Yes. All gas fireplaces are equipped with safety features such as a 100% fail-safe shut-off valves; if the pilot flame goes out, the gas flow will automatically turn off. In addition, our IAS-accredited laboratory tests and certifies all appliances to the latest multinational standards. Please remember that, like any other appliance, your gas fireplace should be cleaned and serviced regularly to ensure that it continues to provide warmth and convenience.
Most current fireplaces that have a standing (continuous) pilot ignition system will continue to operate during a power outage. Fireplaces like these generate a small amount of their own electricity - enough to operate the gas control - so that the fireplace will operate safely even when your furnace will not. If you have optional fans or a handheld remote control installed, they will not run during a power outage. Please note: if you do have a remote control installed, you may need to flip a switch in the control compartment in order to light the fireplace manually. Some fireplaces may be equipped with optional ignition systems like the Hot Surface (Electronic) Ignition or the Spark-To-Burner (Pilot less) Ignition. Fireplaces that are equipped with these systems will not operate during a power outage because they rely on the household electrical supply. Some models of fireplace are equipped with "integral" fans, which means that fans are required to keep surface temperatures below a certain safe limit. When the fans stop working during a power failure, a safety switch will automatically turn off the fireplace until it is within limits. The fireplace will then relight automatically. In this way, the fireplace will 'cycle' until power is restored to the fans.
All gas fireplaces need a constant supply of fresh air in order to operate. Direct Vent fireplaces have a sealed, glass-fronted combustion chamber that keeps the byproducts of combustion out of the living space. Air is drawn into the firebox from outside the home using a special co-axial flue pipe system. This 'pipe within a pipe' also exhausts the flue products outside the home. Direct vent fireplaces offer good efficiency because they don't steal heated air from the living space.
B-Vent fireplaces (sometimes called Top Vent or Natural Vent) draw air into the combustion chamber from inside the home. This fresh air is mixed with gas and burned in the fireplace. The fireplace exhausts the byproducts of combustion outside of your home using a dedicated B-Vent flue pipe. Although fresh air is used from inside your home, products of combustion are never vented into your home.
A Vent Free gas fireplace does not use a chimney or flue pipe.
Ontario regulations prohibit the sale of vent free gas fireplaces.
Have your fireplace and installation inspected yearly by a qualified service person. Visit our Safety Tips page for more tips and care information.
All fireplaces are designed to burn either Natural Gas (NG) or Liquid Propane (LP). When you order a fireplace, we will help you determine which fuel you will need.
If you want to convert from one fuel to the other after you have installed your fireplace, a conversion kit is available for most models. Some models are available in Natural Gas only. Contact us for more information and pricing.
Yes, or you can safely leave it burning year-round. It helps to minimize the moisture from accumulating inside the firebox.
This is a normal bi-product of combustion in gas fireplaces, and will continue to deposit over time. You will have to regularly clean the glass, log set, firebox, and gas control compartment.
It is very important to clean your glass after the initial 3 hours of burn time. Failure to do so can cause permanent etching of your glass.
Please refer to the installation manual or user's guide for your fireplace to see how the glass is attached to your specific model and instructions for removal.
The most common cause of pilot outage in gas fireplaces is actually a weak pilot flame. This usually indicates debris and deposits have built up causing weak fuel flow. A servicing and cleaning by one of our professionals can solve this. Contact us for more information.
Yes, contact us and we will be able to order extra fire stones or fire gems for you.
No, Ceramic composite materials are used for firebox accessories. Regular river rock will crack and shatter when subjected to high temperatures, therefore constituting a health and safety issue.
We can supply you with the correct composite river rocks for your fireplace. Contact us for more information.
This is normally caused by a weak air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber of the fireplace. The cause is from the accumulation of soot within the burner tubes, and collecting in/around the orifices. The solution is clean the orifices of debris, vacuuming all dirt and soot produced by the burning of fuel. We can correct this with a service call for you.
Some fireplace heaters are so effective at producing both radiant and convection heat that a blower will not do a lot to improve your comfort. Blowers cannot deliver radiant heat nor will they influence air circulation much beyond the immediate area of the fireplace. A blower can, however, help circulate heat into larger rooms in your home.
The majority of our gas fireplaces and inserts are direct vent (DV). This means they have a fixed glass front which seals the gas burner and combustion firebox off from your home. 100% of the combustion air used by the fireplace comes from outside the home through a coaxial pipe. A smaller pipe inside the larger pipe eliminates all combustible gases, maintaining indoor air quality. The vent can be run horizontally through an outside wall, or vertically through the roof, depending on your preference.
Yes. We recommend that you have one of our qualified technicians service your fireplace, stove or insert annually to ensure that it functions properly.
Some fan kits come with a rheostat control (like a light dimmer). You can turn the control down to reduce the air noise from your fan. The fan control can be found in the control area behind the lower louvre of the fireplace. We also provide optional remote controls which can control your fan speed and flame height from your favorite chair!
Your decision really comes down to how much of a priority heating efficiency is for you. If you want a lot of heat from your fireplace, you should consider a direct vent gas insert. If the look of the flame is more important then a gas log set may be the way you wish to go. We offer both a full line of inserts and vented gas logs to choose from. Installing room-vented or vent free log sets in our wood-burning fireplaces is unacceptable. Doing so will void your warranty on the fireplace and possibly your homeowners insurance.
Although the frequency of your fireplace servicing and maintenance will depend on use and the type of installation, you should have a qualified service technician perform an appliance check-up at the beginning of each heating season.
No. The louvres allow room air to move around the heat exchanger. Blocking this air flow can cause fires and will void your manufacturer's warranty and possibly your homeowner's warranty.
Installation of hearth products must be done in strict accordance with local or national building codes and the unit's installation manual, and should be installed by a factory-trained professional.
There are several gas fireplace models which allow you to control the heat coming into the room. You have the option of redirecting the heat totally out of your home, or to other parts of your home. Electric fireplaces are also available in a heat or no heat operation mode. Gas log sets are also another option to consider.
On gas fireplaces that are not brand new and are emitting some odour, try cleaning behind the upper and lower louvers. Dust can cause odour. Another source of odour can be the items you have on your mantel. Remove all objects from your mantel and then replace the objects one at a time. A third source of odour can be from the adhesives used in surround materials. This will need to be investigated by your installer. If these suggested sources don't correctly identify the odour, contact us and we will inspect your fireplace.
Not on a direct vent or B vent model. A gas fireplace is an engineered system that includes the firebox, burner, logs, venting and options which are tested and listed by the CSA. Changing any of the specifications or placement of the logs could void your manufacturer's warranty, and possibly even your homeowner's warranty.
Not if your fireplace was shipped with a glass panel on the front. Direct vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems and need the glass on to function properly. We sell optional screen mesh panels that go on the front of the glass that takes away any reflection, and adds an additional safety barrier against accidental contact with the hot glass panel. The other type of gas fireplaces we sell, called B-vent fireplaces, come with fixed, not sealed, glass fronts. You would need to check with your local dealer in the area to determine if the glass panel can be removed from this type of unit. Because removal of the glass is totally dependent on the specific unit installed, we cannot recommend that the glass be removed unless the specific model of unit denotes that it can be removed and the fireplace will still operate safely.
The climate in Ontario is high in humidity, so we don't recommend it. However, if you won't be using your fireplace for an extended period of time, you can turn the pilot off and follow the instructions in your user's manual to relight the pilot when needed.
Absolutely not. A direct vent uses a high temperature glass panel to seal off the burn area of the fireplace from the interior of the home. It pulls 100% combustion air to feed the fire from outside the home. Because of its design, a direct vent gas fireplace will not affect the indoor air quality of your home. Since no air from your home is going up the chimney, a direct vent model is very efficient. Vent free should actually be called room vented since the by-products of gas combustion all spill back into the room. The single largest by-product of the gas combustion process is water vapor. Over sizing or overuse of a vent free hearth product can lead to excess moisture in a well built, tightly constructed home. Excess moisture inside the home can contribute to odors, mold and mildew inside the home.
The glass on a gas fireplace WILL reach very high temperatures. USE CAUTION: Carefully SUPERVISE children in the same room as your appliance; alert everyone to the hazards of high temperatures; do NOT operate with protective barriers removed; keep clothing, furniture, draperies and other combustibles away. Barriers such as screens over our direct vent glass help reduce the risk of burn from touching the glass, and we offer a selection of screens in the Accessories section of our website.
While direct vent gas fireplaces are designed principally for their aesthetic value, we also sell and install fireplaces the generate as much heat output as possible to increase your home value and heating efficiency. It should be noted that while our fireplace generate a great deal of heat, they meet or exceed CSA standards for combustible temperatures. The allowable is 117°F above room temperature for combustibles. Average room temperature is 70-75°F; therefore a 187-192°F surface temperature can be expected. On a solid surface, 150°F is very hot to the touch (to put this in perspective, water boils at 212°F and the average bath water temperature is 110°F).
This is normal in the first few minutes of operation. If after the first 30 minutes of full burn you still have blue flames, an adjustment may be needed on your unit. We can assist you with the adjustment; contact us for more information.
The installation manual included with your logs includes detailed diagrams showing where the logs should be placed to allow for optimal product performance.
The proper size for your gas logs is determined by the size of the fireplace base and the overall size of the gas log and hearth kit. You will have to measure the front width, back width, depth and height of your fireplace. If you install your logs or gas log controls too close to the sides, you can cause damage to your fireplace and gas log controls.
Cost will vary from product to product based on the BTU input and the type of gas used. Contact Enbridge Gas with the BTU/hour input rating of the gas logs you are interested in and they should be able to relate it to the local, current fuel costs.
Gas logs will provide radiant heat in the general hearth area. Gas logs are easy to use, require little maintenance, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your fireplace whether on or off. Use in conjunction with glass doors will improve their heating capacity. For maximum heat output, a full direct vent insert should be considered.
Gas logs are usually made of high-temperature ceramic fibre materials.
Contact us and we will order you a new gas logs. Do not use your fireplace until your log set is complete and placed properly. Operating the fireplace with an incomplete log set or a log set that is improperly placed can cause sooting.
Sooting is the result of impingement caused by incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion occurs when a flame comes into contact with a surface, which in turn cools the flame and prevents combustion.
Most fans are wired into the fireplace with a fan sensor switch. This switch will activate the blower when the firebox heats up to a certain temperature. It will also automatically turn the blower off when the fireplace is turned off and the unit cools to a certain temperature. This sensor is provided so that you will not be circulating cold air in your home. The amount of time needed to heat up the fan sensor will differ depending on the model of your fireplace. It is common that blowers installed in Firebrick products will take longer to sense the heat and turn on your blower. Firebrick has greater insulating characteristics and holds the heat inside your firebox resulting in higher radiant heat and greater efficiencies.
A damper clamp is included with your gas log set and must be installed to maintain a small opening at all times to allow for the escape of any pilot exhaust. When the logs are in use, the damper must be fully open.
Yes. You can change the look of your fireplace with one of our mantels. Depending on your specific fireplace, you can also give your fireplace a "face lift" by changing the facing and/or trim options.
No, you cannot convert your gas fireplace to a wood burning fireplace.
Many of our gas fireplace models that have louvres or grills on the front can have a fan kit added. You will want to make sure that electricity is run to the junction box underneath the fireplace first, before ordering and installing a fan kit. You can test the junction box by plugging a lamp into the junction box and switching it on and off. You should also make sure the circuit breaker is not tripped.
If there is no electricity to the junction box you would have to run electricity to the fireplace first before the fan kit could be installed.
As soon as you have a working junction box, you can order a fan kit through us, and our fan kits include installation instructions.
No. The larger size of a masonry chimney is unsuitable for use with a factory built fireplace. We do offer several wood burning or gas burning inserts that are designed for retrofit into an existing masonry fireplace, and they include special venting that can be used inside of your existing masonry chimney.
On the contrary, the glass panel keeps warm room air which your furnace has already heated from going up your fireplace flue. Direct vent fireplaces are excellent sources of zone heating by bringing room air in the bottom grill, heating and returning it to the room through the top grill.
The majority of our gas fireplaces and inserts are direct vent (DV). This means they have a fixed glass front which seals the gas burner and combustion firebox off from your home. 100% of the combustion air used by the fireplace comes from outside the home through a coaxial pipe. A smaller pipe inside the larger pipe eliminates all combustible gases, maintaining indoor air quality. The vent can be run horizontally through an outside wall, or vertically through the roof, depending on your preference.
The term "zero clearance" has two meanings. The first is whether or not the fireplace can be placed on a floor without footings. The second meaning of zero clearance is if you are able to finish up to the face of the fireplace, so that no metal shows after installation is complete. There are several models on our website that are capable of this clean-faced, zero clearance finish.
Heatilator carries "Geneva" model B-vent gas fireplaces which are sold without fixed glass on the front. You can view these fireplaces at www.heatilator.com.
An Intermittent Pilot Ignition (IPI) system is an electronic system which uses an electrode to ignite the pilot gas. The pilot flame lights the main burner gas in turn. The term "intermittent" is used because the pilot burner flame is only present when the main burner is operating. When the main burner is off the pilot is also off. The IPI system ensures the pilot flame extends over the burner for immediate ignition and conserves energy when the appliance is not in operation.
A B-vent gas hearth product must be vented vertically and uses fresh air from inside the home to provide oxygen to the fire. A direct vent has a sealed glass front and pulls all of its fresh air from outside the home. Direct vents can be vented vertically or horizontally through an exterior wall. Direct vents are a completely sealed system; B-vent appliances are not.
The flames are not adjustable.
Yes. Contact us for conversion pricing and service availability.
No. The hearth kit is designed to work with only the appropriate gas logs. Attempting this could result in injury, damage or worse. Additionally, burning wood voids the warranty of the hearth kit. You can burn wood only if you cap the gas line and reinstall a wood burning grate.
No. You must leave the doors open when you are operating your gas logs to avoid damaging the controls.
The Hearth Kit can easily work with a left side gas line. Consult the installation manual for instructions.
Never, ever wash your logs. Remove the logs carefully from the fireplace in a box, take them outside and use a soft brush or vacuum to clean them. Make sure you replace the logs exactly as they were originally placed.
On a new gas fireplace there is a curing time or burn-in time. When initially burning your new gas fireplace, the oils, etc. from manufacturing will be burning off the fireplace. We recommend burning the fireplace 3 hours; completely cooling down the fireplace, removing the glass and cleaning it with household glass cleaner or Glass Bright; replacing the glass and continuing to burn the fireplace an additional 9-21 hours. (Make sure you re-latch the glass so it is securely fastened on your fireplace.) If necessary, open a window to release any odour during this process. This should eliminate the manufacturing smell on a new fireplace.
Not if your fireplace was shipped with a glass panel on the front. Direct vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems and need the glass on to function properly. We sell optional screen mesh panels that go on the front of the glass that takes away any reflection, and adds an additional safety barrier against accidental contact with the hot glass panel. The other type of gas fireplaces we sell, called B-vent fireplaces, come with fixed, not sealed, glass fronts. You would need to check with us determine if the glass panel can be removed from this type of unit. Because removal of the glass is totally dependent on the specific unit installed, we cannot recommend that the glass be removed unless the specific model of unit denotes that it can be removed and the fireplace will still operate safely.
Minimum sizing is determined by consulting the measurements provided in the installation manual. Your local dealer will provide assistance in properly sizing your gas log set.
The cost will vary depending on the degree of difficulty in getting a gas line to your fireplace. While we do use factory-trained installers, all homes are different and therefore the degree of difficulty will vary as well. For a quote, contact us.
Gas logs create a beautiful fire that will liven up a party or enhance a relaxing, quiet atmosphere. Gas logs are convenient, easy to operate and require minimal maintenance.
Yes. Direct vent gas fireplaces and stoves are designed for installation in this manner. Direct vent gas fireplaces are installed and vented without the need of masonry work.
Yes. A zero clearance direct vent fireplace does not require any existing fireplace or chimney system and would vent straight through the outside wall.
There are several exterior gas fireplaces on the market which do not require venting off the top or rear of the unit; they simply vent out the front. However for the best flame effect, install a zero-clearance wood-burning fireplace complete with venting, or a full masonry fireplace, and install a gas log set.
It is not possible to convert a "B" vent fireplace into a direct vent. It is possible to add a power vent. We would need to know a few more things - how far do you want to vent etc. The downsides of a power vent system are noise, permanent power requirements and cost.
If your fireplace has electronic ignition, hooking up to a smart system is a relatively straightforward process; essentially it is just another switch. If your unit has a standing pilot system, you will have to install a relay which goes from millivolts to 24 volts, which is the operating level for most smart systems.
The existing vent is likely a B vent system and almost all efficient units today use a balanced flue system - a pipe within a pipe - where exhaust is released through the inner pipe and intake fresh air comes in through the outer pipe. This is also known as a direct vent system (although sometimes this name may be confusing because the system can work either horizontally or vertically). The direct vent system cannot be hooked up to an existing B vent system. Your best (and possibly only) option to hook up to the existing B vent is to install an efficient B-vented-style insert unit, made to go into existing wood units. This insert unit has a zero clearance kit option which allows it to be hooked up to a B vent system where the fireplace has been removed.
An approved metal firebox refers to either a gas or wood burning fireplace that an insert would fit into. A zero clearance kit is a metal box shaped to fit a gas fireplace insert and is installed In the wall and framed to. It requires a B-vent type vent system which ultimately will terminate past the roof line.
In 49 out of 50 times, you will not be able to completely take out your existing fireplace without affecting your surrounding finishes. There are small efficient inserts available specifically designed to fit into existing fireplaces. There also is the option to partially cut out your existing fireplace and install an efficient insert with a zero clearance kit.
It is not standard on most fireplaces to have a fan. They are generally options ranging in price, depending upon the model, from $150 to $300. Some units come with built in modulating flame/heat controls. Wall mounted calibrated thermostats are extra and cost from $39 and up depending upon the features and the installation required. It is possible to add fans and thermostats after the initial installation of the fireplace.
Not all direct vent fireplaces are efficient, but most are, it depends on whether they have heat exchangers etc. or not. Definitely open B vented units are inefficient and can cause drafts. Some sealed B-vented units are as efficient as the better direct vent units as long as they have been installed properly with fresh air make up. Quite often in older homes there is adequate fresh air make-up; fresh air kits are usually required for newer, 'tighter' homes.
Adding a set of doors to an open fireplace will not increase the efficiency of a fireplace. Furthermore you may blow the doors out or melt the valve of your gas fireplace by operating the fireplace with the doors closed. However, when the fireplace is not operating, having the doors closed will prevent heat from your house from going up the flue, whereas with gas fireplaces the damper is always open. Some open prefabricated gas fireplaces have the facility for adding a fan which will push some of the heated air into the room, but there is no way to add a fan to a basic log set to recover heat. A fan will modestly increase the efficiency of a fireplace by accelerating the rate at which room air is heated and circulated. In our experience, the more a unit relies on a fan for efficiency, the less effective the unit.
Installing an open gas log set into a wood-burning fireplace is essentially just changing fuels. If your wood-burning fireplace smokes under certain conditions, it is likely that a log set will spill some of its combustion by-products into the room under the same conditions. In these circumstances, it is recommended to install an efficient gas insert with a single or double liner vent system.
Almost all gas fireplaces come with complete log sets that cannot be altered. The fireplaces are tested with a particular burner and log set up that cannot be altered without voiding the manufacturer's warranty. Some of the more basic "builders" units have burner upgrades available, and a couple of the higher-end specialty direct vent units are starting to offer a couple of burner options, but for the most part, most gas fireplaces have no options for different burner and log setups.
Fireplace components, like most other manufactured products, are generally not universal or interchangeable; especially finishing items such as trims and log sets, which distinguish one manufacturer from another.
Vented gas logs can only be used in a wood-burning fireplace. A coal-burning fireplace is too shallow. Vented gas logs are not recommended for a stove because of safety concerns.
This may be possible, depending on the make and model of your gas log set.
The logs installed in gas fireplaces cannot be altered. The set-up of the logs is specific to the way the burner has been tested and works. Also, if you alter the logs, the warranty is likely to be voided.
If you have an existing wood burning fireplace you can install a log set. They come in various sizes to suit different sized openings and they can also be controlled by a wall switch or a remote control.
The best way to achieve this effect is with a gas log set in either an existing masonry fireplace or a prefabricated zero clearance wood burning fireplace. We often use the zero clearance wood burning fireplace with a gas log set in renovations and new home construction to achieve the best aesthetics. If you look on our web site the combination would be a Superior wood burning zero clearance fireplace with a Peterson log set installed within it.
Doors will cut down on your heat loss when the fireplace is not in operation, as the damper in wood burning fireplaces is either disabled or removed entirely when a log set is installed. To increase the opening height you would have to have the chimney capacity calculated for the new opening.
A direct vent insert is an efficient gas insert made to go into an open wood-burning masonry or prefabricated fireplace. It is a sealed unit with a glass front. A direct vent insert has two flexible liners, each generally three inches thick, that are installed into the chimney flue, one for exhaust and one for air intake, making it a closed system. This insert primarily provides radiant heat through the glass, although convective heat is pulled around the firebox from the room, often passing through some form of heat exchanger and returned to the room.
A fan itself does not heat. It is the efficiency of the unit which counts. A fan will assist in the circulation of converted heat in the room - as will a ceiling fan, it does bring in fresh air from outside. A fan installed in a fireplace usually increases the efficiency of a fireplace 5 to 10%.
Many direct vent fireplace manufacturers make their own vent systems. Their units are only approved with these systems. You have to be very careful that the new unit will match up with the existing vent system and that approvals are possible.
If the new fireplace has been made by the same manufacturer as the old one, you should have no problem. If not, the complete vent system including the exterior vent termination will have to be changed. This is because each manufacturer receives approval for their units based on the use of their own vent system. So one manufacturer's fireplace will not be approved with another's vent system. There are a few exceptions with some smaller manufacturers that use common vent systems made by third-party approved vent manufacturers.
A few manufactures have come up with designs that have minimized the exposed metal on direct vent fireplaces.
Only sealed direct vent fireplaces can be vented horizontally out a wall. The only exception would be an open fireplace with a power vented system, which is usually noisy and not recommended in residential installations.
To convert your wood-burning fireplace into gas, you must get a gas fireplace insert or gas log set. They are designed to fit into existing masonry and prefabricated fireplaces
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