Q: Does the fireplace have a fan? 
A: Most models have a fan option, and it’s standard on some. Check the individual unit specifications or contact your local dealer for more information.

Q: How much heat can I expect from my wood burning fireplace? 
A: While they produce some heat, wood burning fireplaces are primarily decorative. Because the fire is burned with the damper open, some heat from the fire, as well as from the house, escapes up the chimney. Check the individual fireplace specifications for more information.

Q: Can I burn with the doors closed? 
A: Fireplaces equipped with doors should be operated only with doors fully open or doors fully closed. If doors are left partly open, the flame may be drawn out of the fireplace opening, creating risks of both fire and smoke.

Q: How can I get my hearth products serviced? 
A: You will need to call the dealer that you purchased the fireplace from or a local dealer in your area.

Q: Can I burn wood and gas logs at the same time? 
A: No.

Q: Where can I purchase parts for my fireplace?
A: You will need to call the dealer that you purchased the fireplace from or a local dealer in your area.

Q: How can I find the model number? 
A: Each fireplace has a rating plate, On that rating plate is your model number and serial number. Wood units typically have this plate, on the back.

Q: Can a blower be added to my fireplace? 
A: Blowers are optional on most heat circulating (grilles on top and bottom of fireplace) units, and some hearth products the blower is standard. Adding a blower is easily accomplished if power (110v AC) was provided to the electrical junction box of the fireplace at the time of initial installation. If power was not provided, a fan option is still possible, but installation is complicated and therefore more costly. Contact your local dealer to determine if your particular fireplace model and installation will accept an optional blower.

Q: Can I install the fireplace myself? 
A: The fireplace can be installed by the homeowner, but it’s a technical installation that must be done strictly according to local or national building codes and the unit’s installation manual. We recommend that installation be done by a factory trained professional.

Q: Can I install the fireplace into an existing chimney? 
A: No. Because the larger size of a masonry flue takes longer to preheat and longer to establish a draft, and requires more heat to maintain a proper draft, it’s unsuitable for use with a factory-build fireplace. Your unit’s safety test and UL listing are void without the factory-tested chimney system. Gas inserts, however, can be installed into an existing fireplace, and run a flue liner up the existing chimney.

Q: What is the difference between a standing pilot and electronic system? 
A: The standing pilot system is a self-contained millivolt system. You do not need a 110 power source to operate the fireplace. The unit will operate during a power outage. In colder climates, we recommend that you install a standing pilot because with the pilot in operation, it tends to keep the fireplace warmer and help establish the draft quicker. The electronic system will not operate when there is a power outage. If installed in a colder climate, they tend to attempt ignition more than once because the heat is not in the firebox.

Q: How does a gas fireplaces vent?
A: The majority of 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.

Q: Does the fireplace have a fan? 
A: Most models have a fan option, and it’s standard on some. Check the individual unit specifications or contact your local dealer for more information.

Q: What is the cost to operate? 
A: This varies by region, by gas utility and by fuel type. Based on national averages, a gas fireplace consuming 27,000 BTU’s per hour will cost from 12-15 cents/hour to operate. LP units are slightly higher to operate. Your monthly gas bill should include your exact cost per therm (100,000 BTU’s). Based on this rate, and the BTU input listed on the rating plate on your fireplace, you can calculate the cost for your area.

Q: How much gas does the pilot light use? 
A: This will vary by region, by gas utility and by fuel type. The pilot is consuming 600 to 800 BTU’s an hour. Your monthly gas bill should include your exact cost per therm (100,000 BTU’s). Based on this rate, you can calculate the cost for your area.

Q: Can I shut the pilot off in the summer? 
A: Yes, or you can safely leave it burning. The pilot helps keep the moisture from inside the firebox, which is caused from the humidity in the air. It also will extend the life of the thermopile and thermocouple when the pilot is left on.

Q: How can I get my hearth products serviced? 
A: You will need to call the dealer that you purchased the fireplace from or a local dealer in your area.

Q: Is “direct vent” the same thing as “vent-less”? 
A: No. Direct vent fireplaces use a sealed glass front to completely isolate combustion gasses and moisture from your home. This is especially important in new construction homes that are built very tightly to comply with today’s energy codes. Vent-less fireplaces are designed to expel combustion gases and moisture directly back into the room. Vent-less or non-vented are illegal in many states and municipalities.

Q: Where can I purchase parts for my fireplace?
A: You will need to call the dealer that you purchased the fireplace from or a local dealer in your area.

Q: Does a direct vent need to be on an outside wall? 
A: No, with today’s venting options, hearth products can be installed very economically almost anywhere in the home.

Q: How can I find the model number? 
A: Each fireplace has a rating plate either inside the operating door or in the lower controls cavity. On that rating plate is your model number and serial number.

Q: What are the advantages of the direct vent fireplace? 
A: Direct vent technology is available in single-sided or multi-sided fireplaces, as well as freestanding and insert models. They use a sealed combustion chamber that vents out the back or top, to the outside. This allows easy installation of a beautiful and realistic fireplace without the expense of a traditional chimney system. Because no room air is used for combustion, direct vents are especially efficient (up to 70+%) and will not alter the quality of your room air. All combustion air is drawn from outside the home and 100% of the combustion by-products are exhausted to the outside.

Q: Can a blower be added to my fireplace, gas or wood? 
A: Blowers are optional on most heat circulating (grilles on top and bottom of fireplace) units, and some hearth products the blower is standard. Adding a blower is easily accomplished if power (110v AC) was provided to the electrical junction box of the fireplace at the time of initial installation. If power was not provided, a fan option is still possible, but installation is complicated and therefore more costly. Contact your local dealer to determine if your particular fireplace model and installation will accept an optional blower.

Q: Can I install vent-less logs into my fireplace?
A: No. Installing vent-less products into a fireplace is a safety hazard as the fireplaces have not been tested and listed by Underwriters Laboratories. This means that the outcome of the burn has not been verified as being safe. Temperatures of vent-less products rise much higher than the fireplaces are tested to withstand.

Q: Can I install the fireplace myself? 
A: The fireplace can be installed by the homeowner, but it’s a technical installation that must be done strictly according to local or national building codes and the unit’s installation manual. We recommend that installation be done by a factory trained professional.

Q: Can I install the fireplace into an existing chimney? 
A: No. Because the larger size of a masonry flue takes longer to preheat and longer to establish a draft, and requires more heat to maintain a proper draft, it’s unsuitable for use with a factory-build fireplace. Your unit’s safety test and UL listing are void without the factory-tested chimney system. Gas inserts, however, can be installed into an existing fireplace, and run a flue liner up the existing chimney.

Q: Who would install the gas line? 
A: A licensed contractor or plumber can install your gas line. Check the yellow pages or contact your nearest dealer for a recommendation. What are my options for gas fireplaces besides direct vents? Non-sealed combustion models are also available (top vents) when a direct vent installation is impractical. Direct vent models are the preferred system for the benefits of greater efficiencies and the sealed combustion chamber.

Q: Does the fireplace come in LP gas? 
A: Yes. Most models can be ordered as either a natural gas or LP unit, or an LP conversion kit can be ordered with the fireplace.

Q: What happens if I lose my electricity? 
A: As long as your gas fireplace has a standing pilot ignition system, it will still operate during a power outage. (Some electronic ignition fireplaces will not operate without electricity.) Since the fan requires 110v ac to function, it will not be operable in an outage. NOTE: If you have a remote control on your fireplace, you most likely will need to turn your fireplace on manually during a power outage. This is done by locating the ON/OFF rocker switch located behind the lower grille of your fireplace, and turning it to the ON position.

Q: Can the gas fireplace be installed in a bedroom? 
A: Yes. Most building codes allow the installation of a gas fireplace in a sleeping room as long as it is a sealed combustion, direct vent model.

Q: If I want to convert my wood burning fireplace to a gas, is a set of gas logs or a gas insert going to be my best option? 
A: Your decision really comes down to whether heat or aesthetics is your number one priority. If heat is your first concern, or the existing wood fireplace has had a history of down drafting (smoking), you should purchase a gas insert. If your wood fireplace vents properly, and you’re not really looking for additional heat into the room, gas logs would be the logical choice. From an initial cost standpoint, an insert will cost 4 to 5 times more than a set of gas logs. However; since decorative gas logs are inefficient and a direct vent insert has an operating efficiency in the 70% range, your payback on the fuel you will save is about five years. After that the insert begins saving you money. I live in a warm climate and I don’t want heat.

Q: What are my options? 
A: Too much heat can sometimes be an issue even in colder climates. There are several fireplace models which allow you to control the amount of heat coming into the room. These units have a simple control which sends more or less heat out the venting system. Some models also have the option to duct heat to a different room (heat-zone) or into the home’s heat circulation system (heat-duct).

Q: How often do I have to clean the gas fireplace and vent? 
A: 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.

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