We hired Penguin Fireplace for a family room renovation centered around upgrading our old fireplace, and we couldn't be happier with the result. We didn't just want a new insert; we needed a complete facelift for the room, and the team absolutely delivered. The project was finished on time, and the new fireplace has completely changed the vibe of our home. If you are looking for a team that is professional, communicative, and truly skilled at what they do, I highly recommend Penguin Fireplace. Thank you to the whole team for a job well done! read more

Penguin Fireplace - After - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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Detail oriented, utterly perfect in execution, and on time. Not the cheapest job I've had done but reasonably priced all in. Would absolutely choose them again. Like many customers I wanted to put a TV over a fireplace without it being too high off the ground as this makes for an unpleasant viewing experience. One way to do this is to use the "cool wall" type of installation, which lets you locate a TV right above the fireplace, but this requires building a chase into the room - and the particular room we have is too small for this to be a good idea. I also did not want to use one of the mantle mount options for our TV because that would also bring the TV into the room when lowering it for use which would thereby also reduce the size of the room in front of the TV. So we had a bit of a conundrum. But penguin showed us some options, which allowed us to get our TV low enough without using a mantel mount or a chase at all. Specifically, they showed us an insert that you could put directly on a concrete floor and a noncombustible mantle which you could locate just a few inches over the fireplace opening without risking fire safety. (As a point of comparison, locating a typical combustible mantle above a fireplace requires strictly specified minimum distance, which in effect leads to a much much higher minimum TV installation height..) We also went with a custom surround, which makes the gas insert that we went with look a lot bigger, and also a good proportion for the space that we have... And the design of the insert itself makes it look a whole lot deeper and wider than it actually is by using reflective glass. I'm really pleased with how this turned out. For the wall tile, I'd always had a dream of doing board form concrete and penguin did a fantastic job installing it. This is a fiberglass reinforced concrete veneer product I got from Wall Theory in the color "natural gray." It's worth mentioning that I visited another store that did not think of the options we went with, which left me scratching my head as I stared at a pile of catalogs that they shared instead. Go with Penguin. read more

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Five stars is not enough! I would give Penguin Fireplace many more stars. We started looking for a fireplace insert almost a year ago. Penguin was the most impressive of all the companies. Eric helped us select a Mendota Fire-in unit. It was the most beautiful and realistic of the all the inserts. However, we were concerned about reports on the internet of an awful smell produced by the unit. It turns out that there is a burn-off period, however Gladys, the manager, offered to do the 'burn-off' in their showroom. No kidding! They installed the unit in their showroom and burned it for 3+ weeks so when the insert was installed in our home there was no odor at all. Penguin went above and beyond in terms of customer service! Now that the insert is installed the fireplace is absolutely stunning. It looks like a real fire but without the smoke, the dust or the soot. This Mendota unit is a high-end insert and it has an all the bells and whistles. And it is not only beautiful, the Mendota insert is highly functional. The fireplace heats our entire family room and kitchen area so effectively that we will no longer use our furnace. We cannot recommend Penguin Fireplace more highly. If you are considering a fireplace insert, you need to visit Penguin Fireplace. They are the best!! read more

Penguin Fireplace - Zoe loves her new fireplace insert. Look at that beautiful fire!! - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

My husband and I had a great time working with Penguin Fireplace. Enrique and Miguel did an awesome job installing a gas fireplace and built in bookcase which was similar to a photo I saw online. They worked hard and the project was done in a month. Good people, good ethics, and my husband who is very detailed, was satisfied with their work. Gladys worked with us on our budget which we appreciated; they also answered our questions timely. We are so glad we chose Penguin fireplace to install this new addition! Highly recommend read more

Penguin Fireplace - Old fireplace - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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What a lovely experience, working with Penguin Fireplace! The people we worked with, from Gladys to Eric to Charles, offered great service and care for their customers. We now have a beautiful addition to our living room--one for which Penguin pulled out all the stops to install before Christmas! We recommend them very, very highly. Molly and Chuck Fumia read more

Penguin Fireplace cleaned up my fireplace and restored the flame height without replacing any parts. The technician, Ben, showed up on time and finished the job within an hour. Ben also told me the flame can be adjusted w/ a remote control. Well, I probably wouldn't bother with that. Winter is their prime time. I waited for 3 weeks for them to come out. So next time don't procrastinate I supposed. read more

Booked Penguin Fireplace, they arrived on time, and were able to resolve our issue quickly (2 fireplaces did not want to turn on). read more

Penguin Fireplace - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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The manager , Gladys , was very nice n she even helped me find another way of having our fireplace fixed since they didn't do heat n GLO . Wish everyone in the service industry would do this . Much appreciated Gladys and thank you for being very up front about better to find somebody who is experienced . read more

Great response time Excellent guidance in design and selection. Outstanding craftsmanship of fireplace mantle. Thorough review of operation and monthly testing. Their schedule was so busy we had to wait a few months to slot in our project but well worth the wait. No wonder they're so busy! read more

Penguin Fireplace - Old ugly brick fireplace - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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If you need an old gas fireplace worked on, this is the place to call. From my first contact by phone, Gladys was very nice and found me an appointment during the busiest time of year. My fireplace has been worked on before, but it has never looked so clean and the flames are beautiful. The repairman took his time and was very nice. I highly recommend Penguin! read more

Technician performed a cleaning on my 8 yr old Mendota fireplace. It works like new again! Thank you for the easy transaction.

We had a wonderful experience working with Gladys at Penguin Fireplace! She was extremely responsive to all of our questions and concerns. The installers were punctual and very competent. Enrique, the primary installer, is an expert in all aspects of the installation and did a beautiful craftsman-like job. We are loving the looks and especially the warmth that our new fireplace insert provides. Thank you, Penguin!! read more

Penguin Fireplace - New fireplace wall with Mendota gas insert. - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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We had a 30-year-old insert that needed to be replaced, but unfortunately, when it was removed there was a huge hole left in the stone... So Sean at Penguin had a great idea to create a hearth. I worked with an outside vendor to mill a piece of Absolute Black granite to size. It slid perfectly into place and looks like it's part of the insert itself. We could not be happier with the final result. Sean, and his whole team, have been an absolute pleasure to work with during this entire project - highly recommend!! read more

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Verbal Assurances vs. Outrageous Hidden Fees Sales manager repeatedly emphasized their customer service and assured us they'd "stand by us if any issues arose." When we needed to exchange our fireplace for a smaller size due to structural issues, the reality was very different. While they do have a 35% restocking fee buried in fine print (which we missed), we would NEVER have agreed to such an outrageous fee if we'd seen it. We relied on their verbal assurances about customer service. Instead, they wanted 50% - even more than their already unreasonable 35% policy. No good faith effort, no flexibility despite their promises, and fees that are designed to trap customers into keeping unsuitable products. Warning: Their verbal promises are meaningless, and their restocking fees are designed to make returns impossible. Read every word and consider if you're comfortable with potentially losing 35%+ of your money. Look elsewhere for honest dealing. read more

Don't even bother with the others. This is why Penguin has high ratings. I've serviced my own fireplaces over the years so I do know a bit about them. These guys know their tech "AND" customer service. Highly recommended. read more

The electric fireplace they recommend is amazing! With the quality of the product and the amazing attention to detail of the installation... wouldn't go anywhere else ! read more

Penguin Fireplace - Electric fireplace - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

Charles from Penguin Fireplace did an excellent job reinstalling our gas insert. We had some stonework done by a different company and they had moved the fireplace out of alignment. Charles was able to come when I was available. He was efficient, knowledgeable, and prepared. Once he got into the firebox itself, he saw what a poor job of installation the original installers did 15+ years ago when we originally had the fireplace installed (initial installation was NOT Penguin). Charles made sure things were done right and he checked everything to make sure it was clean, safe, and properly installed. He even helped set up the new remote that I had purchased. If you need any fireplace work or are interested in quality people, reach out to Penguin. They were awesome!! Photos are of the leveling structure that Charles installed. read more

Penguin Fireplace - leveling platform - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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Penguins are the best in this business! Very responsive. Gladys attended to my needs promptly. Charles the boss man called shortly after. Resolved my issue over the phone. These guys are not about the money but customer service and satisfaction. I am retaining them for a year just to have my 2 gas fireplaces in order. read more

We haven't used our house's wood burning fireplace ever. I'd wanted a gas insert & Penguin really delivered. The gas line was routed by a plumber they recommended & the installation was seamless and done considerately, with care.. We are loving the insert, especially the cat! It looks lovely, the heat it produces is terrific and without the hassle of smoke & firewood. I would highly recommend Penguin Fireplace for their expertise, knowledge & making the installation process as easy as possible. read more

Starting a fireplace remodel with Penguin. Includes fireplace refacing and side cabinets as well as coordinating with home AV installion.I will post my review on completion read more

Penguin Fireplace has done an excellent job servicing my fireplace. The ignition unit was corroded, and Gladys Caballero was patient in guiding me to find the unit model number. The part was ordered, and Ben arrived today to install the new ignition and conduct basic maintenance on the fireplace. I am enjoying a cozy fire as I write this and giving thanks to Gladys and Ben. Thanks, Penguin Fireplace! read more

Penguin Fireplace - Perfect! - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

I cannot recommend Penguin Fireplace highly enough! We purchased a Mendota insert from Penguin and we also had them do the labor on our fireplace remodel. Gladys, Efrain, and Enrique were all amazing. Gladys was kind, and super patient, taking the time to answer my questions and allowing me time to process, decide and prepare. And I took lots of time, like months and months to decide, and then many more months to get the gas line put into place. She respectfully kept checking back in and did not make me feel rushed or pressured. The work men were prompt- showing up when they were supposed to (having just remodeled a bathroom and dealt with a major repiping job with other contractors, who did NOT show up on time, this was huge, and greatly appreciated!), and they went above and beyond. Enrique is truly a skilled craftsman and an artist, with phenomenal attention to detail. He installed the float on the bricks for my fireplace meticulously, and installed the tiles absolutely PERFECTLY, given that these are an irregular curved shape, this was not an easy job. Enrique works with precision and exquisite detail. We ran into issues with the tile manufacturer and Penguin worked around someone else's issues and continued to take excellent care of us and of our job. And the insert, SWOON! Couldn't have come at a better time. Lots of home time. Lots of family time. And our living room has become the cosy hang out center of our home. Our teen is doing her covid home schooling by the fireplace, the dogs are lazying around and sleeping by the fireplace. We read, play games, watch moves, all by our new and very cherished gas insert. We love the controls, the ability to adjust the flames and to adjust the blower. Do not skip the blower, it's worth it! You want to be able to push that warmth out and across the room. We haven't played with the thermostat much, but we will. Everyone was great about mask wearing. I originally found Penguin here on Yelp. I don't tend to write many reviews, but It's really a pleasure to come back and review them. We did look at other fireplace stores, and I'm so glad we ended up choosing Penguin. Small, family owned, local business. Excellent! read more

Penguin Fireplace - After - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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Penguin (especially Charles, the principal installer - conscientious, knowledgeable, and pleasant) did an excellent job installing our new Valor G3 gas insert. I highly recommend them. read more

Penguin Fireplace provides a quality product and exemplary service. I purchased a Regency electric fireplace to replace a gas fireplace. Once the existing fireplace was removed, there were some unexpected challenges that the company overcame with amazing teamwork. I was impressed that the owner even assisted. Every concern was addressed and handled to my satisfaction, even sending out one of the team to assist with installing the app on my phone and general operation of the unit. I love this fireplace and think it will add great value to my home. read more

Another year gone by, lots of use, and time for the annual maintenance. I always feel better once this gets done. Everything cleaned, batteries replaced, receiver antenna repositioned. Thank you. I have now had my Valor Gas Insert for 7 years! read more

Great service from Penguin today servicing our gas fireplace unit and getting it back up and running. The tech showed up early in the two hour window, assessed the issue at hand, and was able to resolve it quickly. He was friendly, polite, and knowledgeable. Highly recommended. read more

We have been warm and cozy all winter thanks to Penguin Fireplace. The staff was so helpful when we visited and helped us pick out the best fireplace unit for our space. We purchased the Modern Flames electric fireplace insert. When the insert arrived, it was installed by Efrain, the owner of the company, and Charles. They were fast and did a beautiful job, cleaning up the old gas line to our existing gas log set, and sealing the chimney flue. We didn't need them anymore because our beautiful electric insert was clean, efficient, and without any combustion needs. The customer service we received has been the best from start to finish. No request or question was too much for Penguin. Thank you Penguin read more

I recentl y had a gas insert fireplace put into the firebox of a wood burning fireplace. The new unit provides a lot of heat, looks great and the experience with Penguin was truly 5 Star. The people are great, do professional work and are competitively priced. I highly recommend them. read more

UPDATED REVIEW, as of 11/20/23 I've had semi-frequent problems with my Valor G4 fireplace, in the 7 years since it was installed. My problems always occur at the start of winter, when trying to ignite the pilot flame. The recurring theme seems to be thermocouple failure, which is the device that detects the pilot light and allows gas to continue flowing after ignition. The response from Efrain and his team at Penguin Fireplace has been very good, with 3-4 service visits since my purchase/installation in 2016. They have worked effectively with the manufacturer (Valor) for warranty coverage of the parts, beyond the standard coverage period. I have experienced recent problems again, when trying to ignite the pilot at the start of winter. One issue was due to a fragile (broken) wire in the remote control, which I diagnosed and fixed myself. I also needed to have the thermocouple replaced (again), and they were very responsive and my fireplace is working again. The one question that lacks clarity is why my fireplace continues to have recurring issues every few years. The answer to this has been elusive, but Penguin Fireplace has made good efforts to seek this answer from the manufacturer, so far to no avail. I'm giving Penguin Fireplace 4 stars, primarily for the responsiveness and how most of the cost (of parts) has been covered under warranty. The bulk of my dissatisfaction can be traced to the fireplace itself, primarily in the reliability (complexity) of the design and less-than-stellar user interface/diagnostics. If I was to independently rate the product, it would be 2-3 stars. read more

I'm truly impressed with Penguin Fireplace's customer service. After my contractor dropped the ball on finishing installation of our Calcana gas patio heaters, our retailer recommended Penguin for our service area. Charles Mercer was knowledgeable and very responsive. He scheduled us for service promptly at a fair price. Service technician Ben arrived on time, was courteous, and did great work. After he left, I had a concern about some smoke initially burning off from the heaters on startup, so Charles quickly responded and Ben returned in minutes to check to make sure everything was installed properly. (It was - there was some oil applied at the factory that had to burn off). Highly recommended. read more

Finished two fireplaces. Working with Penguin is very smooth. I didn't realize there were so many details to consider and Eric gave a lot of suggestions. There was a vent which I didn't want but they installed by mistake but they were proactively willing to fix it. read more

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My wife and I loved our experience with Penguin Fireplace for our gas fireplace replacement and remodel. Notable highlights: 1. Sales: patient and responsive communication Eric Jaramillo did an excellent job educating us on what to consider for our fireplace purchase. As first-time buyers, we needed many, many rounds of Q&A before deciding--and Eric was very patient and helpful in answering our questions (including connecting us to a Mendota rep directly at one point for faster detailed advice). I especially appreciated how responsive Eric was via email and text. He typically responded within one business day, and often within just a few hours. 2. Installation: top-notch technical expertise Unfortunately, we ran into a major technical difficulty with installing the direct vent pipe for the Mendota model we chose, due to our three-floor townhouse layout. I was on the verge of giving up and switching to a different fireplace model. But Charles Mercer reassured us with his confidence that he would figure out a solution ("Don't worry, we can handle problems like this. It's what makes our job interesting!"). It took a bit of time (Charles had to get someone to make a custom connector part)--but Charles and his team delivered! They successfully devised a solution that worked well, without compromising safety or performance. And at no extra cost to us. Charles was fantastic in explaining all the technical details to me. He communicated everything very clearly, in terms that a non-expert like me could understand. I appreciated how he kept me apprised and engaged throughout the whole process. 3. Follow-up service: great attention to customer satisfaction A couple weeks after the fireplace was installed, it started failing to ignite. But I was very pleased with the level of support that Penguin provided. They sent out a technician (Ben) quickly to investigate, and fixed the issue after procuring a replacement circuit board. Ben also readily took care of a bunch of small cosmetic issues at my request. The entire customer service experience was very pleasant, attentive, and fast. ---- Overall, I would definitely recommend Penguin Fireplace. While there were a few understandable hiccups and delays, their team provided impeccable service through it all. Of course, we don't buy fireplaces frequently--but if I were in the market again, I'd go to Penguin first for sure. read more

Penguin Fireplace - Before & after: fireplace replacement and renovation (newly installed model: Mendota FV34 Arch) - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

Love my insert it was done beautifully. Took out the gas fireplace and put in the electric. Shipping was slow but that's not the stores fault . The insert is simply beautiful. I made sure all workers were insured and licensed. They had no problem with giving me info . Some places did ! read more

Quick ability to book appointment. Arrived in window of time given. Quick, clean and knowledgeable service. Pleasant service person. Service call was $250 which included correcting the issue with the pilot light. read more

I highly recommend this place. I got rid of my ancient log fireplace and replaced it with an electric heater. It's sleek modern and really matches our newly renovated house. Thank you Gladys for being responsive professional and fair with the price and services read more

Penguin Fireplace - Finished product - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

Loved that Penguin Fireplace was able to come within a week of scheduling over the phone. The technician was punctual, professional, and thorough. We presented the symptoms of our 15+ year old gas fireplace that was having trouble staying lit, and their team was able to identify and fix the root cause within the hour upon arrival. I appreciated the thoughtfulness in the level of cleanliness they carried. With COVID, everyone wore a mask indoors, and shoes were kept by the door. A protective blanket was used to cover the front of the fireplace while repairs were being done, to collect any fallen debris. Would recommend their services to anyone. read more

Ben from Penguin Fireplace came out to look at my Heat N Glo propane fireplace that had not been used in some years due to a gas leak and a few other items. Ben found the leak quickly, fixed that and a few other things he found, and was in and out in a hour! On time, on budget, everything works. I'm happy! read more

Penguin Fireplace - Flames actually work now! - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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I just want to start my review by saying this - these guys are AMAZING. They are true craftsmen. They can do it all - beautiful tile work, framing, drywall, wall texture, a new gas line, and even a custom mantel. I wanted to remodel my fireplace, and figured putting in an insert was the best option, but honestly, the driver in doing this was really getting rid of the 1980's tile and ugly design that was there. I went into the store, and they had a nice display of options. I talked briefly with the lady that was working there, and set up an appointment to meet with Effrain, the owner, at my house so he could look at the fireplace and see if what I wanted done, could be done. They charge for this, but I think that is fair. and reasonable for taking the owners time. When Effrain came out, I showed him a picture of how I wanted it to look and he said he could do it. I was kind of surprised, but I decided to trust him and go with it. He seemed great - knowledgable and honest. I ordered the insert and it took 3 weeks to arrive, so we didn't start the demolition until it arrived. Once the project got underway, I couldn't believe how professional and skilled the crew was. They cleaned up every night, they asked great questions to make sure it looked the way I wanted and the fireplace turned out perfect. I would recommend Penguin Fireplace to anyone - no matter how small or large your project is to update your fireplace. read more

Penguin Fireplace - Before and After - goodbye 80's tile! The new look is in line with the 1930's Spanish style of the house. - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

I do not do many reviews, This company deserves all 5 stars from the first phone call to the finish of our project (Mendota) what a difference with it on or off, Adds so much beauty and function to our family room. Thank you and your crew for working with us and making this project complete. Thank you, Bill & Cynthia D. read more

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Penguin Fireplace. From the first time I contacted them via e-mail in September 2022 to the completion today in February 2023, the customer service has been exemplary. The sales manager, Gladys, was ALWAYS responsive to my e-mails. She walked me through the entire process and helped me patiently and expertly. She helped me schedule the project and made sure the design team knew what I wanted. The proposal quote was very reasonable and fair. Efrain came out to my house shortly before the fireplace remodel was to begin and answered all my questions. Efrain and Enrique did a marvelous job. Totally trust worththy, hardworking , and talented at their job. Absolutely recommend this company. I couldn't be happier with the results. read more

Penguin Fireplace - After fireplace remodel. - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

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