Choosing a new fireplace for your home provides you with many different available options. You can choose from wood burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces, electric fireplaces and bio fuel fireplaces. Most people choose either wood burning or gas because they want the effects of the fire to last longer. You can find Napoleon fireplaces available in both styles which offer you the ability to choose the design to match your home's décor.

Napoleon Fireplaces Offer a Variety of Models

When your home was built without a fireplace, you can still install one later to add value to your property. Napoleon fireplaces offer a variety of different models to fit any room or situation. You can obtain wood burning fireplaces which do not require a traditional chimney, but will require a chimney to be installed. Another option is it use direct vent gas fireplaces which only need to be vented to the outside. You can find this brand of fireplaces and other quality hearth products for your home when you shop at Copperfield Chimney Supply .

Possibilities

Allowing way more natural light than traditional fireplaces, and with some not even needing a vent, metal fireplaces are a major improvement

A truly wonderful product came on the market a few decades ago. The prefabricated, metal fireplace insert and metal flue changed the way architects design chimneys. Chimneys can now be light, thin and luminous instead of massive and monstrous. Important views going out and sources of natural light coming in no longer have to be closed off. Rather, the new metal flues allow architects to open up and make fully transparent any exterior wall — even those with a fireplace.

The double-wall construction is what makes these work. While there's an inner steel flue from bottom to top, there's also an exterior steel liner with a space between the two. The enclosure for these flues — whether a decorative metal skin or a wood and drywall box — is independent of the actual functioning of the flue, giving architects and designers much more freedom in how to treat the visible part of the fireplace.

So the next time you're building new or remodeling, consider one of these fireplaces to let the view in. Here are a few ways to use them.

Let the fireplace float. By placing windows around the fireplace (and placing the metal chimney on the outside), there's little to block the light and view, so the interior stays more open and bright. The fireplace seems to float in the wall rather than being anchored to one spot by a heavy masonry chimney.

Keep the glass box glass. On the outside the metal chimney remains the vertical totem it has always been. But now the glass wall can span up, over and in front of the chimney. There's no need to have a chimney that breaks up and separates the elevation into pieces.

Let it go through the roof. These flues can rise up and through dramatic roof overhangs with minimal impact. Just make sure you allow for the proper clearances by following local building codes and the manufacturer's specifications.

Avoid architectural features. The flue can also bend and be rerouted to avoid architectural features such as overhangs. Again (this can't be stressed enough), follow the building codes and manufacturer specifications when doing any chimney installation.

Bring it inside. These types of chimneys aren't just for exterior wall applications. Metal chimneys are ideal design elements for two-sided fireplaces, where they help keep the interior spaces more open and connected. This interior wouldn't be nearly as open, bright and spacious with a boxy chimney rising up from the fireplace.

Make it sculptural. One of the great advantages to using a prefabricated metal fireplace and metal chimney is the ability to place a hearth just about anywhere in the home and treat it as a sculpture.

Use a metal chimney with any style. Though more commonly used and associated with a modern aesthetic, a metal chimney flue can be used in any room where a more open and light-filled space is desired.

Let it spin. Metal chimney technology also allows the fireplace to be a floating object unconnected to the ground. The Fireorb by architect Doug Garofalo takes the prefab metal fireplace to a whole new level. Allowing a 360-degree rotation, this is a fireplace that can be placed anywhere in a space — it's like something out of The Jetsons.

You decide: To vent or not to vent. Many of the new prefabricated, metal fireboxes don't even require a chimney. Only if the fireplace is meant to be wood burning is there a need to vent smoke up and out. If it's solely a gas-burning fireplace, a direct vent (directly outside behind the fireplace) or a no-vent solution works just fine.

There's no need to feel uncomfortable with a no-vent fireplace — think of it as a gas appliance, like a stove. These fireplaces can burn the gas so efficiently that no venting is needed. Just make sure to install the fireplace in accordance with all local building codes and the manufacturer's specifications.

When shopping for a wood stove insert you can find several different styles and brands available online to fit the type of fireplace you want to update. There are wood burning and gas and inserts available from Copperfield Chimney Supply , which offers quality hearth products for the entire home.

Trouble Shooting Main Burner Outage on a Gas Fireplace or Stove

1. Ensure that main burner goes out on its own and pilot light remains lit. If pilot goes out as well, refer to 'Pilot Flame Outage'.

2. Ensure all electrical connections are tight.

3. On RN/RP valves, jumper across TH and TP/TH terminals on the valve. If the burner lights off, jumper the terminals on the control switch. If the main burner lights off, replace the switch, if it doesn't, replace the wire with the proper gauge.

4. Remove the window and disconnect the thermopile from the TP and TP/TH terminals at the valve. Leaving the old thermopile in the pilot assembly, attach a new thermopile to the valve and hold the top 3/8" of the tip in pilot flame for 45 seconds. Turn on the control switch and if the burner lights off, correctly replace the thermopile.

5. Check open circuit and closed circuit readings on the thermopile to determine whether the problem is the thermopile or valve. Confirm proper operation of thermopile with short to ground test before proceeding.

6 Check the resistance of the valve main operator on RN/RP models. Ohms readings across the TH and TP terminals should be as follows:

Honeywell 3.1 to 3.6 ohms

SIT820 1.75 to 2.75 ohms

Valves with readings outside of these values should be replaced.

7. Check the resistance of the control circuit. Readings through the switch and wiring should not be above 1.7 ohms. If they are, take steps to lower the resistance (check wire gauge and replace with proper gauge, replace switch).

For Direct Vent fireplaces:

8. Remove the window and check the flame with the door off. If it burns properly, then you need to examine the venting for the problem. Check the termination to ensure the correct one is installed (TTDVRVT on rear vented fireplaces only). Check for obstructions at the termination (snow, vegetation, construction debris). Check for recirculation of flue products at the termination. Remove the termination and ensure that horizontal pipe is level using a small torpedo level. If the fireplace has a bay window, ensure the flat pane window has not been removed.

Buy Parts Here

It is important to have your fireplace properly inspected and cleaned by a pro before lighting for the first time each year. This will help to deter any hazards that could start a fire in your home, such as chimney blockage, weather deterioration, or invasive animal nests. It is also a great time to ask questions about how to safely use your fireplace.

• If your fireplace has a mantel, it is important to pay attention to its shape and size in proportion to the fireplace and the rest of the room. Avoid oversized mantels that can dwarf the fireplace itself, but also steer clear of going too small, or it will look like a strange afterthought.
• Because most fireplaces were built when the house was, it may not match your personal style or the rest of your interior. If your fireplace looks a little dated, paint the mantle a neutral color to help it fade into the background—or jazz it up with fresh, modern colors to give it a cutting edge look.
• Fireplaces are cozy and charming, but they also can be dangerous. Avoid placing furniture, rugs, or knickknacks too close to a working fireplace. Keep the hearth clear of decor, firewood, and other household odds and ends.
• Keep your firebox properly maintained and clean. Don’t allow ash to accumulate, as it can diminish the air quality of your home. Sprinkle coffee grounds over the ashes before sweeping to reduce flyaways, and scrub the walls of the fireplace with hearth cleaner to reduce soot.
• Mounting a flat screen TV over a fireplace is a hot decorating trend but it comes at a cost. Hanging a TV too high prevents comfortable viewing from the couch, placing strain on the neck and back muscles. And putting it above the fireplace could also void the warranty on these products, which can burn a hole in your wallet.
• Carbon monoxide detectors are essential in any home, especially if you have a fireplace. These detectors help alert you of dangerous venting issues, or gas leaks. Install one detector in the same room as your fireplace, as well as one on every level of your house including the basement. Test the batteries monthly, and replace the detector every 5 to 10 years.

Choosing the right fireplace can be a daunting experience. You must determine what you are looking for i.e. wood, gas, heat, esthetics, efficiency, ease of use, see through, peninsula, corner are just some of the things you need to decide before heading out to buy your fireplace. There are commercial sites available, such as Woodstoves-Fireplaces.com where you can get professional help and recommendations based on what your need are.

Here are some additional ideas you should consider.

• Whether the unit is for a new home or remodel will influence the type of fireplace that will be best for you considering installation.
• Identify the possible location for your new fireplace. Your fireplace professional can assist in determining if the location is possible for the type of fireplace you desire.
• Choose the type of fuel you wish to use: gas, wood, pellet.
• Once you have decided some of the above criteria, you can explore the various styles and models available. Custom finishes are available for many different types of fireplaces and stoves.