Contents

1. What are the advantages of a gas fireplace?
2. Zero-Clearance Fireplaces
3. Free Standing Stoves
4. Gas Inserts
5. Natural Draft Venting
6. Power Venting
7. Direct Venting
8. Thermostat Control
9. A word about energy efficiency!
10. Zone Heating

1. What Are the Advantages of a Gas Fireplace?

• Convenient - Turn the flames ON/OFF with the "Flick of a Switch"
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Help to lower your home's heating costs - Zone Heating
• Realistic looking flames
• Flexible installation options for almost any room in your home
• Many designs and styles available to suit your décor

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There are three main types of gas fireplaces:

2. Zero-Clearance (Built-in)

A zero-clearance gas fireplace is designed to be installed where no masonry/brick fireplace currently exists. They can be backed up to a wall or inserted into an opening cut into the wall and then framed in with standard building materials. The logs and burner are inside their own firebox, around which is an inner and outer shell. A zero-clearance gas fireplace is an ideal way to add a fireplace without the expense of building a masonry fireplace structure.

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3. Free Standing Stove

Free standing stoves are an attractive option for homes with or without a chimney, as they come with multiple venting options. They can be installed almost anywhere in your home. Today's gas stoves look like wood stoves and heat like wood stoves. Many sizes, styles and colors are available on the market.

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4. Gas Insert

A gas insert is a convenient and affordable way to convert your existing wood-burning fireplace to natural gas. Gas inserts fit into your existing fireplace and use your home's existing chimney.

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There are three types of venting options for your new gas fireplace:

5. Natural Draft

Natural draft fireplaces typically use a B-vent or, in an existing chimney, an approved flexible aluminum liner. Venting is required to remove combustion gases from the firebox to the outdoors.

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6. Power Venting

Some zero clearance gas fireplaces feature power venting, in which an electrical fan assists the venting process. This allows units to be vented with horizontal or vertical flues from locations in a home where a conventional flue cannot be installed.

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7. Direct Venting

A direct vent fireplace is the ideal solution for homes that do not have an existing chimney. A direct vent fireplace is a sealed combustion unit that draws air in and exhausts its combustion products outside eliminating the need for a standard chimney system. A direct vent fireplace can be installed virtually anywhere in the house.

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8. Thermostat Control

Most gas fireplaces allow you to adjust the temperature by regulating the rate of gas consumption, to as low as 20 percent in some models. For better energy efficiency and comfort, be sure to install a gas fireplace that is not too large for your needs. Look for models that have wide turn-down ranges and a high CSA P4.1 rating.

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9. A Word About Energy Efficiency

The Canadian Standards Association published a gas fireplace performance standard "P4.1" in April 2002. Now that this standard is published, it will allow the hearth industry to proceed with a method to help consumers identify the annual fireplace efficiency of gas fireplaces. Manufacturers have begun to test their new and existing units to the CSA P4.1 standard. Natural Resources Canada, the Federal regulatory body, intends to issue a regulation for vented gas fireplaces sold in Canada in the near future. Natural Resources Canada is also working with the industry to define labeling requirements for vented gas fireplaces sold in Canada.

The higher the annual fireplace efficiency number the more efficient the fireplace. More details on this issue will be posted on the gasfireplace.ca web site, as they become available.

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10. Zone Heating

Zone heating allows for heating certain areas of your home. There are many hearth products applicable for zone heating, including zero clearance gas fireplaces, free-standing stoves and fireplace inserts. The key to selecting the correct hearth product is determining the zones of the house to heat, the level of desired heat, intended use patterns, and the convenience factor.

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