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Gas fireplace heaters

tuscanyt | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on May 5, 2006 05:53am

I’m looking for an internst source for gas fireplace heaters. I would appreciate any information regarding which types are better to consider and why. I currently have a woodburning fireplace and would like to replace it with something abit more efficient, considering the costs to heat the home in the winter. Thanks for your time and thoughts.

Vic T.

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  1. experienced | May 06, 2006 01:05am | #1

    Ever consider a wood burning efficient insert??? Much cheaper than gas.

    1. tuscanyt | May 06, 2006 04:17pm | #4

      At this point, I'm open to all different options. I just thought an efficient gas replacement, rather than an another wood burning insert, would have more impact and more efficient. Thanks for your thoughts, I'll check out the local stores for wood burning options.

  2. Ray | May 06, 2006 06:38am | #2

    I have a 100-yr old house with 4 fireplaces.  The vented logs look good but most of the heat goes up the chimney.  The vent-free logs (I put a piece of flashing up to block the chimney) burn too hot.  I guess they have to in order to consume all the CO.  Bottom line, they're not too efficient and you should invest in a good Carbon Monoxide detector for each room. 

    And - - - with the price of gas these days, we plugged the chimneys and burned kilowatts last winter.

  3. migraine | May 06, 2006 06:50am | #3

    My suggestion would be to stick with a local company to purchase your insert.  You probably won't save that much money and you will need to be purchasing other parts like pipe.

    Lopi make has a nice line and i'm in the process of installing a Napolean(my wife's company sells this line so the price was right).

    Seems that the efficiency is in the range of 67-75% on the 44" models.  the smaller size ones burn a little cleaner.

    1. tuscanyt | May 06, 2006 04:27pm | #5

      In my search for reasonable replacement, I got sticker shock for cost of a new gas replacement and installation. I would do all the finish work around the new unit, and remove the old unit so everything was ready for the new installation. I live in the SF Bay area, and the cost quoted would be around $4K for a new gas replacement. I just thought there might be some other way to shop for new unit over the internet and get a more reasonable figure.Can I ask, would the cost be the same for a new Napoleon in your area, without the wife's discount? or would it be different? Just need to know if I need to go outside my area to get a better deal. At this point,I just feel I'm being ripped. Thanks for your thoughts.

      1. experienced | May 06, 2006 05:21pm | #6

        An addition to my first post "Cheaper than gas to operate"

        Get independent results from AGA or some gov't test programs. In Canada (many models available here are US made), testing required for energy efficiency regs showed many surprises. Of 4-500 units tested, only 4 were over 70% eff. (with none in the 80's) with the bottom end units being in the 25% range. Manufacturer's claims are to be avoided unless they reference EE regs or recognized independent testing.

        You have unvented gas heating appliances in the US. My recommendation.....avoid at all costs. Extra house moisture, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. seem not to be of concern to regulators there. Sure open windows when you use the units....but aren't we trying to save energy???? No unvented gas heating appliances are not allowed in Canada. Even with vented appliances, we have CO deaths each year!!!

      2. wrudiger | May 06, 2006 09:48pm | #8

        Since you're in the SF Bay Area, if you can get over to Dublin it would be worth the trip.  Custom Fireplace has the biggest on-display selection around - gas, wood, pellet; free-standing, inserts, full fireplaces. Good people, and they should be able to talk you through all the options & costs, both to install and operate.

        Yea, $4K sounds about right for the largest of the gas inserts - there's an unreal amount of electronics in those things now days. 

        1. tuscanyt | May 09, 2006 12:11am | #12

          I need to replace the unit because it smokes so much, otherwise, I'd let it set there and let the next guy remove and replace. $4K for a supplemental heat source is still a bit pricey, even for SF Bay. I'm in the North Bay, and probably won't get over to Dublin to see the place. Then again, the wife may make a special effort knowing the fireplace could be improved. She hate's the traffic,even on a good day! Thanks for the info, and I appreciate everyones help. Take care. Vic T.

  4. migraine | May 06, 2006 08:22pm | #7

    I can't give you prices, but look up the compaby and find local distributers and then ask them for a price not installed..  Most of their products are 3" or 4" intake and exhaust vent pipe that runs down from the top of your chimney through the damper and into a transition piece on the top of the insert.  Not rocket science.

    WHAT EVERY YOU DO, GET A CARBON MONOXIDE MONITOR/SENSOR 

    If you want to get a good handle on various choices of heating products try this website.   Very informative site.  The only thing they don't carry is pellet stoves. 

     http://chimneysweeponline.com 

    There is a few sites that are located in Eastern Washington or Idaho that are webbased that do have good prices but they are not coming up on my search

    Try this place, don't know thier reputation

    http://www.stovesdepot.com

    1. tuscanyt | May 09, 2006 12:05am | #11

      Sorry for my late response, my DSL dropped late Friday, and just got back today, PIA. I'll lookup the sites you gave me later today. I hope I get more info and maybe, other options. Again, thanks for the info.

    2. traderboy | May 09, 2006 06:36pm | #14

      One thing that you should consider is that many insurance companies may not cover a fire related claim if they find that a gas or wood stove was not installed by a trained and certified installer. You may save a lot of grief later if you check this out first with your insurance company.

      1. johnharkins | May 09, 2006 08:26pm | #15

        I just installed the smallest of the Vermont Castings gas faux fireplace units in my fireplace
        aesthetics definitely trumped price but had the impression they are all within 15% of each other
        the weight of quality does not lend itself to internet pricing / dealsfrom my experience for someone else to do installation $4 grand would easily come into play and you could get either a terrible install or a good install / be preparedmodel is Stardance; beautiful cast iron w/ remote for wife & kids w/ a fan that will blow out a candle 20' away - due to its location and prowess assume it will now be our principle source of heatmonstrous boiler and fantastic circuit of radiators may be set at 58 degrees or so from now on

  5. DanH | May 06, 2006 10:16pm | #9

    OK, since nobody's gonna ask, I gotta: Why do you need to heat a fireplace?

    If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
    1. rich1 | May 07, 2006 09:22am | #10

      'Cause a cold fireplace won't draft properly. 

       Didn't you ever light a newspaper and hold it up the chimney? Sheesh.   :)

  6. Tim | May 09, 2006 03:49pm | #13

    Kingston and Vanguard (made by DESA) are the two that I know about. Lots of options, reasonable price.

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