Our Products:
Pacific Energy Stoves & Inserts
Heartland Woodburning Cookstoves
Services:
Chimney Sweeping
WETT Inspections
Installations
Shielding & Floor Pad Installations
Please Call for pricing
Stoves, Fireplaces and Inserts...Which do I need?
The hearth industry is a lot different than it used to be! We not only have many different manufacturers creating wood and gas burning appliances, but we also have several types of appliances. These decorative heating units are generally classed and certified in three ways: Freestanding Stoves, Zero Clearance Fireplaces and Fireplace Inserts.
Freestanding Stoves are generally high efficiency fireboxes which stand on either a set of legs or a pedestal, and do not require any finishing around them. These units are generally available in matte black or various enamel colours and often have a choice of gold or nickel trim packages. Wood and Gas Stoves are usually available in three body types: Steel Bodied Stoves, Cast Iron Stoves and Soapstone Stoves. Each type of stove is suited to different placement and house constructions so working with a WETT Certified Advisor is the best way to ensure you are getting the right stove to suit your needs.
Zero Clearance Fireplaces have changed a lot over the years. This style of fireplace is appropriate for someone that does not have an existing masonry fireplace (usually new constructions or newer homes) but would like to get that built in fireplace look. Zero clearance fireplaces are available in high efficiency or mid efficiency designs so that you can choose the amount of heat your fireplace will provide to your space. Manufacturers often make several models so that you can choose between a variety of heat output and decorative options. Some fireplace manufacturers also offer a choice between single sided fireplaces and double door and pier style fireplaces. Zero Clearance Fireplaces are usually distinguished by their Metal Chimneys and their bottom and top louvers for air circulation around the metal body, often blower assisted.
The last category of space heater to discuss is the Insert. Inserts are used only in very specific applications where you have an existing masonry fireplace that you would like to improve the performance and appearance of. Inserts are usually high efficiency and come in many different looks. How do you know if you have a masonry fireplace? There are a few noticeable features: first, masonry fireplaces typically have brick or stone chimneys and are usually either open to the room or have a set of glass doors mounted on the face of the brick or stone body of the fireplace. There are exceptions to every rule though and the only way to know for sure is to have a WETT Certified Technician or Advisor come to your home and evaluate your current system.
The many changes to the way that wood heating systems are manufactured and sold offer more selection and better suited appliances to each individual. It also means that the proposition can be confusing if you haven't gone through it before. A visit to a specialized hearth retailer is the best way to see what wood heating systems are out there and which one will best suit you and your home's individual needs.
To Heat or Not To Heat....That is the question.
A fireplace is the heart of the home and a well designed fireplace can add ambience and beauty to any room it occupies. Of course, you will have some expectations about how the fireplace will perform as well as how it will look in your space. A well designed fireplace incorporates many aesthetic attributes, including proportion and style, as well as various technical features including its heating capacity, burn times, and efficiency.
When we look at the wood burning fireplaces from the past we usually think of the open masonry style fireplaces that look pretty but that are really only used on special occasions. Most people operate them this way because of their high fuel consumption and also because in most cases these fireplaces actually operate at a negative efficiency - sucking more room temperature air up the chimney than they return in heat - actually making a room colder.
In contrast, many newer fireplaces incorporate technology in the firebox to increase efficiency by burning smoke inside the firebox - known in the industry as "secondary combustion". Why would you want to burn smoke in the firebox? To begin with, you get extra heat returned into the room that would normally be lost up the stack. This extra heat means better efficiency resulting in up to 1/3 less wood usage and up to 12 hour burn times on a single load of wood. Second, when you ignite smoke in the firebox you have less chance of smoke condensing into creosote in the chimney. This means a cleaner stack resulting in fewer chances of a chimney fire occurring and lower maintenance costs over time. Many newer fireplaces also offer central heating options to help you spread the heat more evenly throughout the home. These heating options allow the fireplace to be connected to other rooms through ducting and vents or directly through the furnace.
While many people still rely on wood to heat their homes there is a whole other group of people looking for quite the opposite. They would like to be able to enjoy the look, smell and feeling of a real wood fire but due to the efficiency of their homes or the configuration of their home's existing heating systems they do not want or require the extra heat in their space. That is where the Mid Efficiency fireplace comes into play. These fireplaces are constructed as well as their high efficiency counterparts but often have larger glass viewing areas in a "clean face" design with no top and bottom louvers to keep the finished look as simple as possible so that the focus is on the fire and the finish around the fireplace.
Wood burning fireplaces will always offer a feeling of coziness in your home like nothing else. Knowing what your expectations from the fireplace are and having a WETT Certified Advisor help you to determine which unit will suit your individual needs and style will assure that you have a finished product that will be the heart of your home for years to come.