| Frequently asked questions about fireplaces | | | | into the house. Therefore, when you want to |
| center around four key areas; Venting, Remote | | | | turn it on, you have to open the damper. So |
| Control, Converting from one fuel to another, | | | | most people just turn it on when they are |
| and Piping & Dampers. | | | | opening the damper and find the remote |
| | | | unnecessary. |
| Venting Questions | | | | |
| | | | Should I buy a remote ready with vent-free |
| What is the difference between direct vent, b | | | | gas logs? |
| vent, totally vented and ventless? | | | | |
| | | | Yes. We suggest that you get a |
| A wood-burning fireplace is totally vented. | | | | thermostatically controlled remote so that |
| For a complete explanation of these terms, | | | | you can keep the room at a comfortable |
| see our venting page . | | | | temperature and so you can turn the unit on |
| | | | and off. The longest lasting valve and remote |
| Can I put a cabinet around direct vent, | | | | are the units that vary the height of the |
| ventless or b-vent? | | | | flame. |
| | | | |
| Cabinets are boxes that extend about 18" from | | | | Conversion Questions |
| the wall. Mantels are wood frames that only | | | | |
| extend about 4" - 6" from the wall. | | | | Can I convert my vent-free natural gas |
| | | | product to another fuel? |
| * B-vent cannot have a cabinet. A b-vent | | | | |
| fireplace must be installed in the wall, | | | | No. By national code, you cannot convert any |
| allowing all the piping to be hidden. You may | | | | vent-free product. |
| then use a mantel. * Direct vents can | | | | |
| have a cabinet if you vent piping out the | | | | Can I convert my vented propane gas logs to |
| back. * Vent-free can have a cabinet. | | | | natural, or vice versa? |
| | | | |
| Can I use vented gas logs in a stove? ...In a | | | | Yes. You can convert natural to propane and |
| fireplace? ...In a coal burning fireplace? | | | | propane to natural, but in most cases, you |
| | | | need to buy a new valve. Your manufacturer |
| Vented gas logs can only be used in a | | | | can provide conversion instructions. |
| wood-burning fireplace. A coal-burning | | | | |
| fireplace is too shallow. Vented gas logs are | | | | Piping, Dampers & Flue Questions |
| not recommended for a stove due to safety | | | | |
| concerns. | | | | How much can I close my damper with vented |
| | | | gas logs when in use? |
| I am remodeling my basement. Should I go with | | | | |
| direct vent or vent-free? | | | | You cannot close your damper at all with |
| | | | vented gas logs while they are burning. |
| Direct vent will give you great looks and a | | | | |
| good amount of heat with little moisture. | | | | How can I seal my damper with vent-free gas |
| Vent-free will give you lots of heat and good | | | | logs? |
| looks but the number one complaint about | | | | |
| vent-free is it works too well, or puts off | | | | We would recommend that you close the damper |
| too much heat. If the vent-free is sized | | | | as tight as you can and get a Lock-Top damper |
| correctly to the room, you will not have a | | | | that seals at the top of the chimney. |
| problem with heat or moisture. | | | | |
| | | | With a direct vent insert, do I need to |
| What is a chase? | | | | reline the chimney? |
| | | | |
| A wooden structure built around the vent pipe | | | | No, you do not have to reline to wood burning |
| to protect it from the weather and to keep | | | | specifications, but you must use the piping |
| the flue gases venting properly. | | | | that is recommended by the manufacturer, |
| | | | which fits into the existing chimney. |
| How energy efficient is direct vent compared | | | | |
| to b-vent? | | | | What are the different kinds of burner pans |
| | | | for vent-free gas logs? |
| A b-vent fireplace is the least efficient | | | | |
| venting option and can be vented horizontally | | | | There is sheet metal, black pipe and |
| or vertically. Direct venting is the most | | | | stainless steel. The advantage of the sheet |
| efficient; some are even "heater rated" and | | | | metal is that it is less expensive. Black |
| can be vented horizontally, vertically or | | | | pipe is heavier than sheet metal and costs a |
| both. | | | | little more. The disadvantage of both is that |
| | | | they can rust through because they have very |
| Remote Controls | | | | little rust protection. Stainless steel costs |
| | | | more, but will not corrode or burn through |
| What does remote ready mean? Does it come | | | | and it will last a lifetime. |
| with a remote? | | | | |
| | | | How high above the roof should a chimney |
| Remote ready means that via the remote (wired | | | | extend? |
| or wireless) you can turn the unit on and off | | | | |
| which requires a millivolt valve that creates | | | | The minimum clearance for wood or b-vent is 3 |
| millionths of volts of electricity to control | | | | feet above anything within 10 feet. For |
| the valve. Remote ready units do not come | | | | direct vent it is 18 inches above anything |
| with a remote because there are up to 20 | | | | within 10 feet. |
| different kinds of remotes. | | | | |
| | | | With direct vent or wood burning, what kind |
| Can I use my wired wall switch or thermostat | | | | of piping do I use? |
| with variable high-lo logs or fireplace? | | | | |
| | | | You must use manufacturer-approved piping. |
| No. You have to use the remote that is | | | | |
| designed for the high-lo variable logs or | | | | Can different piping be used if I can't find |
| fireplaces. | | | | the original manufacturer's? |
| | | | |
| What is a high-lo valve? | | | | No. If you use another manufacturer's piping |
| | | | and it creates a problem in your house; i.e., |
| Via the remote, you will be able to raise and | | | | a fire or smoke damage, no insurance company |
| lower the height of the flame. The remotes | | | | will cover you. You will also void the |
| are adjustable as either on off or | | | | warranty and inspectors will not approve it. |
| thermostatically controlled. | | | | |
| | | | If brick is cracked can I burn wood? |
| Should I buy a remote ready vented logs set? | | | | |
| | | | If the crack is bigger than the tip of a |
| No. Because you would have to always leave | | | | graphite pencil, we do not recommend that you |
| the damper completely open which means you'd | | | | burn wood. |
| lose $.60 of every heating dollar you put | | | | |