Fire and water are the two elements that Greg McLain sought to build a business around when he left Montana in 1987.

Coming from a family of stone masons and having owned and run the family business, masonry, for 13 years, he knew fire. Upon arriving in Tri-Cities, he found water in the form of three rivers converging.

Almost 40 years later, he has established a longstanding business around these two opposing elements: Fire & Water.

The 3,500-square-foot premium showroom at 222 Symons St. in Richland, across from the north end of the Uptown Shopping Center, features 60 different USA-made, high-efficiency gas, wood-burning and electric fireplaces, pellet stoves, fire pits, as well as custom outdoor kitchen fixtures and tankless hot water heaters.

“That way you can see exactly what’s going to go into your house,” McLain said.

Custom work

Fire & Water specializes in fireplace changeouts and renovations, custom-designed outdoor kitchen setups, firepit installations, concrete swimming pool overhauls and annual servicing.

McLain said 98% of what Fire & Water sells, his team installs. Fire & Water employs 11 people in addition to McLain.

“My focus is on high-quality, long-life systems,” he said. “I pushed myself to deliver the highest efficiency systems made in the U.S. that I could find.”

Even when some trusted brands offshored their manufacturing and started selling inferior quality products, McLain held fast to his standards and stood by those that weren’t sacrificing quality construction for bigger profit margins.

The Richland business was featured earlier this year in Patio & Hearth Products Report, a trade publication serving the patio, outdoor living, hearth and related specialty retail industries.

Fire & Water’s showroom offers an array of wood-burning and electric fireplaces atvarious price points.

 

| Photo by Laura Kostad

Get what you pay for

McLain said most standard fireplace heating units and gas-powered models installed by homebuilders are not designed to serve as a main heat source. Most of these units feature tempered glass fronts, which “only lets 20% of the heat into the room without the power of the fans,” he said.

Even with the fans running, these standard units are not designed for efficiency so the heat produced might not be enough to heat a room.

“The units I sell are pure heaters with no-glare ceramic glass and quiet fan systems. They are the way to go for warmth,” McLain said.

Though Fire & Water sells electric hearth units, McLain said they don’t have the heat output of gas. He noted that they also aren’t as reliable as an alternative heat source during a power outage.

For this reason, he doesn’t install units powered by a wall switch since the relay won’t work during an outage without an external power source. Instead, he sells units controlled by rechargeable remote controllers.

McLain said a common misconception is that modern heat pumps will efficiently heat open concept, multistory spaces or rooms with vaulted ceilings. He said you can still feel cold when the thermostat indicates the house has reached its set temperature because much of the heat rises to the highest point.

A fireplace can help offset that effect as well as provide an attractive design element or focal point for a room.

McLain said a lower-cost gas unit sells for about $2,000. Meanwhile, his shop’s lowest price option starts at $4,500, with higher end units upward of $12,000.

“But contractors usually mark up the price on their units and the customer knows no different and is in the blind until he’s in the cold,” he said.

“The hearth industry has undergone a significant transformation from traditional wood-burning to gas- and pellet-burning systems. Gas is the leading fuel type, driven by consumer demand for convenience as well as stricter environmental regulations,” McLain said.

He said that as homeowners age, wood and pellet stoves become too much work, with the hauling of wood and heavy bags of pellets.

“We’re changing them out to propane because they can just push a button on a remote to set the temperature. You can run everything with your fingers and the pilot light can run without electricity,” he said.

Another benefit is that the units are programmed to turn off once they reach a set temperature, then turn back on periodically to maintain that temperature.

“Customers report lower propane costs because they’re high efficiency, not just burning gas,” McLain said. “That’s security for your family.”

Fire & Water, 222 Symons St., Richland, features a 3,500-square-foot showroom showcasing 60 different fireplace units as well as ranges and fixtures for custom outdoor kitchens and tankless water heaters. The locally-owned business turns 40 next year.

| Photo by Laura Kostad

Quick, quality, clean

Fire & Water started out at 310 Dayton St., across from the Lay Right Brick and Block Plant.

“I wanted to continue to train people to do what I do,” he said. “I’ve never looked back since I came here. It’s been an everyday process of putting jobs together and listening to people’s intentions and manifesting them.”

He moved the shop to Richland in 1999. “It’s a good location. More money moves up and down George Washington Way than any other street in Tri-Cities,” McLain said.

He originally considered opening Fire & Water in Bend, Oregon, due to the surging vacation home market, but didn’t see the opportunity for a lot of repeat customers. He saw more potential in Tri-Cities due to residential growth and home turnover.

His 8,200-square-foot shop also houses the custom construction side of the business. McLain and his team pride themselves on quick, clean and high-quality builds and renovations.

He said 90% of Fire & Water’s jobs are for residential customers and the other 10% are for new construction.

“We don’t start a job until everything for that job is on a pallet and ready to go to the job site. That’s how we’re able to start on a Monday and be done on Friday. I run by my word,” McLain said. And that includes inspections.

Bringing people together

All work is completed by his team except for electrical and plumbing.

“I knew I had to build something that works year-round so employees can step from one job to the next,” McLain said of Fire & Water’s mixture of products and services.

What hearth, pool renovations, outdoor kitchens and living spaces have in common is that they embody what McLain hopes to create with his projects: “It brings people together and that’s why I love building them.”

“We (use computer-aided design) for everything for our customers so they know exactly what they’re getting before we come in. It’s a more customizable experience that sets us apart from other companies,” he said.

McLain said that he and his team stay on top of design trends to ensure Fire & Water can readily source the look customers are seeking. He said that right now the focus is on modern minimalist designs and advanced technology, as well as those that are eco-conscious.

“I don’t know of any other place around here like this – you would have to run a long way to find it,” he said.

Luckily, he’s been training his grandson, Marcus McLain Breakfield, in the business for 10 years. He’s Fire & Water’s sales manager.

“He carries the same ethos and level of meticulousness,” McLain said. “It takes a lot of heart.”

Fire & Water: 222 Symons St., Richland; 509-943-1600; Fireandwater.us. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sundays.