Q- How do I make my current fireplace more efficient?

A- Traditional masonry fireplaces are not efficient. They draw air up the chimney    
whether you are burning wood or gas logs. The only way to make them more efficient is
to stop or slow the air draft going up the chimney.  A wood burning insert, gas direct vent
insert, or a vent-free log are the best 3 options.

Q- What is an insert?

A- An insert is a fireplace box that is made small enough to fit into your existing masonry
fireplace.  The gas versions have aluminum liners to bring in combustion air from outside
and an exhaust liner. They add heat without any loss from the room. Typically they have
a fan system to force air around the box and kick heat out into the room. A surround or
back plate is used to cover what is left of your fireplace opening.  Wood inserts have a
single stainless steel exhaust liner running up the chimney. Wood inserts have a small air
inlet hole which takes just enough air from the room to keep the fire going when the door
is shut. It burns the wood at a slow rate (7-12 hours on a load of wood). They also have
fan systems to kick out the heat. This puts intense heat out with very little draft. The
drawbacks are: your viewing area of the fire is reduced, if you have nice glass doors
they have to come off, and they are fairly expensive.
Frequently asked questions
Gas Direct vent insert
Price range $1700.00 - $3500.00
plus installation. You will need gas
line, electricity, and liners pulled
down the chimney.
Wood burning insert
Price range $1200.00 - $3500.00
plus installation. You will need
electricity for the blower and a
liner pulled down the chimney
Vent-free logs
Price range $249.99 - $800.00
plus installation. You will need a
gas line.
Q- What about this third option? I've heard vent free logs have a lot of drawbacks?

A- Vent free gas logs (also called vent-less, non-vented) are tested to run with the damper completely closed or
with the damper completely open. These logs are 99.9% efficient and have oxygen depletion systems engineered
into them. We recommend opening the damper 1/4 inch in a traditional fireplace. By leaving the damper vent
open a little, you will never smell the odor that is sometimes complained about, and still maintain a very high
efficiency.  You will not have to modify your chimney, glass door, or fireplace opening size and look. The
drawbacks: the fire is not as realistic looking as vented gas logs, you may have to install a fireplace hood to push
the heat away from a close fireplace mantel.
Fireplace shown with a fireplace
hood. These really deflect the heat
out and away from the mantel. Cost
$59.99 to $189.99 plus installation.
doors? Won't these improve my efficiency.

A- Grate blowers and fire backs help you attain more heat while fire is
going. Typically the room you are in gets warmer, but from a heating and
cooling stand point, the draft is still taking most of the air up the chimney.
Lyemance dampers and glass doors help with your overall homes efficiency
when the fire is not going. Glass doors are recommended to be open when
the fire is burning at a high rate. Glass doors are tempered glass, not
ceramic, so they can only be shut when the fire is dying down.
Top mounted lyemance dampers stop
cold and  hot air from getting into the
chimney. They are easy to operate.
Price range $149.99 - $299.99.
Cozy grate heaters can push as
much as 40,000 BTU of heat into
the room from the fire. They are
available for vented gas logs and
wood. Price range $429.99 -
$589.99
Fire backs reflect and radiant heat
from the fire into the room.
Q- What if I do not want to modify my fireplace with inserts, or go with the vent-free gas logs?

A- The best vented gas log on the market is the Massive Oak by Monessen Fireplace. It has the beauty of the
vented logs, and puts about 20,000 BTU back into the room while it is running.
Massive Oak by Monessen vented gas log.
This innovative burner design really
throw a noticeable amount of heat into
the room without giving up any looks.
Price range for complete kit $419.95 -
539.95
Q- My fireplace does not draw well, and I get smoke or fumes coming back in. What can I do to remedy this?

A- First, make sure the chimney is clean and the damper is opening completely.  Second, draw is controlled by 2
factors: the size of the chimney flue or stack should be 1/10 the square inches of the opening face of the
fireplace, and the chimney has to be tall enough (2/10 rule) to get air flowing over the top which create and
upward draft. Some houses have been added onto, and the chimney
does not meet the height requirement. Some times you have to
increase the height of the chimney. If you have a large opening and
a small chimney size, you can reduce the size of your fireplace opening
by using a smoke guard or fireplace door that covers some of the
opening.
Adjustable Smoke guard by HYC
Q- I am putting on an addition or would like to add a fireplace to the room. What is the best option?

A- Basically it strongly depends on what your goals are based on heat and looks. Your architectural design may
limit your options. Choices are as follows:  Electric: Not very realistic looking, but can go almost anywhere. It is
expensive to run the heater element of the unit. The flame part is created by a light bulb. Gas Direct Vent: Easiest
when placed on a outside wall, but can go almost anywhere due to their flexible venting options. They are very
efficient, and are heater rated. The fire is behind a sealed glass. Vent-free fireplaces: Very flexible on location, put out
tremendous heat. Works best as a supplemental heat source in older less tight houses, and in larger areas that have
plenty of cubic feet of air space. Typically only low powered 10,000 BTU units can be used in bedrooms. B-vent or
Natural Vent Gas Fireplace: has to vent up through roof, least efficient or the gas types. They typically have weak
looking flames. Wood burning Prefab: has to vent up through roof, least efficient. They can not be put in bedrooms.
They can burn gas or wood.
Q- Why is there such a price range in fireplace doors?

A-  Glass doors have 3 categories. Stock is the least expensive where the sizes and colors are fixed. These door
manufactures can mass produce the product keeping the price down. Special Order is the next price category. The
sizes are fixed, but the color, screen options, and glass color can be specified. They have to put these doors together
one at a time with stock components. Custom doors give flexible, size, frame options, screen options, and glass color.
Arch fireplace, corner, and inside fit fall in this category. These are pretty expensive because you can specify any
option, and the factory spends weeks custom making all the parts from scratch.  Most glass doors are made with
tempered glass, but the frame materials type, a gauge vary widely.
sizes.




Stoll Fireplace Custom Arch door with
window pattern $1395.99