Straight answers from a fireplace specialist — not a call center.

Direct-vent fireplaces pull air from outside and send exhaust back out through a sealed pipe. They're the homeowner favorite: realistic flames, safe for almost any room, and no indoor air-quality worries. You lose a little heat up the vent, but you gain the look and the flexibility.

Vent-free units burn cleaner-than-you'd-think gas with no chimney, so nearly all the heat stays in the room — great for warmth. The trade-off is smaller flames and rules about where they can go (see the bedroom question below).

On a free in-home consultation we'll look at your space and tell you honestly which one fits — not just which one we'd rather sell.

Direct-vent: yes — because it's sealed and vents outside, it's generally fine for bedrooms and other enclosed spaces.

Vent-free logs and fireplaces: no — they release exhaust into the room, so they are not allowed in bedrooms or enclosed spaces like bathrooms, and some towns restrict them further. We'll always check your local code before we recommend anything.

Getting the size right matters for both looks and safety — logs that are too big crowd the firebox and can overheat the valve; too small and they look lost. Before you shop, measure your fireplace opening in four places:

• Front width (across the front opening)
• Back width (across the back wall — fireplaces taper)
• Depth (front to back)
• Opening height

Bring us those numbers — or let us measure on a free visit — and we'll match you to a set that fits and burns safely.

Gas wins on heat. A gas log set can put out roughly three times the warmth of a comparable electric unit, and it keeps working when the power goes out. Electric is easy and low-maintenance but is really about ambiance, not heating a room — and it's useless in an outage. We install both, so we'll steer you by what you actually want the fireplace to do.

We install and service Majestic, Astria, White Mountain Hearth, Montigo, Monessen, and Real Fyre — plus essentially anything from Ray Murray's catalog. That's a far wider selection than the single-brand outfits around here, so you're matched to the right unit instead of the only one on the shelf.

Once a year. An annual service and cleaning keeps the flame burning efficiently, catches worn parts before they fail, and confirms everything is venting and sealing the way it should. Our annual service starts at $175 — and if you're on our Hearth Care Plan, it's built in along with priority scheduling.

Yes — this is exactly what we do. Pilot lights, thermocouples and thermopiles, remotes and receivers, gas valves, glass, ignition — our certified technicians diagnose and repair it. Our diagnostic call is $100, and you'll get upfront pricing on the fix before we start. (If you're on the Hearth Care Plan, that diagnostic fee is waived.)

We do. A gas fireplace safety inspection checks your gas connections, venting, seals, and clearances so you can light the first fire of the season with peace of mind. It's the kind of thing that's easy to put off — which is why it's included in the Hearth Care Plan with an annual reminder so it never slips.

If you smell gas: don't flip switches or light anything, get everyone outside, and call your gas utility from a safe distance. If it's a true leak, they come first.

For fireplace and gas-appliance gas emergencies, we do answer after hours — call (252) 349-5878. To be straight with you: we're a local family shop, so we're not a 24/7 line for every kind of repair — but a gas safety issue is something we take seriously and respond to.

New gas fireplaces start around $1,500 installed and go up from there depending on the unit, venting, and gas work involved. Rather than guess, we give you an exact, upfront price on a free in-home consultation — no surprises once the work starts.

• Annual service & cleaning: from $175
• Diagnostic call: $100 (waived for Hearth Care Plan members)
• Gas log sets: from $800
• Repairs: quoted upfront after diagnosis — you approve the price first

Yes — financing is available on new fireplace installations, so you can enjoy it this season and pay over time. Ask us for the details when we come out.

We come to you. A free in-home consultation means you see your options, we take real measurements, and you get a real price — right at the hearth where the fireplace is going. No driving around, no showroom pressure. We can also show you video of units we've installed so you know exactly what you're getting.

We serve New Bern and the greater Crystal Coast. We're fastest along the Highway 70 corridor between New Bern and Beaufort — often same-day — with the outer towns typically following within a day or two. Tell us where you are and we'll give you an honest window.

No — and that's the point. Wayne's is a family business that's served North Carolina for three generations. When you call, you get a local specialist who'll be here next year too, not a rotating crew from out of town. White-glove service, upfront pricing, and yes — we're pet friendly.