You will find that some general contractors prefer to install gas fireplaces over wood fireplaces with new home constructions. The reason they prefer gas units is they do not require a chimney to be ran out the top of the home. Instead gas units only require a direct vent to the outside, which can be on the same level as the fireplace. The direct vent draws in air from the outside while forcing out harmful air from using the fireplace.

You Will Find both Modern and Traditional Styles of Gas Fireplaces

While there are many different styles of modern looking gas fireplaces available, there are also traditional looking styles available, like those found on our website, here at Copperfield Chimney Supply. These traditional looking styles look just like wood burning styles which provide a rustic look and beauty to the room of the home where you install the fireplace. Visitors to your home may find it difficult to determine whether you have a gas or wood burning fireplace just by looking at the unit.

The energy costs to heat a home have continued to increase in recent years. Whether you have an electric, gas or oil furnace, you will have noticed that it costs more to keep your house warm in the cold winter months. There are other alternative heating methods, which can help save on your energy bills, like installing Napoleon wood stoves . Modern wood stoves are energy efficient and use wood, which is not expensive.

Napoleon Wood Stoves Come in All Different Sizes

Napoleon wood stoves, like the models available on our website, here at Copperfield Chimney Supply, come in all different sizes. This variation in size gives you the ability to place wood stoves in all the different rooms in your home. You can even place one in your garage to provide heat, when you use this area as a work shop.

With heating oil at $4.00 a gallon many homeowners are considering to, at least partially, heat their homes with good ole Maine firewood at a fraction of the heating costs. The pay back time for investing in an EPA clean burning wood burning fireplace insert is usually less than two years. Here is how to get started.

Determine if the chimney is up to code. Start with your local fire department. Any installer should perform a site review (ask about any fees) to inspect the flue and to ensure that the unit you select will fit both your fireplace and your heating requirement.

My installer says I have to reline my flue? Likely true. New EPA stoves are so efficient that there is little heat lost up the flue which also means that the stoves cannot heat up that oversized fireplace flue to create draft and to keep the gases that are going up the flue above the condensation (creosote forming) temperature. This is why there is a new code requirement stating that oversized flues must be resized before a new appliance can be installed.

What fits? You need a lot of good measurements. Measure the opening size of the fireplace (height & width) plus the depth of the firebox, rear width and the rear height at the distance that the insert sits into the firebox. The other issues to be addressed are the location of mantle, top trim and side trim and the distance the manufacturer lists for clearances.

What are my choices? Some units fit flush to the fireplace opening, some are bay window designs others are extended onto the hearth. Units can be cast iron enameled or steel with brass or pewter trim. Many styles and sizes are available.

What can I expect from an insert? EPA wood burning approved insert are 75% + efficient (open fireplaces are 10-20%). The bigger the firebox the more heat it can produce and the longer it will hold a fire. Many burn 6-10 hours on a single full charge of wood.

The cost? You purchase the insert or firebox plus a set of panels to fit around the unit and cover the fireplace opening. Most units sold by industry leaders like Vermont Castings, Jotul, Hearthstone, Lopi, and Morso having list prices starting at $2000. Installation w/ stainless steel reline can add $1000. or more depending on the chimney height and roof accessibility.

What is the pay back? Using the Smithers method for estimating, one cord of wood equals 140 gallons of No. #2 fuel oil. If you typically use 1000 gallons of oil a season and with the current price running around $4.00 your total seasonal heating costs equals $4000.00. Firewood, cut, split and delivered green at $230 a cord, times the estimated usage of 6.5 cords equals $1495. Oil $4,000.00 or Wood $1,495.00 Annual Saving $2,505.00

If you are late ordering firewood you will be charged a premium for wood that is already seasoned but even at $300 a seasoned cord your heating costs will be less than half that of fuel oil. Don’t burn green, wet wood! It’s a bad BTU value, it’s bad for your chimney and it’s bad for the environment!

Shop Inserts Here

Jan. 14, 2010 issue : During a cold winter, imagine having a warm, comforting fireplace in any room in your house. According to David Gregg, senior editor of Behind the Buy.com, you can have just that with some eco-friendly fireplaces that are the new rage in interior decorating. More

Previously published at highschimney.com

No matter what sort of chimney lining you have, in time it will need to be maintained or relined. Understanding the three major types of chimney liners will help you discuss with a trusted professional the best way to line your chimney and keep your home safe and sound.

Clay Tile Chimney Liner

Clay Tiles have been a historical favorite for lining chimneys. As such, most older homes have clay tile liner. These were popular for a variety of reasons, the most important being that clay tile insulation with properly finished mortar joints can withstand most types of smoke and can last up to 50 years.

In today's world, however, these tiles are not the perennial favorite. Studies show that during a chimney fire, even the most well finished mortar joints are likely to crack, and usually break apart. Any crack in your chimney lining makes it more likely that the fire could spread to the rest of the building.

Additionally, repairing or relining a chimney with clay tile is a very difficult task. Punching holes in the chimney to ensure the tiles are aligned and joined correctly is often necessary, and such effort is costly. For this reason, when most home owners notice cracks or problems with their clay tile chimney liner, they transition to a different liner entirely.

Cast in Place Chimney Liner

Cast in place liners were created around 60 years ago. While initially they were highly-regarded, over time their popularity has decreased due to a high likelihood of cracks.

One benefit of the cast-in-place chimney liner is the insulative properties of the material. The insulation helps keep heat from leaking from the chimney, and higher temperatures in the chimney helps ensure creosote, soot and combustive gases are more fully consumed, which means less accumulation inside your chimney, and fewer emissions from your chimney.

The downside to this chimney liner is again cost. Installing the liner can be expensive, and if you have any bends in your chimney, the price is just going to go up. A professional will also need to determine if any existing chimney liners need to be removed prior to chimney relining. Also, as cracking develops, the process of relining is expensive and time consuming.

Metal Chimney Liner

Metal liners are by far the current favorite of the construction world. They come in a vast array or shapes and sizes, and can either be rigid of flexible. Installation and parts are generally inexpensive, and with proper maintenance metal liners often outlast the house. Also, as appliances within your home change and chimney liners adapt to meet these changes, replacing your chimney liner with an up to date metal liner is an easy and logical process.

The largest reason for chimney relining is improper liner sizing. Improperly sized lining can lead to soot and creosote deposits and improper draft, both of which are safety hazards. Proper chimney lining size is a difficult variable to determine, so if you have any questions about the best size chimney lining for your home, contact a chimney professional.
The second largest cause of chimney relining is cracks and breaches in the lining itself, which is a large fire hazard. At the first sign of cracks or damage, call in a professional to ensure your home is safe. Remember, even if you stop using your fireplace, other appliances may vent into your chimney exposing you to potential danger.

Pellet stoves are a cost effective and attractive solution for supplementing the main source of heat in your home. Before purchasing a pellet stove, consider the best installation practices including existing chimney, esthetic factors, room size, exterior structures and of course proper clearance to any adjoining combustible materials. Where you locate your pellet stove in your home will be unique when compared to other homes. You should also check local and state building codes to make sure your installation with comply with all pertinent regulations.

If you are installation a pellet stove, it is most likely being used to provide some heat and therefore should be placed as close the the area you wish to heat as possible. Keep in mind that pellet stoves are not approved for installation in bedrooms or sleeping areas of the home. Installing the pellet stove in the basement or lower area of the home is advisable as heat will rise into other areas of the home. Placing you stove near an exterior wall will aide in venting the stove.

Safety should always be your first consideration when purchasing and installation a pellet stove. You should refer to the pellet stove manual to obtain the proper clearances to combustibles for the stove you wish to purchase. Many pellet stove manufactures offer multiple models and many have different clearance requirements. It is absolutely imperative that you maintain the proper clearance to combustibles.

Also the pellet stove manual will furnish the information you need to properly vent the stove. Again, manufacturers will differ in their requirements for each stove and you should install the venting for the stove exactly as described in the manual for the stove you are purchasing. Additional consideration must be given to where the vent terminates. You want to assure that there is no build up of leaves that could block the vent or the air intake to the stove.

Many homeowners with a degree of mechanical ability choose to install their pellet stove on their own. As long as you follow the installation instructions to the letter, you can have a safe installation. Online sellers like Woodstoves-Fireplaces.com offer free technical assistance to make sure your installation goes smoothly and ends up being totally safe.