Buyer’s Guide Natural Gas Hearth Products
If you want an instant, warming fire in your fireplace without the hassle of chopping and carrying wood and cleaning out ashes, you should consider natural gas hearth products. They come in a wide range of sizes and styles, so it’s easy to find one that is right for your family’s needs. This publication will help you choose a natural gas hearth product that will give you warmth and beauty for many years to come.
Introduction Natural gas fireplaces, stoves, fireplace inserts and gas log sets burn more cleanly than wood fireplaces. This means no ash buildup, no creosote in chimneys and no sparks or flying embers that could burn holes in carpet or furniture. Natural gas hearth products are so clean, in fact, that they can be used anytime in areas of the country that have "no burn" regulations for wood fireplaces and stoves to reduce air pollution.
Controls A variety of controls are available for natural gas fireplace equipment. Most use a simple, continuously burning pilot light to ignite the flames. To start a fire, you turn a valve, flip a wall switch or use a remote control. Also available are spark ignitions that require no electricity, electronic ignitions and units controlled by a thermostat. Some gas fireplace equipment has several temperature levels so that you can "fine-tune" your comfort.
Here’s an explanation of each: Gas Logs If your home already has a fireplace, you can add gas logs to it. Gas logs are made of ceramic material and are designed to look like different kinds of wood logs, including pine, oak, birch or even driftwood. Log sizes range from 12 to 60 inches, and different sets have different numbers of logs. Some sets come molded all in one piece; other sets allow you to arrange some of the logs the way you want.
move heat into the room. Inserts can fit into almost any existing fireplace and come in a wide array of styles and sizes. Vented models come in an airtight metal cabinet with sealed glass doors. They sometimes require a chimney liner to ensure proper venting. Some models have a two-pipe system -- one brings in air for the burner, the other sends out the combustion byproducts. Unvented models do not require sealed glass doors - all of the heat produced goes into the room.
The heat output of gas stoves can be adjusted by turning the burner up or down, by linking the unit to a thermostat or by using a remote control. And because of their metal structure, gas stoves still provide some warmth even after the burner is turned off. Specialty Products Many manufacturers have introduced specialty products that can be used with fireplace equipment or outdoors. They include gas log-lighters, burning coal baskets, cast-iron firebacks, and outdoor fireplaces and campfires.
Fireplace Manufacturers & Web Sites Desa International www.desaint.com Earth Stove www.nbma.com Empire Comfort Systems www.hearth.com/empire Fire + Plus Fireplace Manufacturers Inc. www.fmionline.com GTI Gas Technologies HearthStone SoapStone Stoves www.hearth.com/hearthstone Heat-n-Glo www.heatnglo.com Heatech www.hearth.com/heartech Heatmaster www.heatmaster.com Jotul North America www.hearth.com/jotul Lennox www.davelennox.com Louisville Tin & Stove www.cozyheaters.
Portland-Willamette www.portwill.com Pyro Industries www.whitfield.com Rasmussen Iron Works www.riwinc.com Readybuilt Products www.readybuilt.com Rinnai www.rinnaiamerica.com Superior Fireplace www.superiorfireplace.com Temco Fireplace Products www.temcofireplaces.com Travis Industries Avalon Fireplace Xtrodinair Lopi www.hearth.com/travis/travis.html Valor www.valorflame.
