I replaced my old wood burning fireplace with a gas insert by Penguin Fireplace. I am very satisfied with the work they have done. Gladys was so helpful and knowledgeable and had helped me throughout the entire process, from selecting the fireplace to installation. The installers were prompt, courteous, and professional. My family loves the new fireplace. Thanks Gladys and her team. read more

They installed my fireplace several years ago and did it not following the manufacturer's recommendation of not installing the remote receiver under the fireplace. Since then it has never really worked correctly. The manufacturer won't even deal with me because they say the fireplace was installed incorrectly. Not only will the manufacturer deal with me but the manufacturer has told other dealers of the Mendota fireplace not to come out to my house to work on it because it was installed incorrectly. Penguin has offered me a substantial discount on another stove in their store. read more

How refreshing it is to know that there is a retail fireplace store in the Bay Area that really cares about their customers and the service they offer. After going through some major negative experiences with a local fireplace retailer I stumbled accross Penguin. To our surprise they took their time, educated me the buyer on all options and made it real easy for me to purchase the unit that serves me and my family. They are all true professionals and I would highly recommend them to anyone considering this type of investment into their home. read more

I selected Penguin based on other reviews here. While we got off to a bumpy start based on what the initial quote included, once accepted and arranged it was all smooth sailing. The team was communicative, showed up on time, were courteous, but most importantly created the EXACT fireplace we had described. I highly recommend their craftsmanship both on the tiling and woodwork. A perfect result. read more

Penguin Fireplace is GREAT!!! We decided to convert our fireplace to gas and we went over to Penguin to explore the idea just because they were close to our house. But when we talked to Big Al we decided to go ahead with the project because he was very informative and helpful and the choices were lovely. Penguin recommended a fantastic plumber who installed our gas line just a few days later and Penguin sent someone to measure that same day. We thought we might have to wait a couple of weeks for the insert but it came right away. It was installed today about ten days from the day we first stepped foot in Penguin Fireplace. The installers were prompt, really knew what they were doing and they worked so clean that when they left you'd never know they had been here. Not only that, our house is very old so the standard frame was a teeny bit small, but somehow they made it look perfect. Over the years, we've done lots of remodeling and home improvement. I don't think I have EVER done any kind of household project that went as quickly and smoothly as this one. read more

Excellent service, professionalism, and quality. I had my fireplace insert ordered and installed by this company and i am impressed by the quality of their work and service. Definitely recommend this company. read more

I am very happy with my new fireplace insert. The entire process of managed very professionally. I recommend Penguin!

Our existing fire box posed a challenge getting the new gas insert installed, but Efrain from Penguin Fireplace did a fantastic job installing it. Not only does it look great, the unit really warms up the house. Last year we were traveling and didn't get a chance to use the unit much, and this year when we turned it on we noticed a smell. Efrain came out and did a wonderful job for us, cleaning the unit and ensuring there was nothing to cause a smell. The unit is working perfectly again, no smell at all. Penguin Fireplace really stands behind their products and service. It's great knowing a company who cares about their customers so much is here for us.I highly recommend them! read more

We had a delightful experience with Penguin fireplace in San Jose. From the moment we walked into the showroom we felt welcome. Throughout picking our fireplace, rebuilding our existing fireplace, and installing the new fireplace the entire crew was wonderful. Our new fireplace is in, it is gorgeous, and we could not be happier! Thank you to all the wonderful people who work for Penguin! read more

We are super pleased with our new fireplace insert. Eric was very responsive to our needs, and the installers were very thorough. We highly recommend Penguin Fireplace! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Penguin Fireplaces. Efrain was great - very knowledgeable and flexible, giving us the lowest quote with more service and over-delivered. The crew was very professional, highly skilled and hard working. The whole process could not have been smoother and we are thrilled with the result which is a new stone fireplace with gas log and TV mount above the fireplace. We highly recommend Penguin Fireplaces. read more

I posted a previous review a few weeks ago and was extremely frustrated and unhappy with Penguin Fireplace. The phone call I got from Gladys since the review was appreciated, as I walked her through the series of things that had happened while she was out sick. She told me they ( the installers) did several things that were not their policy (asking for the payment in full with a check when they finished), asking for payment in full of any type before the installation of the remote was done, and that the office staff were wrong in not returning my calls for 4 days. She told me this is a family run business and that one of the key members who kept promising to call me back and never did was her brother. Gladys apologized on his behalf repeatedly and it became clear to me that she is the glue that holds this business together. I also had a good relationship with Al, who was there when I ordered the unit, and who agreed to take the down payment but not order the unit until we were ready for it. I am UPDATING MY LAST REVIEW TO 4 STARS because I greatly appreciated Gladys calling me to understand if there was anything they could do and to apologize. She assured me that Ulysses would receive further training and I believe her. Because of her customer care and assurances, I felt I should update my review. read more

Nothing but good things to say. I struggled with the email communications at this company, but when talking in person I had very good interactions. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. The workers were great and very professional. They left my place clean and took care of my furniture and floor surrounding the fireplace. They worked quickly and had the job done in just over a day! I now wish I would have done this years ago! read more

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

See all

Penguin just finished a project of wall and floor tiling and wood-burning fireplace refurbishing at my mother's place and we could not be happier. All the workers were professional and nice to have in the home. The guidance on design was very helpful. Start to finish, a five-star review. read more

It's rare to find a company with expertise, great products, super helpful sales people, skilled and efficient installers, and reliable customer support. Penguin Fireplace is one of those companies. Efrain and his team helped us select the best fireplace model and finishing options for our family room, and they worked closely with us to figure out the most direct and least invasive way of doing the wiring. His main installer also took the time to thoroughly demo the system once it was installed and he explained all of the different features as well as general maintenance and preventative steps to reduce the chance of pilot starter failure. I would highly recommend Penguin Fireplace! read more

It's been a year since I had a gas fireplace install/conversion done by Penguin. I'm very happy I did the project with them. The quality Mendota 40k BTU gas fireplace they installed worked like a champ during the winter. It's also quite beautiful! I had a very pleasant and stress-free experience with the installation. Effrain, the owner of Penguin runs the company as a family business. He is a man of his word, an honorable man, who is a pleasure to deal with. All the people who work for him (Eric in the store, the gas specialist, the installers, and all other guys) have the same great attitude. Everything went smoothly, including the permits for the city, etc. Very helpful, punctual, and did exactly what promised. Want to do another fireplace project with Penguin this summer. Recommending to all my friends! Alex U. in Santa Clara read more

Penguin Fireplace did a wonderful job. Efram was able to answer questions and come up with solutions to dilemmas that 4 other fireplace distributors were not able to do. Gladys was a pleasure to coordinate with in buying the fireplace and scheduling the installment. The installation and the aftercare for follow up question was superb. read more

I live in the East Bay but I happened to stop into Penguin's store while on business in San Jose. They've got a nice showroom with several functioning models on display. Gladys helped me decide on a Valor insert and after doing some comparison shopping, it was clear they had the best price both for the unit and for the install. Our contractor had several questions which I relayed to Gladys who very patiently helped resolve. Last week Charles and Tony came out and installed the unit, They did a fantastic job, installing the unit in less time then estimated, explaining how to operate the unit and finally, cleaning up and leaving the place cleaner than when they arrived. I highly recommend Penguin to anyone wanting a superior job at a fair price. read more

Not happy with my experience. Paid large fee for initial call to figure out what was wrong with my fireplace. They said they needed to special order a part that took over a week to get. When tech. came to put it in, he discovered that part was not the problem, but another part was the issue. He fixed my fireplace with a work around. He gave me an invoice and I thought I had paid in full in cash. But later I received another bill in the mail with another ~200 bucks put on credit card. Weak. They didn't even offer to take back the part that I didn't need, but charged me full price. Not very professional and over priced for repairs. read more

I shopped around quite a bit before I settled on Penguin Fireplace for my remodeling project. I am very happy that I took the time to get a number of bids from a variety of fireplace remodeling businesses. First of all, Penguin fireplace impressed me with their professionalism. They responded quickly to my request for an estimate. Efrain was very easy to talk to, and even though I only had an idea of the esthetic that I was going for, he was able to conceptualize the project and came up with a couple of options for the design. The timeline for the completion of the project was accurate and the project was completed in a very professional manner. The workers cleaned up before they left each day. The tile installation is flawless and the handcrafted mantle was custom designed to complement the style of the fireplace. The paint job on the mantle is beautiful. They taped off and put up plastic sheeting to keep the spray paint exactly where it was supposed to be. Nothing was ever rushed through. There definitely was a pride in the work that they were doing. The fireplace insert was also customized and when I didn't think it fit just right, they took care of the problem to my 100% satisfaction. When you are doing a home remodeling project, you have to be able to talk to your contractor to make sure the end product is what you envision. This is one big reason why I am taking the time to write this review. They are very good at communication and my new fireplace is something that I enjoy seeing everyday and will for years to come. read more

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

See all

We had been using a wood burning stove for months as our only heat source and we decided it was time to invest. My husband was done making fires in the stove every morning! We researched and we knew it would be an excellent upgrade. Yes, it was an investment but we also were looking forward to no more wood and making fires! We visited Penguin and instantly knew they would be the ones to help us. (It's a family run business and I love that!) Gladys, Efrain, Erik and the whole team did an outstanding job helping us make a wise choice with the Mendota gas fireplace insert. They were able to even come out and install our unit earlier than expected which we were soooo thankful for when there was a break in weather during the days and days of rain! The guys who came out to do the installation did an excellent job and yes, it took more time to customize our insert because of our 90 year old original fireplace but they did a great job. Now our living area is warm and the glow of the fire insert is amazing! Best of all my husband has a BIG smile on his face when he comes out to the living room and sees a fire going and the room cozy. We LOVE it! Thank you Penguin! Thank you Gladys, Efrain and Erik and team! read more

Friendly professional people. They deliver what they promise at a reasonable price. Couldn't be happier. Good professional referrals as well read more

Excellent work done by the entire team. Efrain employs a great group of individuals to handle all aspects of the process, from the initial inspection and discussion of options, to the installation of the fireplace, to the support and communications along the way. read more

From the owner, to the front desk, to the installers everyone's been great at Penguin Fireplace. Efrain came out to inspect my fireplace-to-be and offered advice (building a custom FP/TV wall); Charlie, Toby, and Miguel did a great job installing. And special mention to Ulysses at the front desk. He is the reason I went with Penguin. I had many hesitations as I never took on such a project. Ulysses not only stayed open 30min past closing on Black Friday just to help me think my choice thru, he solved the age old dilemma of TVs too high over fireplaces and directed me to a 64" linear L3 Valor system with heat shift vents that helps me keep the TV as low as possible. He followed up diligently on email as I was hemming and hawing, helping with questions, and solved an installer coordination issue early in the morning even before he started his shift at work. I can hear it in his voice that he is out to help customers get what they need and has pride in his work. (i.e Efrain should bonus him a dinner out on the town or something) I had to build the framing myself (with the help of a competent contractor/handyman) as Penguin lead time was February for such work. But if I built it, they would come ... and in two weeks I have my fireplace. Now i just need drywall, a good finishing carpenter, and oh yea a TV. read more

We shopped for a direct vent gas fireplace insert at many places before deciding on Penguin. Clearly they had the best price and the nicest people to work with. A big plus for me was that the owners are also the installers. Gladys, Efrain and his staff are the best! Friendly, helpful and they provide the best value. They take the time to do the installation right while being extremely neat and careful. We went with a custom installed Heat & Glo model that works and looks fantastic. They even hauled away the old rusty cast iron wood burning behemoth. read more

We live in Santa Cruz and went to a store locally. Their service was so bad. We had to wait so long to talk to someone and then they were not helpful with information about the fireplace we wanted to purchase so we went over to San Jose. So much for trying to shop "Local". We were so impressed with Penguin Fireplace's interest in helping you. Gladys was so quick to answer my emails every time I wrote to her. They gave us a much better price on our Mendota 41clean face gas fireplace than the store in Santa Cruz on Water Street. They did a great job on the installation. The glass came scratched and a chip in the liner but Gladys was right on it to Mendota and had the damaged parts replaced very quickly. Gladys was always checking in with us and keeping us posted on what was happening. She is great. I would highly recommend Penguin Fireplace. They are the best. read more

As promised, Penguin showed up less than two weeks after we placed our order for 2 Mendota gas fireplace inserts, to do the installation. On the first day, they had to run a gas line for 40 feet in the crawl space under our house. Two guys spent most of the day down there, while two other guys worked in the house. They had to move our gas stove to make a connection for the new gas line under the house. They also had to make electrical connections to outlets near the fireplaces. By the end of the first day, the first insert, in our brick masonry fireplace, was working. After an hour or so, Efrain directed one of the men to go under the house again, to spray a special liquid on all of the gas line connections for a second time, looking for bubbles that might indicate a leak. Fortunately, no leaks were found. On the next day, two men showed up to do the second installation, in our metal fireplace. For this installation, they were able to connect to the gas line that feeds our pool/spa heater and put a line straight through our stucco wall into the firebox. They were careful about checking for gas leaks, and they did a nice job routing the gas line so that it follows the wall of the house. We are pleased with our Mendota inserts. They are beautiful to look at, the fans are quiet, and they do a great job of heating the first floor of our house without affecting second floor temperatures very much - unlike our furnace, which pumps more heat into the second floor. We feel fortunate to have found Penguin Fireplaces. They performed the work promptly, professionally and at a reasonable cost. read more

We recently replaced our old wood-burning fireplace with a gas-insert and replaced the circa 1977 brick facing with a more modern look. We could not be more happy with the work done by Penguin Fireplace . After visiting several fireplace showrooms, we decided on one of the Mendota units carried by Penguin. In addition to installing the new unit, we also had them remove the old brick facing, install the new tile, and build a custom mantel. Efran was very professional and helpful in planning the job, and his crew was always very courteous and respectful of our home, leaving it spotless every night when they left. Enrique did all of the tile work and built the entire mantel to our specifications. He is very meticulous and paid attention to the details so everything was right. He worked late a couple of nights (after checking with us) to make sure he got it right and kept on schedule. I have already recommended them to a friend who is planning a similar project. read more

Penguin Fireplace - Our fireplace before and after - Fireplace Services Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We had our fireplace remodeled and they did a wonderful job. I highly recommend them, all the staff were very helpful and professional. The workmanship is extremely high (thank you Enrique)! We had a rough idea of what we wanted and they were able to expand upon it and make it even better. read more

Penguin just completed by fireplace mantel and I couldn't be happier. The price was competitive, they were able to schedule me within 2 weeks and everyone was very nice from the guys who built and installed to the people I spoke to on the phone. They customized it real time and started and finished when they said they would. End result looks just like the picture I showed them. Highly recommend!! read more

Wonderful and honest service! Quick appointment. On time. Friendly! Highly recommend.

We just had Penguin Fireplace install a new mantel for our new fireplace. We are super-pleased. It was a very painless process. Gladys was extremely helpful and responsive. I contacted them through their website and got a response the next day. I picked a fireplace from the photos on their website, but Gladys said that I could send them a photo of any mantel that I liked. The price was competitive. They came out the next week over 3 days. The crew was respectful of our house. They cleaned up and vacuumed after themselves. read more

We have had this insert in use for over a year and it works perfectly after burning it many nights during this past winter. The insert, a Mendota brand, is the best operating and looking insert that we have seen. We are very happy with our purchase and installation. There is no metal popping noise, the fire box looks real, the fan is virtually noiseless on a medium to low setting and the interior lighting enhances to looks. The insert device heats our family room with 19 foot ceiling in no time and our forced air heater for the whole home rarely comes on while operating the insert, saving us on utility bills. We would only buy a Mendota insert again and only use Penguin if we were still in their service area. read more

I purchased a Valor from Penguin Fireplace over a year ago. The fireplace was professionally installed by Penguin and I have not had any issue after two winters of use. Penguin worked with my contractor and handled the installation of the fireplace during the remodeling process. Penguin is not the cheapest place to buy a gas fireplace. But if you are looking to purchase a high-end fireplace, and reliable and professional installation are important to you, this is the place to go. read more

We recently went to Penguin and Eric helped us. He was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. We decided not to install an outdoor fireplace in the end but highly recommend Penguin. We had talked to another fireplace company previously and were completely underwhelmed by their lack of knowledge and expertise. read more

I purchased two fireplaces from Penguin Fireplace and I have only good things to say about them. It feels like a family run business, great service (had to come to my house on ~4 different occasions, and always on time), professional installers, price was very competitive, and I'd encourage anyone who is considering installing a fireplace to call them 1st. read more

Gladys and Penguin Fireplace get my top rating. We have a brand new luxury construction at Cupertino and we purchased a premium gas fireplace from them along with installation. They beat other fireplace company hands down. They are A family owned business and pays super attention to customers. Gladys and her team are prompt in response even in weekend. They come to sites multiple times. Please go purchase with them without hesitation. Thank you Gladys and Penguin Fireplace for wonderful job. read more

Recently my wife and I converted from an old gas insert to a wood burning fireplace. This fit the style of our farm house much more than the gas insert did. Penguin came out and looked at the space. They recommended some work be done to make this fireplace functional (mortar touch up, painting, chimney cap, a wood burning panel reflector to draw in more heat and the glass door). All of this work came at a reasonable price. I am very pleased with the end results. read more

I found this place from Yelp when I was looking for a gas insert for my wood burning fireplace. I agree with the other reviewers. They listened to my needs, returned my calls and emails promptly, and gave me the best price. If you have a need for fireplace, give them a chance to work with you. They are an authorized dealer for Mendota products. read more

I share the 5 star rating experience with the previous reviewers. I found them to be professional and friendly. I would recommend them to my mother...and she's REALLY picky. read more