Who doesn’t want to save a dollar? And how does this relate to your fireplace?

According to www.stretcher.com the increase in the installation of gas fireplaces into new home construction and the ever increasing amount of consumers converting their wood burning fireplaces with gas inserts highlights the growing importance of fireplaces in people’s lives. Granted; many people only look for the ambiance of the burning flame but many more of us have come to realize that the gas fireplace is a cost efficient, safe, clean burning and economical way to heat our homes (The Dollar Stretcher, 2012).

There are a number of industry concepts that probably could use some clarification; especially as it will contribute to a better understanding of how a gas fireplace can be efficient while reducing costs and increasing savings.

We have all probably heard the concept of “The 80/20 Rule”: studies have shown over time that most people spend 80% of their time in 20% of the home.  If this is the case, think about it; you are watching T.V. in the family room for 3 hrs. Should you put your furnace on (running at 80,000 BTU+) or your fireplace on (running at 25,000 BTU+)? Doesn’t you gas bill reflect the total amount of BTU’s you consume in one month? This rule has led to the concept of “Zone Heating”; heating individual areas of the home instead of the whole house; thereby reducing the overall consumption of gas and reducing the cost of heating.

Fireplaces can be used as a secondary or supplemental heat source to the furnace. Depending on your home layout a gas fireplace can maintain a comfortable temperature on the level it’s installed on, with an added benefit that warm air will migrate to the level above.   It can also be used if a power failure occurred; especially if installed in a basement; it would be able to reduce the risk of your pipes freezing or bursting.  

A traditional gas fireplace has technology that is geared towards its efficiency as a heater and its overall effectiveness. This is perfectly evident in the Heat & Glo and Heatilator gas fireplaces. Albeit that all fireplaces produce some heat; some models are just better geared to the job at hand.

Direct vent technology (being able to vent horizontally through a wall and terminate) was invented by Heat & Glo in the early 80’s and now is used by all fireplace manufacturers. This “balanced flue” system; which in effect is a pipe within a pipe, only allows air replacement from the outdoors in as it exhausts the gases from burning out, while the glass emits heat into the room; all this occurring in the firebox which is sealed or separated from the room. Sort of like your lungs; breathe oxygen in and carbon dioxide out while the lungs transfer oxygen to the blood for dispersal.  

Fireplaces produce heat in two distinct ways; radiant heat and convective heat. The radiant heat is the heat radiated off the surface of the glass where as convective heat is the air circulated around the firebox and expelled out of the top of the fireplace via the heat exchanger.

Most of the heat produced by a gas fireplace is radiant. To increase its effectiveness the BTUs and the glass surface size and type play a role in its effectiveness. Rule of thumb; more BTUs = more heat and larger surface glass = more radiating heat. The BTUs can also be adjusted to achieve a comfortable heating level.

The convective heat a fireplace produces can effectively be enhanced via a fan system. The fan allows the circulation of heat to a larger area and can be regulated via a rheostat or speed control dial that allow the customer to regulate heat output. These fans are often used to push the heat further into the room and away from the underside of the mantel above or any appliances like T.V.s. These fan kits can also be installed after market as long as power has been run to the fireplace junction box and are wise investments adding greatly to the overall efficiency of the fireplace.

Heat & Glo and Heatilator have also included some attributes to their fireplaces that are extremely effective and also contribute to its energy efficiency and cost saving technology:

• ·      Its “IntelliFire and IntelliFirePlus” ignition systems (No Standing Pilots) has increased the efficiency of its fireplaces that are fast becoming an industry standard. Since the ignition systems no longer have the traditional thermocouples and thermopiles, replacement parts and services calls are dramatically reduced.

• ·      The ignition systems in conjunction with its wireless wall controls allow for a 50% reduction in flame turn-down and heat as well as fan speed control at a touch; consumers now have a wide range of heat controllability.

• ·      Angled Heat Deflectors are standard components that direct the convective heat towards the feet especially when the fan is engaged.

• ·      Safety Screen barriers are standard on each and every model protecting contact with the fireplace glass and offering peace of mind.

• ·      Multiple function wall controls and remotes allow for the total control of fireplace efficiency and affectivity.

As is the case with all fireplaces; their efficiency and ability to control energy costs are dependent on their usability in a continuous fashion and as such should be regularly maintained and serviced. Remember, always have your fireplace serviced regularly in order to maintain one means of reducing your energy costs: your fireplace.

By Eileen Fortier/RvW

References:

Cristiano, Christine (2012) “Energy saving gas fireplaces” [Online]. Available from: http://www.stretcher.com

First Class is not just a seat on an airplane; what comes to mind is Service, high quality and a “friendly” atmosphere. We at Mr. Fireplace give the ultimate tools for a gas fireplace experience with more fun, less stress and top success culminating in us being awarded the Consumer Choice Award for outstanding Sales and Service in 2012.

The ‘new breed’ of consumer: “mid age”, wants quality and durability; choosing natural gas for the cleanest burning alternative fuel; not to mention, the green aspects such as zone heating which gives the user the ability to heat the area of their home they use the most with a fireplace instead of the whole house with a furnace; helping to preserve the environment.

The ‘new breed’ of consumer is adding additional gas fireplaces in their homes, putting heat where they want it.

This ‘new breed’ of consumer wants low maintenance and smaller spaces extending their entertainment fun outdoors; again, with a gas appliance.

If your gas fireplace will not operate at a push of a button or remote control/wall control, or the pilot will not light, or the burner lights but will cycle on and off; to escape stress, simply call Mr. Fireplace 403-272-9845 (Calgary), 403-346-9050 (Red Deer) or (604) 591-2261 (Surrey) for a Service Technician who has proper tools and test equipment to adjust, service and troubleshoot your gas appliance.

“The art of life; is the art of avoiding pain.”  (Thomas Jefferson).

During my last move in August of last year I damaged my 15 year old BBQ enough that I had to finally throw it out. Of course that meant no barbecuing that fall or this spring. I had checked a number of retailers and differing brands and just couldn’t decide; the overwhelming problem was the size of my balcony would not accommodate the larger stainless steel models and my unwillingness to have a BBQ take up the majority of my balcony. So, I started looking around for a round BBQ: enter Mr. Fireplace’s new line of portable BBQ’s called “CADAC”.

Small, Round, Portable.

Marketed as predominately a camping/backyard portable grill; at first appearances they looked rather too small. When I discovered that the CADAC 5000 came with its own carrying case, LP adapter, reversible non-stick griddle, paella wok and BBQ grill; what’s not to love; all the attachments I could possibly use and all of them included. I decided to overlook its size and give it a try. Excellent choice.

Better yet; it cooks like a charm heating from the bottom up and with no lid required unless you want to bake, roast or steam; the results were amazing. All of the cooking surfaces with the exception of the non-stick reversible grill are porcelain coated and allow for very easy cleaning under a tap – a true bonus. Since no burn-off time is required and the fact that most of the grilling is done on lowest heat setting, I’ve actually saved on the amount of propane used.

Best of all; whether I cook steak, chicken, burgers, salmon fillets or vegetable skewers they have been the juiciest I’ve ever cooked with no flare-ups that singe the food, no surface or grill option that I do not have and for the first time in decades; lots of space on my deck, absolutely hassle-free barbecuing and a BBQ that is easy to maintain with fantastic results.

This is a winning combination.

Allow me to paint you a picture, it’s a warm summers evening and you are sitting out in your back yard. You’ve got an ice cold beverage in hand, your Saber grill cooking up one of Mr. Fireplace’s BBQ recipes of the day (if you haven’t already check out our Facebook page for some delicious grill recipes daily) and your relaxing trying to enjoy the peace and quiet.  But all that fills your backyard is the sounds of traffic; The honking horns, screeching tires, the sirens. “THAT’S IT!” you holler “There has got to be a solution to this noise!!” and there is.

Enter our new Yosemite Water Fountains. They come in all sizes (anywhere from 9″ – 7′ tall) and are designed for indoor or outdoor use so they make a perfect additional to your office desk or finish off your outdoor oasis.  Some offer ambient lighting and traditional or modern designs. These fountains come assembled, just place the pump in behind the trap door, fill it with water, plug it in and let the relaxation begin.

Whatever your tastes are there is a fountain for you.

Death of a BBQ

Let me take you back in time. Mid summer 2011, I arrive home from a long day at work eager for some BBQ and maybe a libation or two only to be notified by my wife that the BBQ will not turn on. My initial response was that we were out of propane, but upon further inspection I found that was not the issue. The issue was in fact that the burner in the bottom of the BBQ had completely disintegrated. To make matters worse there was the beginning of a hole in the bottom of the BBQ making it beyond repair. This BBQ had a good long life (for a BBQ purchased at a big box store), but its days were over.

The Dark Days After

The months that followed were pain staking when it came to barbequing. First was the little camping BBQ on a table. As fun as that was, cooking for a family of five was a lesson in patience and turn taking with this BBQ. All the while I was thinking “I just need to get through this summer” and “We live in Calgary, how long can this summer really be?” After a couple weeks of the camping BBQ life, we upgraded to another used camping BBQ, this time with legs and a bit bigger. This BBQ was a huge improvement over the first, but still barely cut it as a BBQ for my family. Finally the snow hit, and the BBQ season could be put on the back burner till the New Year.

Past Grilling Issues

When I started the process of looking into a new BBQ I began by going over the issues I had with my previous grill. First of all the flare-ups were horrible on the grill. Flare-ups are a steaks worst enemy. These nasty little balls of fire cause your food to burn, dry out or singe your eyebrows. They are the number one source of people’s BBQ fears besides start-up. Other issues were assembly (that summer I leisurely watched a group of guys in the house down from me take an entire day assembling their BBQ) and finally the heat distribution. My old grill that decided it was too hot for its own good and self destroyed itself was just that, way to hot. There were hot spots and cold spots and if you reached over the fire (whether it be reaching back of BBQ for food or lifting lid) you would lose all the hair on your arms.

Making a Decision

Then came the little grill that could. The Saber line of grill’s was presented to us along with food cooked right there on the grill. The food was remarkable! The Saber grills were available in a size that was right (the 2 burner R33 models) for my living space. Having only a 4’ x 8’ back pad available to me this was a huge concern. It is also on heavy duty locking casters so I can move it around and lock it in place as I need. Saber grills come with a patented infrared cooking system for superior grilling performance resulting in even temperatures, no flare-ups and 30% less propane consumption. Less propane usage means less running to the gas station to fill up the tank mid cooking. My biggest objections to my previous grill were answered with the Saber grill. The decision was easy.

Assembly

Once I got the grill home I could hardly contain myself. I needed to get this grill together. It was a Friday evening and having put little thought into my neighbors’ previous experience with their day long BBQ assembly I dove right in. The grill comes in one box, and most of it is pre-assembled. The front and rear of the base must be put together, the casters needed to be installed, the entire head of the grill is already together and just needs to be inserted and screwed into the base. Finally the shelves were installed and the emitter plates and grill grate were dropped in place. All in all the grill was together in 45 minutes with one person and kids climbing all over you every time you try and do anything. While the grill can be assembled by one person, I would suggest two. The box itself can be quite heavy and getting the head of the grill out of the box can be quite tricky by yourself.

Starting Grill

Starting this grill is a snap. My wife through some previous non-discussed BBQ related nightmare has a fear of lighting barbeques (as do many people). When I showed her the ease of starting this grill you should have seen the relief in her face. All you do is turn the knob to the lightning bolt and listen for the burner to light up. Once the burner has ignited you set the knob to the desired amount of heat. Each burner can be lit separately.

Cooking

One of the first things I noticed was how I could reach right over the grill, and while you felt there was heat there, it didn’t burn your arm like my previous grill. My arm hair rejoiced. The Saber grills use a proprietary IR cooking system that keeps meat naturally juicy and tender, even when cooked medium or well done. You can grill a steak to perfection, while cooking vegetables at a lower temperature all at the same time.

My first endeavor was of course…steak and veggies. The grill even though it has no searing plate, if you flip the steak after a minute or so will act like it is seared. The steaks were juicy and perfectly cooked. The veggies which were on the second burner side right beside the steaks were absolutely delightful. My old BBQ was not capable of this. If I had cooked veggies and steak at the same time I would probably have burnt dried out steaks and veggies on fire. My second use of the grill was a medium sized pork roast. For this I used the warming plate which can be moved from the upper holder to right over the grill, put a nice rub on the roast and cooked it for about 45 minutes. The roast was so juicy and delicious. I never would have ever tried cooking a full roast on my old BBQ and here I was doing it right away on my new one. I could go on and on about how or why this grill cooks food so flawlessly, to learn more about how this grill cooks food so perfectly click here.

Overall

I couldn’t be happier with this grill. All my previous grilling issues were no more. Clean up is a breeze (using the included grill scrapper). So far in a little over a month I have not had virtually anything in the drip tray, zero flare-ups and no burnt or dried out food yet. We have cooked steaks, chicken, roast, burger, hot dogs and pork chops so far, and everyone has been great! This grill has now not only become a permanent fixture on my back pad, but in my family as well. If you are in the market for a new BBQ or grill you will not be disappointed either.

Just recently, my niece and her husband took possession of their new home. Unfortunately, it was prior to the moving van arriving and was done out of the necessity as acting as security to protect the appliances already installed. Apparently there had been some problems in this new area of the city with theft.

What makes this story unique is the comment she made on the telephone that night; that they had inflated the air mattress in the living room first, then lit the new Heatilator gas fireplace second and then proceeded to spend the next couple of hours enjoying the warmth and ambiance of the fireplace in their first-ever home.

What better way to reinforce the importance of the fireplace to our physical and psychological well-being. They could just as easily have inflated the air mattress in their new bedroom and used a lawn chair or folding stool to sit on in the living room. Yet, as in the earliest days of civilization the fireplace (cooking fire) became central not only to their physical comfort but also to their psychology enjoyment.

This scenario reminded me of the famous quote by Frank Lloyd Wright “that the fireplace is the heart of the home”. Which builder in today’s economy does not offer at least one standard fireplace in the great room of their new homes and which renovator or designer does not add a fireplace as a central feature into the new vision they present to their clients? Who does not envision a fireplace central to the dream home they are designing?

Accordingly AVID: a leading research firm for the housing industry indicates that while 87.2% of new home shoppers want a fireplace; of those 29.6% must have a fireplace while 27.4% really want a fireplace in their homes (Avid, 2011).

Yet, again and again I hear entrepreneurs and homeowners walk through the door with “I’m building a new home or I’m renovating a basement” followed with the statement “What’s your cheapest unit”. Do not get me wrong; I have nothing against looking for a great deal or a product that is reduced or on a clearance special but think about this; will my or my client’s physical and psychological expectations be met with only purchasing a fireplace based on the financial bottom line? Or, stated differently, will my or my client’s dream/vision be achieved with only deciding on what is the cheapest product available?

We all have a budget to maintain when building or renovating a home; which usually also includes a fireplace. The issues in the selection process should involve the physical relationship to the room (is the fireplace too small for the space or too large), the physiological comfort level desired (will the fireplace provide enough heat or too much) and the psychological impact (does the fireplace make us feel good or meet the concept/design) that the final result will have on us.

Another very important issue surrounding the decision process is the value the fireplace adds to the current and future market value. According to EnerChoice Canada among others a fireplace will increase the value of the home and generate 11% greater return on investment than the average return on other popular home renovations (EnerChoice, 2012; Realestatebrothers, 2011). When consumers sell their home more than 100% of the cost can be recouped (Realestatebrothers, 2011). This can be further verified by checking the formula on the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers website. In essence the consumer would also be adding to the home heat savings, the livability of the space and the environmentally friendly aspects of the fireplace by a wise investment (Ehow, 2012).

So, can the cheapest fireplace we carry be the ideal solution – yes it could be. Although, it would probably be more prudent to choose the most high end and energy-efficient fireplace that your budget will accommodate. In the end a fireplace will always give you a top-dollar return on your investment.

References

Anon (2012) “Adding a fireplace to improve the value of your home” Toronto Real Estate Brothers [Online]. Available from: http://www.realestatebrothers.ca/for-sellers/fireplaces

Avid (2012) Web Article, Avid Technology Inc [Online]. Available from: http://avid.com

Craig, Randy (2011) “Value of a fireplace to the price of a house” ehow [Online]. Available from: http://www.ehow.com/about_6469168_value-the-fireplace-price-fireplace.html

Government of Canada (2012) “Choosing a fireplace”. EnerChoice [Online]. Available from: http://www.enerchoice.org

Come in and see the new LUX!  What a stunning fireplace.  It is very modern but would fit into a traditional setting as well.  Glass media, porcelain refractory’s and metal pipes give a riveting focal point to a room.  This is really a unique fireplace.

We also have so many other fireplaces that are incorporating media.  If the traditional brick refractory and logs isn’t your favorite look, come and see what else we have on display.  There are rocks and colored glass media replacing the logs, as well on many units you can change the refractory (back of the fireplace) to plain black porcelain, which offers a very different look.

When the flames dance up from the media it is a very magical look.

********

SERVICE

Did you know that fireplace manufacturers recommend cleanings once a year?

We are currently running a Spring Special that offers $20.00 off a cleaning.  Beat the fall/winter rush by taking advantage of this offer, which runs until August 31^st.  This can fix any annoying issues you may be having such as your fireplace turning off/on, delayed ignition, or a dirty glass obstructing the view of the flames.

Our techs will go through your unit checking all readings, resetting logs, repainting the firebox if required and of course cleaning the glass, leaving your unit looking spectacular.

Call us today!

One topic of debate fires up every summer – charcoal versus gas grilling.  While charcoal provides a delicious and unique flavor, grilling with gas fuel is quick, convenient and comparable in taste.  Try our new state-of-the-art gas barbeque with 100% pure infra-red cooking system and anti-flare up grills, and see how much time you can save.  These hybrid grills are hassle-free:  no bags of hardwood charcoal to haul or store, minimal wait time for cooking and easy-to-clean grates for no ‘muss or fuss’.

The high quality stainless steel gas Saber grills is the latest in grilling technology and has formed a cult following among grilling experts.  I’ll let you know if I’m the next member . . .

Stay tuned.

References

Reeves Lynda  “Grill Crazy”, Canadian House & Home.  July 2010; p. 42 & 44.

Buttermilk-Garlic Chicken Kebabs Recipes

Chicken thighs are more moist and economical; start on a hot grill and reduce heat to cook them slow to keep meat juicy.

16 boneless skinless chicken thighs

2 cups buttermilk

1 onion chopped coarsely

5 garlic cloves chopped coarsely

2 Tbsp dried oregano

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

Pepper/Salt to taste

Fresh Mint chopped Optional

–Cut each thigh into 1” – 2” chunks.  Combine buttermilk, onion, garlic, oregano, lemon juice and zest and pepper in a large ziplock bag.  Add

Chicken and marinate in fridge up to 24 hours.

–Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes in cold water. Preheat barbeque to high.  Thread 6 – 8 chicken pieces onto each skewer, sprinkle with salt.

Grease the hot grill with oil, place skewers on it and reduce heat to low.

Close lid and cook 15 – 20 minutes, turning once or twice.

–Sprinkle with mint and serve.

References

Canadian House & Home.  July 2010; p. 125.

Poem originally written by Clement Clarke Moore

We wanted to have a fun post for Christmas this year. So I took it upon myself to take a popular Christmas poem and give it a little Mr. Fireplace flare. I hope you all enjoy.

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the store

The fireplaces were burning, giving off a crackling roar;

The stockings were hung off the mantles with care,

In hopes that St. Roderick soon would be there;

The workers were nestled all snug at their desks,

While visions of holidays danced in their heads;

And Eileen with the donuts, and I with my notepad,

We settled into the meeting, of the week we just had,

When out in the lot there arouse such a clatter,

I sprang from the meeting to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the blinds and threw up the sash.

The reflection of fire on the new fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wandering eyes would appear,

But a bright red dodge truck, and eight devoted reindeer,

With a jolly old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Roderick.

More rapid then eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dana! now, Jim! now, Glen, Jenette and Lacie!

On, Rhonda! on, Glenda! on, Jason! and Mistee!

To the top of the gazebo! to the top of the roof!

Now dash away! dash away! fast on your hooves!

So up to the store top the reindeers they flew,

With a dodge truck full of fireplaces, and St. Roderick too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I wondered in amazement and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Roderick came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of fireplaces he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

Dave L. & Ronald continued to work, and Dave C. sat up in his chair,

Dave E. came to greet him with holiday cheer.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Let us all know that we all had nothing to dread;

He spoke hardly a word, and then went straight to work,

And filled all the stockings with pine, fir, and birch,

And laying his finger on side of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his dodge, to his team gave a whistle,

They flew away fast like a bullet or missile.

What I heard him holler as he drove out of sight,

 “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a GOOD-NIGHT.”

Standard Safety Mesh Screens (SSMS) is a hot topic in the fireplace industry today. With the recent lawsuits against fireplace manufacturers due to children burning themselves on hot glass, there has been a whirlwind of controversy. What is the best way to handle this issue? Options have been suggested and quite frankly they don’t make a lot of sense. A warning light when the fireplace glass is hot or maybe a warning label of some sort are among the suggestions being thrown about. These are sure going to detour a toddler from touching a hot glass.

We here at Mr. Fireplace have sold fireplaces with SSMS for years now. We have done it for so long that it is just implanted in our heads. It is something that we associate with gas fireplaces and not seeing one there would just seem weird. We have dealt with the misconceptions of having these screens standard on our fireplaces as well. Some competitors will claim that it is there because our fireplaces are at risk to explode. Well that is not true. The real reason that our gas fireplaces come with a SSMS is actually quite an interesting story.

The president of Heat & Glo had his family over for dinner years ago. At this time his grandchild touched a burning fireplace that did not have a SSMS. The child severely burnt themselves on the glass. It just so happens that the child’s father was also one of the head engineers at Heat & Glo. At that moment, it was decided that every gas fireplace produced from that point on would come with a SSMS included. Heat & Glo (now owned by parent company Hearth and Home Technologies) were not concerned if these screens made their fireplaces cost more; they felt like they couldn’t put a price on safety. Hearth & Home will not confirm or deny this story, but this is what we have heard is the origin of the SSMS on their fireplaces.

Around the time of the lawsuits earlier this year we at Mr. Fireplace decided we needed to do more about this issue. Just offering the SSMS would not be enough. We setup a meeting with Doug Baron Burn Clinic Coordinator & Team Leader at the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH). What we learnt at that meeting was staggering. We learnt that anywhere from 10% – 22% of the serious burns treated at the ACH over the last 5 years were fireplace related. Doug gave us some great information but what would we do with it.

It was then that we decided that we needed to create awareness about this issue. We needed to try and erase the black mark that the fireplace manufacturer lawsuits left on our industry while creating awareness of ways to help prevent these burns from happening. That’s when our Mr. Fireplace Helping Hands Campaign was born. We created a website that would be used to help create awareness to parents, grandparents and any other person who at any time may have a young child in the same room as a gas fireplace. This website domain address is www.mfhelpinghands.com

The website wouldn’t just direct traffic to itself though. We partnered with Jack FM and Sportsnet 960 radio with some public service announcements, partnered with some bigger home builders and ramped up some social media advertising to help get the word out. We also support the campaign in our store with a donation being made to the ACH on behalf of the customer for every fireplace or screen sold.

We invite you to take a look at the website www.mfhelpinghands.com and read the facts and info. Try and imagine that one of your loved ones was seriously hurt as a result of there being no SSMS on the fireplace. I am sure that after checking out all this info you will not feel the same way about gas fireplaces without SSMS again.