spec sheet.
What’s the difference between a fireplace, an insert, and a stove?
A fireplace is built into the wall, a stove is freestanding and sits on a hearth pad, and an insert slides into an existing open fireplace to seal it up and make it efficient. Any of the three can run on gas, wood, electric, or pellet. Not sure which fits your space? We’ll walk you through it at the showroom.
Choosing the Right Fireplace
Sorting out fuel, heat, and what actually fits your home.
Gas, wood, electric, or pellet—how do I choose?
It comes down to how you want to live with it. Gas is the most convenient—flip a switch and you’ve got flame. Wood gives you the richest fire and keeps working when the power’s out. Electric installs almost anywhere with no venting. Pellet is hands-off, thermostat-steady heat. Tell us about your space and we’ll point you to the right fit—browse what we carry to start.
Will a fireplace actually heat my room, or is it just for looks?
The right unit is real heat, not just ambiance. Direct-vent gas fireplaces, inserts, and stoves are built to warm a room—or a whole home—efficiently, and many keep going when the grid goes down, which matters once a Northway winter sets in. We’ll size one to your space so it actually does the job.
What’s the difference between vented and vent-free gas logs?
Vented log sets give you the tallest, most realistic flame; vent-free sets put more heat into the room. Which is right depends on your fireplace and how you plan to use it. We carry one of the area’s largest selections—see the gas logs and we’ll help you sort it out.
Buying, Installing & Financing
From the old unit out to the new one lit—how the job goes.
Do you remove my old fireplace or insert?
Yes—when we put in a new unit, hauling out and disposing of the old one is part of the job. You don’t have to deal with it.
How long does installation take?
Once we’ve sized the right unit, our own crew handles the install. Most gas and electric jobs wrap up quickly; wood units and masonry work can take longer. We’ll give you a clear timeline when we quote your project—no surprises.
Do you offer financing?
We do—financing lets you spread the cost out instead of paying all at once. You can apply right from our site, and we’re glad to talk options at the showroom.
How do I get a price?
The quickest way is our online estimate—answer a few questions about your space and we’ll send pricing on the units that fit. Or stop by the Queensbury showroom and we’ll put it together with you.
Still Have a Question?
Get an instant estimate online, or answer a few quick questions and we’ll find the fireplace that fits your home. Family-run since 2001.