Gas Fireplace Repair Tacoma

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By Andrea Wichterle. Fireplace. Published at Sunday, September 23rd, 2018 - 02:24:22 AM.

There is much written about the benefits of an electric fireplace and much is also written about the common differences between electric fireplaces and traditional fireplaces. Of course, both have their value but for many people there are a number of reasons why people purchase an electric fireplace as opposed to purchasing a "real" fireplace. Cost and installation often play a role in the decision to purchase an electric fireplace as opposed to purchasing a traditional fireplace. Of course, this does bring up an overlooked question: what happens to those who have already purchased a traditional fireplace. Do they completely shut down the traditional fireplace and opt to not think about purchasing an electric item? Absolutely not! Instead they can simply install an electric fireplace insert into the traditional fireplace and they will be in business once again!
This said however, in any wood burning fireplace it is vital to use the right kind of wood that is cut to a convenient size. Hardwoods such as oak or fruitwood are the best option as they give off the most heat. Softwoods such as birch give off a good heat but tend to be consumed pretty quickly, while pine contains a lot of spark forming resin that can spit all over your floor or rug. Ideally, logs should measure between 9 and 14 inches long although it doesn’t hurt to use a couple of larger logs on your fire to give it a bit of character. Only ever use seasoned wood in your fireplace. If you try to burn green wood the heat produced by combustion must dry the wood before it will burn and you risk a buildup of creosote in your chimney which creates an imminent fire hazard. In addition by using well seasoned wood you will you get a much hotter fire; thus creating more heat for your home. It is worth bearing in mind that all wood for burning should be seasoned for a minimum of six months and stored under cover, so it is best to buy and stack firewood well in advance of the coldest months.
I have been in this situation many times and the answer is often gas logs. I have had clients with damage to their chimney flue inside a wall and believe they can put a gas log fireplace kit into their wood-burning fireplace instead of repairing the damaged flue. This is a mistake, and a dangerous mistake. Gas logs use liquid propane or natural gas instead of wood for fuel. When gas burns, oxygen is burned and carbon monoxide is created. If there is damage to the flue, a typical gas log fireplace is not the answer because the fresh air ventilation is still necessary to pull out carbon monoxide. The answer is ventless gas logs. Vent free gas logs do not have to be vented. When a client wants to design a custom outdoor fireplace but they do not want to build a chimney and cut through their patio roof, a vented gas log kit is the perfect solution because no ventilation is necessary.
Selecting an appropriate stone fireplace means picking a design that is right for your home, for instance there is little point in installing a magnificent and huge fireplace which then dwarfs the room, leaving virtually no actual living space. Do also bear in mind also that once installed the stone is not easily changed so it is important to select a stone material that you don’t easily tire of. This said you certainly can’t beat the permanence and illustrious looks of a stone fireplace which can appear as simply a box in your living room with a hanging mantel or with a mantel that has legs fastened on the wall. For large rooms with tall ceilings, a stone mantel can stretch up to the full height of the ceiling and display paintings or even a old tapestries.