The Fireplace Movement
Published on February 11th, 2011.
There was a day when burning wood in the wood burning fireplace was the only option. That’s before the furnace, baseline heaters and central air. So, having a fireplace was a necessity.
But, there were so many things different back then. They weren’t burning treated wood. There weren’t a billion houses in the world at that time. Everything was cleaner because we hadn’t had time to destroy it all yet.
But, the wood burning fireplace is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Of course, it’s still great for wide open places like in the country in your farmhouse or in your own ranch. But, in urban and suburban areas where living is tight is not conducive to the wood burning fireplace.
But, we don’t have to completely trash the entire idea of having a fireplace in the home. There are alternatives. Some of these alternatives throw every bit as much heat and look every bit as good as a wood burning fireplace.
Electric Fireplaces
These are ventless fireplaces that are made in all types of shapes and sizes. You can have contemporary looking fireplaces with brass or silver linings. Some are made of glass or stainless steel. They are portable to any room and they shut off instantly.
You can also have traditional looking fireplaces that are made of wood like mahogany or dark walnut. You can have a marble or stone finish that looks great with just about any decor. So, the electric fireplace has quite a few advantages over the traditional wood burning fireplace.
You don’t have to wait for the fire to go out or try to douse it with water. You can simply shut off the fireplace when you leave the house or go to bed. But, you can leave them on all night too as an extra heating source. You won’t have to worry about any jumping embers setting your house on fire while you are asleep.
Flame Fireplaces
These are actually commonly referred to as ventless fireplaces. But, I wanted to make the distinction because electric fireplaces are also ventless. The reason these are more commonly referred to as ventless is because there is a real flame in the fireplace. But, you don’t need a chimney or any other type of outside vent.
The flame that is burning in the fireplace is a gel fuel that burns into water vapor. It doesn’t cause damage to the house or the environment. It burns very hot even though the FTC won’t allow the companies to actually call it a heating source. These also come in the same designs as electric fireplaces.
Build Your Own
Another great thing about the ventless fireplace is that you don’t have to settle with a design that a designer designed. You can build your own with fireplace inserts and gel fuel. Build a hearth with 2×4s. Build a surround and then put your fireplace insert inside. Take the chimney to the ceiling if you want and finish with a faux stone or brick look. You can have a fireplace in any room and it won’t come anywhere near the cost of an actual wood burning fireplace.
With the environment the way it is and the more restrictions being placed on home building and home remodeling permits, you might see it one day when building a traditional wood burning fireplace might take a special permit or won’t be allowed at all. But, you don’t have to miss out on the fireplace experience. There are alternatives and you should start looking into them.
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Procom Vent Free Heaters
Published on February 11th, 2011.
Vent Free Heaters or flueless heaters are those units that do not require a vent, chimney or flue to discard the elements produced by burning fuels. These units offer complete combustion of fuels (propane or natural gas) and all the usable heat energy produced by the process goes into the space. Thus, wasting no heat through vent to the outside atmosphere. Whatever little amount of carbon dioxide, water or other such elements is produced after combustion is considered natural and non-toxic, as that much content should be there in the air. However, these units need proper installation and maintenance to perform perfectly at your place.
Gas Ventless Heaters are 99.9 per cent energy efficient, as they heat only those areas of your home that you want to keep warm and relaxing for a long duration, thus, reducing the cost of your energy bills. Being energy efficient, these environmental friendly units are affordable and can be a good long term investment for those living in colder regions.
Since, these unvented units supply heat wherever and whenever you need it, this allows them to be used in areas that have low central heating demands. Areas such as living room, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, etc. can be equipped with these units. In fact, these units can also be placed in spaces that are hard to heat like basements, porches, dorms, etc. for better ambiance. Billions of people all around the globe are enjoying the benefits of heating their living spaces with vent-free gas heaters.
A number of heating appliance manufacturers produce a remarkable and affordable line of Vent Free Heaters. Procom is one such manufacturer that offers its customers an impressive range of right supplemental heating solutions. The US based company uses innovative designs and ground breaking technology to produce wonderful heating products that add simplicity, comfort and beauty to life. Procom manufactures its heating products keeping in mind the customers’ demand and delivers unbeatable value, continuous innovation, exceptional quality and outstanding service.
Procom Ventfree Gas Heaters are one of its most impressive innovations. These heating units come with advanced features like a diamond mesh grill for ultimate safety and built-in safety Oxygen Depletion Sensor. Most of these units possess patented dual fuel technology that allows one unit to operate on either natural gas or propane fuel.
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The Benefits of Gas Fireplace Inserts
Published on February 11th, 2011.
So, you’ve heard all about the advantages of gas fireplaces over wood-burning fireplaces: they’re cleaner, they’re safer, they’re easier, and they look just as good. Now, you’d like to have one for yourself. The only trouble is, you already have a fireplace. Do you have to simply live with what you have? Do you have to remove your existing fireplace and install a gas one in its place? No. There is a much simpler and less expensive solution. All you need is a gas fireplace insert.
Gas fireplace inserts, as the name suggests, are inserted inside an existing fireplace to convert it to a gas-burning fireplace. The inserts can be installed in a traditional masonry unit or a prefabricated factory unit. They come with either a thermostat or a remote control. These inserts can cost as little as a couple hundred dollars or as much as several thousand dollars.
Gas fireplace inserts make decorating easy. They offer many options for the surrounding area. Some come with brick or tile. Others come with an empty frame in which you can add tiles. These tiles do not have to be grouted or permanently affixed–they simply slide in place. This makes it easy to change the entire look of your fireplace to match any décor.
Another advantage to gas fireplaces is their energy efficiency. A little known fact about wood-burning fireplaces is that they are a source of heat loss–they literally suck the hot air out of a room. Gas fireplaces, on the other hand, are energy and cost efficient. If you are planning to use your fireplace as a heating unit, you will need to buy inserts with a metal grille. Some units are available in which the grille is hidden or decorated. If, however, your fireplace is merely decorative, you do not need the grille at all.
Remember, just because you already have a fireplace, it doesn’t mean you are stuck with it. With a little bit of money and creativity, you can give your fireplace–and your home–a whole new look.
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Free Standing Fireplaces – Design and Function Rolled Into One
Published on February 11th, 2011.
When you envision a free standing fireplace, you probably think about the old ones that burn wood and sometimes do not look very attractive! Thanks to modern technology and different manufacturing processes, free standing fireplaces now offer not only comfort and warmth, but they can also add style and charm to your home, and no wood or chimney sweeps are needed. If you want to know more, keep reading for advice to help you choose the best product for your needs.
A free standing fireplace is one which can be moved and does not require a chimney or flu for ventilation. What is really nice about this is that you never have to worry about upkeep, like cleaning out the chimney or worrying about cracks since the firebox is completely self-sustaining. Keep in mind though, that you cannot just put one of these units any place that you want to since it does need to have an outside register.
A free standing fireplace could be run by gel, natural gas or propane, electricity, or some type of pellet such as corn. The gel kind of free standing fireplace is the only one that can be truly portable since it does not need vents like the other ones do. One of the nice things about a gel based free standing fireplace is that since it does not put out any sort of emission, you won’t need any sort of system for venting.
If you wanted to, you could also try a direct vent fireplace which brings in colder air from the outside. This happens through a warming process and is rather energy efficient since you are not taking warm air out of your home, but putting more back in.
As with any heating device, it is always a good idea to make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s directions when you are setting up and using your free standing fireplace. It is a heater. You need to be careful with the amount of heat that it puts out since you do not want to inadvertently burn something in your home. Any time you set up a free standing fireplace, you need to bear in mind that it needs to have at least 4 inches of clearance from the walls to prevent any damage.
A useful safety mechanism on a free standing fireplace is that they come with heat and air flow sensors that will shut off automatically if something is wrong. This means that is you have an air leak, or if the unit gets too hot, too fast the sensors will shut off the unit so no harm can take place.
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Gas Heating Stoves Provide Instant Heat
Published on February 10th, 2011.
Zone Heating means putting the heat in your home where it is needed when it is needed, this reduces household fuel consumption, conserving energy and saves you money! Gas heating stoves are a great choice to bring Zone Heating into your home! They bring instant heat; they are clean burning, reliable and trouble free. By using a gas hearth appliance to heat only the rooms your family is using allows you to turn down the thermostat of your central furnace…decreasing your fuel bill.
The possibilities are endless when you choose gas heating stoves to add warmth and character to your living spaces. They come in many different styles and finishes from which to choose. Ultra modern with a European feel boasting contemporary lines to traditional old world charm, there is a model out there for you to match to your décor.
Gas heating stoves offer the look of real wood burning stoves without the work. No more bringing wood in from the shed and making sure it is cut to fit your stove. With a flick of a switch you have instant fire and heat radiating from your stove. These stoves also function during power outages giving you the peace of mind that your family will be warm and safe in case of an emergency. All that is needed to maintain your stove is getting it checked every year by a qualified technician.
These stoves are thermostatically controlled so the heat if completely adjustable. Set the temperature with the controls on the unit or with a wall thermostat. The heat is as steady and consistent as your furnace. Some units feature built in fans to help distribute the warmed air from the stove. One of the popular accessories for gas heating stoves is a remote control that lets you operate your stove from the comfort of your easy chair!
There are many different models of stoves on the market today, they range in price depending on features and size. Once you have determined what your specific needs are you will be able to find a wide variety of styles to choose from to fit your budget. Somethings to consider when investing in a wood stove is the size of the room or rooms you want to heat and what type of ventilation will be required for the unit. Many of the gas heating stoves today have different BTU ranges to handle the square footage you have. They also have different venting options from the traditional stove pipe to venting right out the back of the unit so you never see the pipe. It is all up to you to decide what you would like to see in your space.
Today’s gas heating stoves are efficient, beautiful to look at and add charm and style to your home. Whether you have a new home or renovating your existing home you will have no trouble placing one of these units in your home to bring you warmth and comfort.
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Cost Effective Fireplace Solutions
Published on February 10th, 2011.
Most houses these days aren’t even built with a fireplace in mind. Housing codes in some cities have put a damper on the installation of traditional wood burning fireplaces. Alternative heating sources that don’t require the collection of wood and the cleanup of ash are another reason why fireplace installation in new homes isn’t so popular.
But, fireplaces are so beautiful. They are great for hanging around on cold nights when you want to just spend some quality time with your family. The problem is that installing a traditional wood burning fireplace can cost thousands of dollars. It’s actually somewhere above ten thousand.
But, there are cost effective solutions to install a fireplace without the traditional wood burning features that cost so much. Most of this work you can do yourself. But if you have no hope of ever being even an amateur construction worker, then any work you might need done won’t be too expensive to outsource to a contractor.
Your Own Design
The greatest way to save yourself money is to build a ventless fireplace with a fireplace insert and use gel fuel to make your fire. You can literally put a fireplace anywhere with just these items. Of course, you’ll need wood to build a structure and faux textures for your decorations. But, you can have a fireplace in a matter of days rather than a few weeks.
If you want your own design, you can use your imagination to literally take you anywhere. First, decide where you want to put your fireplace. Figure out where the studs are in the wall. You can either locate your fireplace in the wall between the studs or in front of the wall. Build a faux hearth, a surround and even a faux chimney to the ceiling if you want. You won’t have to build it through the roof. It’s just there for looks.
Bookshelves on the side are a nice touch. If you build a faux chimney, a flat screen television looks great above the propane fireplace. Now, place your fireplace insert in the fireplace and light your gel fuel. Depending on how much quality and craftsmanship you put in the design of your fireplace, it will look exactly the way you want, completely original and totally functional.
Traditional Designs
If you don’t want to go through even working on a faux fireplace design with a real flame setup, then you can have the design of your choice. A ventless fireplace can arrive at your door in a matter of days and within an hour after arrival, you can be enjoying the crackling fire with a cup of coffee in your hand.
There are plenty of traditional looking fireplaces with rich wood finishes and wonderful features. You can choose between arch designs with shelving on the side or marble finishes with huge columns. Oak, Mahogany, and Walnut are just a few of the wood finishes while several faux stone finishes exist on cast concrete. Stand alone fireplaces can sit flush against the wall anywhere you want to place them or corner designs can bring new life to any corner around your home.
Contemporary Designs
Of course, you can get out of yesterday with personal ventless fireplaces and small table designs. See through both sides of the fireplace with a glass diamond structure you can place on the coffee table in the living room. You can also enjoy a wonderful fire coming out of rock.
New designs are being created all the time from outdoor fireplaces that you can enjoy on your patio to indoor fireplaces you can enjoy in your bathroom. Small, medium and large fireplaces for any style, ventless fireplaces are the perfect alternative to the traditional wood burning fireplace that has caused so much trouble in the past.
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How Ventless Home Gas Heaters Work
Published on February 9th, 2011.
Home gas heaters that have no vents will not transmit heat outside of the home. This is because the oxygen required to fuel the combustion process is taken from inside the room. The heat is then vented back from the unit. The reason why many traditional heaters lose their heat is because of outside air exchange. In these types there is no outside air exchange.
This makes the ventless kind much more efficient. These heaters operate at very close to one hundred percent efficiency. This is due the fact that they are in no way connected to outside air. Propane and natural gas are considered to be the most clean burning type of heating options known to man. As they burn most of the fuel sources consistently they emit far less harmful emissions than other heating systems.
Some people many be concerned about asphyxiation. This is because air inside the home may be robbed of oxygen. Furthermore, carbon monoxide build up is possible and these minute amounts will build up over time. That said, open fire places emit more of this and also rob the room of oxygen and they have been used for years.
Some areas are so cold that it is impossible to live there without some kind of artificial heating device. Climates that are blow zero degrees can cause people to die. This is why a heating solution is required so that homeowners are able to keep warm.
These are considered to be eco friendly as the gas is clean burning. This has a positive effect on the carbon footprint of the household. Due the fact that it burns consistently it emits very little harmful substances.
Home gas heaters work nicely as they heat only certain rooms at a time. Unlike central heating systems they are much more cost-effective. Refills are not often required and furthermore they are easy to fill.
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Ventless Gas Heaters – The Pros and Cons You Should Know
Published on February 9th, 2011.
Ventless Gas heaters are becoming more popular every day. People prefer these kinds of heaters because they do not release any kind of emissions like traditional space heaters. There is a wide range of variety in the styles and types of heaters that are being made today to meet one’s needs. There is something made for every home depending on the requirements. The best part about Ventless gas heaters is that they do not cost too much. They are very user friendly and easy compared to traditional gas heaters.
This type of heater brings the air through the heating elements and back out into the open space. Reheating the same air it puts back into the room making it more efficient than other types of heaters. Its the same way as if your in your car and you put it to circulate the air inside the car vs bringing in cold outside air. Instead of having to reheat the cold air it just heats the air that’s been heated once already. Ventless gas heaters are very safe to use but you should always keep safety measures in place. Make sure you have the proper detectors in the house and that you always make sure the unit is running properly. If the unit is not properly working it could result in dangerous conditions due to harmful emission from the heater itself.
Traditional gas heaters that use the outside air would heat a ceramic type face not allowing the harmfull fumes to get into the home. But ventless gas heaters do not produce any harmful fumes when working correctly and can be perfectly safe for everyone to enjoy. Check reviews from other consumers before purchasing any heater to make sure no one has had any issues. As always make sure you do your home work and research everything you can so that you get the heater your looking for.
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Vented Heater Vs Vent-Less Heater – Everything You Need to Know to Make a Proper Selection
Published on February 9th, 2011.
What are vented heaters and vent-less heaters? What is the purpose of each? You may be thinking about purchasing one of these heaters. Before you purchase one, there are some things that should be considered.
There are two types of heaters available, the Vent-less and the Vented. There are many selections in each of these categories. The hardest question will be to decide what is needed for your type of situation.
A vent-less heater does not require an external venting system because the amount of exhaust gas produced is less. However, when using one, proper ventilation is still important. When using one of these inside the home, have a properly working carbon monoxide detector and open windows inside the house. Some of the more expensive vent-less propane heaters come with a safety feature called an oxygen depletion sensor. This sensor automatically turns the unit off if oxygen levels drop below a certain threshold.
When you are looking for a vent-less heater, try looking under the indoor propane heater category. There are many different brands. Some examples are: “Vent Free 20,000 BTU Blue Flame Liquid Propane (LP) Gas Propane Heater”, “ProCom Radiant Vent Free Liquid Propane Heater – 25,000 BTU Model # ML-250 TPA and “Empire BF (Blue Flame) 20,000 BTU”. These are only three examples of the many different selections out there.
With a vented heater, the direct wall vent draws air from the outside to the sealed combustion chamber and also vents the exhaust gas directly outside. For most vented propane heaters, the installation is quick and very convenient and the operation and maintenance is very easy and hassle free.
A vented indoor propane heater is more or less like a traditional chimney. They have visible flames which ensure the level of adjustable heat, they are approximately 75 percent efficient, they require a pipe lining to support any existing pipe line and usually their appearance will not spoil the beauty of the surroundings where they are installed.
In addition to the ease of installation, vented indoor propane heaters help in saving energy and can also reduce your electric bill. Some of the more popular vented heaters will have vents that can be rotated horizontally and vertically.
Vented propane heaters are usually priced higher than the vent-less propane heaters. A vented heater’s price can range from $900 – $10,000, while a vent-less heater is considerably less money.
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Ventless Gas Heaters – Why Ventless Gas Heaters Are Preferred Over Conventional Heaters
Published on February 8th, 2011.
For people residing in places where the temperatures are extremely low, it is important to install devices that can help them to keep the place warm. Gas heaters are commonly used for this purpose. Pettit and Smith, an English company, commercially produced the first gas heater in 1856. Indoor heaters are either ventless or come with a duct. A ventless heater is an effective heating source for a small room. It works in the same manner as a traditional fireplace, but does not need chimney, duct or chutes to eject the heat outside. This helps to reduce the labor cost and installation time.
Use Of Gas Or Gel Reduces Emission
Unlike normal heaters, a ventless heater uses natural gas or gel, instead of wood, to produce heat. It has a substantially lower emission rate than wood-based heaters. Usually, natural gas or propane is used for the purpose. Installation of ventless gas heaters requires adherence to certain safety rules as laid down by the governing authorities. These rules have been framed primarily to address the issues of carbon monoxide build-up and oxygen depletion. There have been such instances before when ventless gas heaters were installed in small rooms. If manufacturers’ instructions that concern the installation process are strictly followed, the ventless gas heaters can be expected to deliver a flawless performance.
A ventless gas heater, with gas as its source, needs a gas pipeline to connect the heater and the gas source. A gel fuel can also be used to operate ventless gas heaters. Gel cans are usually placed inside the fireplace. They are cheaper than gas based systems, but they produce less heat. Interestingly, some gel fuels can produce crackling sounds and smells similar to those of a wood-based fuel place.
Advantages & Disadvantages Of Ventless Heaters
The primary advantage of using these types of heaters is, of course, the excellent fuel efficiency that they offer. Compared to wood based heaters they are considered more eco-friendly. As they are ventless, no heat is lost. They are available in many types like the stand-alone, wall-mounted, blue-flame, and radiant version to name a few.
There are a few disadvantages of ventless heaters. However, many of them are misconceptions or caused by an improper use of the product. Asphyxiation is a common misconception. Technically, this can happen if the ventless gas heater is installed in a room that is far too small than recommended size. Increase in humidity levels is another complaint among users. This may be a genuine complaint, but can be easily overcome by using proper ventilation systems. Maintenance can be a problem to certain types of ventless heaters. Apart from these, the product has received widespread acceptance among all sections of people who have used it.
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