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Tips on Buying fireplace
by D Ruplinger
Have you decided the allure of a warm, toasty fire is something
you can no longer resist? Is the purchase of a fireplace in your
future? There are many options depending on your needs, where
you plan on installing the fireplace, and your budget. Below
are some things to think about and consider.
1) Is your fireplace going to be in a new home you’re
constructing or are you adding one to an existing home? As you
probably expect, it’s much easier to put in a fireplace if
you’re building a new home or putting one in an addition you’re
adding on. If you are adding one to an existing home, you need
to consider the following. Is there an existing chimney I can
use for venting and is it in good shape? If I don’t have a
chimney to use for venting is there somewhere I can place the
fireplace so that it can directly vent outside? Or am I
considering a vent-free fireplace?
2) What type of fireplace do you want? Would you like a
wood-burning fireplace (http://www.fireplacesinfo.com/wood)? If
you are venting your fireplace through a chimney, the chimney
needs to be in good working order. If you don’t have a chimney
or if it will be very expensive to get the chimney working
properly another option for venting your wood-burning fireplace
is with a direct venting system. A direct venting system can be
used on nearly any room with an exterior wall. Do you prefer a
gas fireplace instead of a wood-burning fireplace? A gas
fireplace lets you avoid the work and mess of burning wood and
can either be vented through a chimney, direct-vented or
possibly even using a vent-free system.
3) Be cautious if considering a vent-free fireplace. Adding a
vent-free fireplace to an existing home can be an attractive
option to many people because there’s no need to worry about
having a safe chimney or having to have an outside wall to
place the direct vent. And because there’s no venting to the
outside, there’s no heat loss.
If you are considering a vent-free fireplace though, be aware
of these proper operations procedures from the research
division of the American Gas Association: only use the
fireplace for short periods of time (less than 4 hours at a
time); do not use in a small confined space; and do not use as
the only source of heat. In addition, a vent free fireplace
should not be installed if anyone in your home is pregnant,
anemic, has respiratory problems; has heart problems, or is
diabetic.
A few other considerations with vent-free fireplaces: they can
cause excessive moisture; there may be a noticeable smell from
the fireplace; and levels are low enough to not be considered
dangerous to people who are healthy.
4) Another fireplace option is an electric fireplace. The
electric fireplaces today are efficient and fairly inexpensive
to operate. An electric fireplace is pretty much a “plug and
go” item. You take it home, plug it in, and enjoy it. An
electric fireplace will generate some heat but is not intended
to be used as the primary source of heat in a room.
5) Look before you buy. A great place to do research is a store
that sells fireplaces and/or fireplace surrounds. Some companies
who specialize in selling brick, stone, and tile for fireplace
surrounds also sell the fireplace inserts as well. If you go to
their showrooms you’ll have the opportunity to see both the
fireplaces and some of the fireplace surrounds with different
styles of mantles, stone, brick, tile, and hearthstones. When I
was building my home and was looking for fireplace ideas I went
to my local stone company. They had a showroom with over 20 gas
and wood-burning fireplaces on display. Each fireplace had a
different surround that had been built by a local mason using
various types of bricks and stones. It helped me make my
decision on what brick I wanted to purchase, the style of
surround I wanted, along with the type of stone I wanted for my
hearthstone. Another good place to do research is on the
Internet.
6) Work with a professional. Unless you are purchasing an
electric “plug and go” fireplace or you are an expert in the
installation of fireplaces, don’t attempt to install one
yourself. Consult with a professional because you want to make
sure it is installed correctly so there are no dangerous fumes
emitted and so the fireplace is not a fire hazard.
A fireplace can be a wonderful addition to a home. I have a gas
fireplace. It’s great to be able to turn on the fireplace on
cold evenings and enjoy the coziness and warmth it provides.
One of my friends has a wood-burning fireplace. They enjoy
their fireplace as much as I enjoy mine.
D Ruplinger is a featured writer http://www.fireplacesinfo.com.
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