I waited nearly a year to write this review because I wanted to give United Brick & Fire every…read moreopportunity to make things right. Unfortunately, after months of unanswered concerns and failed attempts to resolve serious issues, it is clear they have no intention of doing so.
When my husband and I built our dream home, we envisioned a beautiful wood-burning fireplace that would help heat both levels of the house. Our builder recommended United Brick & Fire (UBAF) for the purchase and installation.
While we weren't impressed with their limited selection, Nate recommended their largest and most expensive wood-burning unit based on its heating capabilities. During planning discussions, we specifically explained that we wanted to distribute the heat throughout the home, particularly to the basement. Nate told us the fireplace could be tied into the HVAC system to distribute heat throughout the house. This was a major selling point for us, as we hoped to reduce heating costs by relying on wood heat.
The problems started before we even used the fireplace. The gas fireplace UBAF installed in our basement arrived with a dirty interior. When a technician came to inspect it, he blamed us and suggested it was caused by a TV mounted above it, even though it had been dirty since move-in day. He also repeatedly directed questions to my husband, implying I wasn't capable of discussing issues with my own home.
When we finally tested the wood-burning fireplace, it wouldn't operate properly. Fires went out when the doors were closed, and smoke filled the living room when they were open. After researching the issue, we discovered the fresh air intake had been installed with a 4-inch pipe instead of the required 6-inch pipe. UBAF initially insisted we were using the fireplace incorrectly, but after inspecting it, they confirmed the installation error. Correcting it required cutting into the drywall in our newly finished master bedroom, creating a significant mess and additional inconvenience.
Once that issue was fixed, we discovered an even bigger problem. The promised HVAC connection for distributing heat throughout the home didn't exist. After months of trying to figure out how to make it work, we learned from our HVAC contractor that they had been specifically instructed not to connect the fireplace to the HVAC system because it would be unsafe. We were never told this.
Even worse, we later learned that connecting a fireplace like this to an HVAC system is not permitted in Wisconsin and should never have been suggested in the first place.
The manufacturer also informed us that this fireplace is intended for rooms of approximately 1,000 square feet or larger. Our main living area is only about 500 square feet. UBAF had our blueprints, measurements, and full knowledge of the space, yet still recommended this unit.
As a result, the fireplace makes our living room unbearably hot, often exceeding 95 degrees, while the basement remains cold. We've had to modify our HVAC system and install an additional thermostat just to maintain comfortable temperatures in our children's bedrooms. Ultimately, the fireplace we spent more than $20,000 on is effectively unusable and has become nothing more than an expensive decoration.
We trusted UBAF's expertise to recommend and properly install a fireplace suitable for our home. Instead, we experienced installation mistakes, misleading information, and a complete lack of accountability. After nearly a year of trying to work with them, they have largely stopped responding.
