THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701140109
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 76 lines
WINTER HAS ARRIVED, bringing with it the need for effective home heating. Thousands of retailers across the country offer a range of home-warming devices, including portable space heaters, wood-burning and free-standing stoves, gas-, wood- and pellet-fueled fireplaces, fireplace inserts and many more.
The choice is yours.
The best-selling fireplace in America today is the gas-fueled unit. According to the Hearth Products Association, American families purchased 11.3 million gas-fueled units in 1995, and sales continue to climb.
Gas has a reputation for being more efficient than electric heat, cleaner than wood heat and readily available, because it's primarily a domestic resource.
Other perks? A remote control or wall thermostat is all it takes to adjust the warmth of a gas-fueled unit. And when the power goes out, a gas unit with standing pilot can be used as a supplemental heat source.
For those who want to get more efficiency out of their fireplace or replace a costly electric heating unit, a gas fireplace is a good alternative.
``It's really popular to convert a wood-burning fireplace into a gas fireplace, especially if you're tired of hauling logs,'' said John Youens, owner of The Fireplace and Hot Tub Shop in Hampton. ``All you need is a plumber to install a gas line to your fireplace.''
And you have to live in a neighborhood with gas lines.
The cost of installation depends on the location of your home's gas meter in relation to your chimney. According to Skip Savell, a serviceman at A-1 American, installation can cost as little as $300. But when the gas meter is at one end of the house and the chimney is at the other, Savell says it requires a lot more work to connect the gas line.
But is it worth the trouble?
``Vent-free gas fireplaces put out a lot more heat than wood-burning models,'' he said. ``And it's probably less costly to use a gas fireplace than a wood one for the same amount of the time.''
Special precautions, however, need to be taken with gas fireplaces. HouseMaster, a home inspection company, writes that ``most safety regulations require gas-burning units be connected to a fireplace with a functional and permanently open flue to allow for the exhaust of combustion products and natural gas.''
Also it's important to know which kind of fireplace you have so you buy the correct kind of logs. ``Otherwise,'' Youens warns, ``they can be dangerous.''
Though there's not much difference in appearance, unvented fireplaces produce a lot more heat than vented fireplaces, because there's no chimney to release any of the warmth or gas outside.
But more heat, in this case, also means more risk of carbon monoxide buildup - a problem you can avoid with a vented hearth.
Vented gas logs, which cost between $99 and $199, should only be used in vented fireplaces with the damper open. ``Treat (vented units) just like a regular fireplace,'' Youens said.
The alternative, non-vented logs, produces more heat, but also increase the risk of carbon monoxide buildup inside. Non-vented logs cost anywhere from $250 to $400.
Other factors to consider when choosing a gas fireplace: heating ability and aesthetics.
For those in the market for aesthetics alone, there are decorative models designed to re-create the feel of the more traditional wood-fueled hearth. If aesthetics aren't part of your decision-making process, choose a furnace-rated model for high efficiency and heat output. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
HEARTH & HOME MAGAZINE
Vent-free gas fireplaces are gaining popularity in homes, because
they produce a lot of heat with minimal mess and expense.
Graphic
SAFE USE OF WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACES
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]