Fireplaces Buyer's Guide
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There are basically 3 types of heating products that are industry standard and have the same characteristics regardless of the manufacturer.
- Vent Free
- Requires no chimney or flu.
- Uses internal air to facilitate the combustion process.
- Extremely efficient up to 99% of heat generated stays in the room.
- Lower Btu’s burn less gas.
- Currently the most popular among end users due to gas prices, ease of installation, efficiency and strong marketing campaign by the Vent Free Alliance.
- STRONG guidelines and building codes monitor this market segment, maximum BTU is 40,000, some states won’t allow Vent free products in bedrooms and some areas in NY and CA won’t allow Vent free products installed period.
- Vent-free products can NEVER be in control type or gas type.
- Vented
- Requires chimney or flu that must extend vertically through the pitch of the roof to facilitate the combustion process.
- Realistic looking flames.
- Only retain about 15% of heat generated as most of it goes up the chimney.
- Much higher Btu’s burn more gas.
- Direct Vent
- Requires venting either horizontally or vertically, this unit can vent right out a side wall.
- All Direct Vent units have a sealed combustion chamber.
- Less efficient than vent free but more efficient than vented, DV units can be as high as 85% efficient.
- Moderate Btu’s.
- This is the fastest growing market segment currently. All of the manufacturers are making a strong push to add accessories and options to this line.
Hearth Vocabulary 101
Log Sets - Gas log sets are available in both vent-free and vented. They are typically offered in three sizes, 18”, 24” and 30”, which fit the majority of Universal Fireboxes. Log sets are designed to fit on specific burners and must be installed according to the owner’s manual.
Specialty Log Sets - Specialty Gas log sets are available in both vent-free and vented. They are specifically designed to use in specialty or designer applications such as See Thru Fireboxes, Peninsula or Island applications.
Fireboxes - Fireboxes are available in both vent-free and vented. As long as they are Universal you can interchange logs and boxes giving you a lot of choices in designs. These are designed to be either built in to the wall (zero clearance) or used in conjunction with free standing cabinet mantels that most manufacturers also make specifically for their fireboxes. Most fireboxes have several different options like louvered or flush face, black interior or brick liner and most also have facing and door options specifically designed for each of them.
Specialty Fireboxes - Specialty fireboxes are available in both vent-free and vented. These boxes are designed to work in conjunction with the specialty log sets. They are available in See Thru, Peninsula and Corner units.
Inserts - Inserts are designed to be inserted into an existing masonry fireplace. They are complete systems with a specific log set, an integral burner. These cannot be changed. Because they are designed for insertion they are typically very compact measuring just 13” in depth as opposed to an 20” average you’ll find with the Vent Free Fireboxes. Direct Vent Inserts must be vented through the top of the existing chimney. Most vent-free inserts can also be used for zero clearance applications.
Stoves - Free Standing stoves are available in vent-free, direct-vent and B-vent (vented). Some manufacturers sell the casting and burners separately so you can choose your application while others provide them as a complete package. These units can be extremely pricey but fit some applications for unique spaces like sunrooms, kitchens, etc.
Fireplace Systems - Fireplace Systems are available in all of the Heating Categories as well as Electric. Systems are designed as a package, logs, burners, box. Because the burner is an integral part of the box and design and usage specifications are very controlled it allows systems to be more compact thus taking up less floor space. This is really the most diverse category as you have compact systems that can be used in bedrooms all the way up to large Direct-Vent systems. One of the advantages to purchasing a fireplace system is that the controls are concealed, usually under the firebox itself hidden behind a control panel door.
Control Types - Each Product Category will be available in a variety of control types.
- Manual Control - To operate the logs or fireplace you have to manually adjust the unit at the source.
- Thermostatic Control - A thermostatic sensor monitors the temperature and will adjust the unit bases on the temperature in the room. Some tstats will simply turn on/off some will modulate the flame.
- Millivolt Control
- This is by far the most versatile and popular control type
- Pilot light generates the current
- Also called remote ready, with this control type you can use all of the following options
- On/Off Remote Control
- Thermostatic Remote Control
- Wired Wall Switch
- Wired Wall Thermostat
- Wireless Wall Thermostat
- Thermostatic Sensor (TS)
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