FAQ

F.A.Q’s

What is WETT certification?

A WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) certified technician has the ability to inspect a wood burning appliance and state whether or not it meets safety standards.

What does EPA certified mean?

An EPA certified wood appliance complies with strict emissions and efficiency regulations designed to reduce pollution and control energy costs. In an increasing number of jurisdictions, only EPA certified units are allowed to be installed. The EPA certification is your guarantee that the stove you are buying will burn cleanly and efficiently, reducing your heating costs and protecting the air we breathe.

What is the difference between catalytic converters and secondary combustion?

A catalytic converter is a device through which wood smoke is channelled. It lowers the combustion temperature of the gases, allowing them to be consumed at lower firing. Secondary combustion mixes air with the exhaust gases, causing them to re-ignite and burn before going up the chimney.

What's the importance of an ash drawer? (Wood Burning Only)

Ash drawers make cleanup a lot easier and safer. Instead of scooping out the ashes after every fire, simply dump them into the drawer and empty the drawer every few weeks. The drawer comes with a lid to prevent the ashes from flying out while they are being taken outside.

What's the difference between an insert and a zero clearance fireplace?

An insert is a wood or gas unit designed to fit or insert into an existing masonry fireplace and chimney. A fireplace is a masonry structure or factory build unit designed for burning wood or gas. A zero clearance fireplace is factory built and can be safely placed close to walls.

Does zero clearance REALLY have zero clearances?

No, all fireplaces have strict clearances that must be abided by, however with zero clearance fireplaces you are able to bring your combustible finishing materials right up to the stand-offs built into the fireplace. Under no circumstance are you to remove these stand-offs.

Should I choose wood or gas?

Both wood and gas are excellent ways to heat your home. Some questions to ask your self include:

  • Do I have a reliable and affordable supplier of wood?
  • Do I have room to stack and store my wood supply?
  • Am I willing to clean out and dispose of ashes?
  • Do I want the ability to turn the unit on and off as needed?
  • Do I have gas supply to my home?
  • What is the look I am trying to achieve?
  • How much heat do I want or need?
  • Would I rather use fossil fuel or renewable sources?
  • Will my floor plan allow for an approximate 5square foot allocation for the unit?
Can I burn both gas and wood in the same fireplace?

No.

What is the difference between a b-vent and direct vent fireplace? (Gas Fireplace Only)

A B vent fireplace takes air from the room and exhausts up a single flue. A Direct vent fireplace uses a double walled pipe which takes air from outside for combustion and then exhausts through another layer of the pipe. This can also be achieved using two 3″ pipes. B vent can only run vertically like a furnace chimney. Direct vent can be vented either vertically or horizontally.

Will my gas fireplace still operate during a power outage? (Gas Fireplace Only)

Gas fireplaces will still light during a power outage because of their millivolt lighting systems. However, if your unit has a fan, this will not operate without electricity.

How often should I schedule maintenance for my unit?

For woodburning fireplaces we recommend you getting your chimney inspected and swept yearly. Heavy use of a woodburning fireplace with improper combustion can cause creosote to build up very quickly.

For gas fireplaces, just like your gas water heaters, they should be serviced every year. This is to ensure the condition of your gaskets, safety features, pilot assemblies, ignition assemblies and to prevent the build up of soot and residual burn-off. If left for long periods of time this can become permanently baked into your glass.

How can I distribute heat from the unit to other parts of my home?

Air flow is the most important factor in moving heat from one area to another. Some units are equipped with a blower. Others allow for gravity vent kits to be added at the time of installation. Strategically placed pedestal or table fans as well as ceiling and furnace fans will also help with heat distribution. Additionally, the physical placement of the unit in the room is an important consideration.

Can I put a TV above my unit?

Woodburning, no. It’s highly recommended that you do not do this as the immense amount of heat coming from the unit will quickly damage your television.

Gas, yes. Most gas units now have many ways of dealing with heat build up, optional heat shift systems which allow you to take the heat from the fireplace and direct it up and away from the TV, power-vent systems allow you to pull the vast majority of the heat from the fireplace and pump it directly outside. However if you are not using a mantel or heat distribution option we do not recommend mounting a TV above the unit.

Can I just replace the unit I have?

Unfortunately as easy as that may seem, if it’s a zero-clearance fireplace those have stand-offs that are built onto the unit that protrude off of the unit behind your wall where-as the wall surrounding the unit needs to be removed to properly remove the entire unit. If it’s an insert, then yes, they are very easy to quickly replace.

However, you cannot reuse the venting of any old fireplace, all venting systems must be recertified or replaced.

Do You Service Fireplaces?

We only service that which we’ve installed, currently we also only service gas fireplaces. However if you’re having trouble finding someone to help you with servicing your wood burning fireplaces please contact us and we can provide you with a few companies that we trust.