|
Hearth Solutions: Gas Inserts
|
Gas inserts are designed to be installaed into an existing open wood burning fireplace to transform it into an energy efficient zone heating machine, while adding an extreme amount of additional aesthetic and design value to any room they are in. Gas Inserts are easy to use, require minimal user intervention, and are clean as there is no wood or ash to clean up. Most insert's do not require electricity to operate and will be there for you when you lose power. |
Why would I purchase a Gas Insert?
To convert an un-attractive and hard to use fireplace into an attractive and easy-to-use fireplace.
To ultilize a readily available fuel such as natural gas or liquid propane.
To eliminate heat loss due to the from the home heat escaping up your fireplace flu.
To begin to use your fireplace again.
To add an attractive supplemental zone-heater to heat the rooms you spend the most time in.
To change the look of the fireplace, and to complement room design.
To add a back-up heat source in the case of a power outage. |
Typical Projects for Gas inserts:
|
There are a few different Gas insert installations which Best Fire installs regularly. Review below to find out which one will work best for your project. The following are only a sample of the Gas insert project that Best Fire can help you with. |
|
Gas Insert - New |
|
|
Situation: |
You have a wood fireplace that you rarely use. Burning wood has become cumbersome and difficult, and not worth all the effort for the minimal heat that it produces. The fireplace is drafty and cold, and when you do have it burning, it spills spoke in the home the wood debris get's all over the room. Plus, the doors are broke and it's just plain ugly...is a gas insert a solution? |
|
Solution: |
Best Fire, in one day of on-site time will completely change the warmth in your room and more importantly the way you feel about your fireplace. By adding an efficient gas burning insert, Best Fire will allow you to use your fireplace whenever you want with a a simple flip of a switch (or even on an automatically with a thermostat)! Best Fire will run the gas line needed, install the insert, venting, decorative surround, accessories, and instruct you on the operation of your new insert. Sometimes customers take the opportunity to completely change the look of the fireplace by installing new facing materials such as granite, marble, stone, mantels and other design features. Oh, almost forgot, during the installation Best Fire will be completely re-insulating around the damper area, no more cold drafts!!!
|
|
Before-Wood Fireplace?? |
After-Gas Insert |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to view more "Before-After" pictures... |
|
|
Installation Basics-Gas Inserts:
Gas Inserts need to be installed into an existing masonry or factory-built fireplace with a structuring sound chimney. (do I have a masonry or factory-built fireplace). The insert's body will be "inserted" into the exisitng fireplace's firebox, air intake and exhaust liners will be attached and will be extended into the existing flu, and terminated with a new cap on-top of your chimney. Gas inserts come in various sizes to accommodate different sized fireplaces. See the measuring guide below to identify the key dimensions of your fireplace in order to select the correct gas insert. Inserts will be visible from the front only, with the back of the insert being concealed within the your existing fireplace. Once "inserted" the remaining gap around the insert will be closed off and concealed with the use of model specific surround panels and decorative door and fronts. Most gas inserts do not require power to operate and can be operated with a flip of a switch. If power is needed for optional fan kits, power will be run to a near-by outlet.
|
|
|
|
Measure the following dimensions as shown above:
Opening Height:
Opening Width: Rear Width:
Depth (from opening to rear wall-top and bottom):
Depth of Hearth Extension (from opeing out to end of stone hearth):
Distance to above combustibles (from opening up to first piece of combustible materials-sheetroock, wood, paper, etc.): |
Venting Requirements - Gas Inserts:
|
All of Best Fire gas inserts Direct Vent. Simply put, Gas Insert Direct Vent technology uses two 3" liners attached to the insert. One is used to draw the air needed for combustion from the outside of the home to the insert, and the second liner is used to exhaust the by-products of gas combustion back outside. This creates one balanced "air-flow-equation" which preserves the quality of your indoor air. More importantly, the air needed for combustion is pulled from the outside, rather than using the air from the room (which you already paid to heat!!). The picture below shows a typical gas insert venting scenario. Both liners are extended from the insert to the top of your chimeny.
Special Note, NYS customers: Your fireplace's existing flu (the flu tiles in your chimney) need NOT be in working order. For example if your wood fireplace failed inspection and is not able to be used because of cracks or flaws in the flu tiles, a direct vent gas insert is a great solution to get your fireplace working again. Your flu acts as a non-combustible passage way in which the liners travel to their termination. However if significant, major deterioration of the flu and chimney have occured then a gas insert cannot be used.
Gas Direct Vent insert liners can only be installed into a dedicated flus. This means that the flu cannot serve multiple appliances such as water heater, furnaces, or dryer vents.
|
|
Above: Typical venting as connected to the body of a gas insert. |
Above: Typical venting of gas insert, showing the concealed co-linear liners and termination cap. |
|
|
| |
|
Each model insert with have specific clearances, restrictions, and requirements that must be adhered to during installation. Fore more information about Gas inserts, venting, and installation details, contact one of Best Fire's design consultants (518) 869-9600. |
|
Click here to learn more about the different types of gas insert venting..... |
|
