Fireplace Directory

Archive for October, 2009

i have 2. 30 degree turns to get the Chimney to come out the back side of the house. will an 8 in brush (cause the diameter of the pipe is 8 in) and some of the fiberglass poles to extend to the inside firebox. dont know if they will make the 2 turns from the 30 degree bends…

Brushes, rods and lots of hard work…hire a chimney sweep..

Which avatars would you invite to share the fire?
I would invite everyone to an outdoor fire with warm drinks.
Who should I share the Fireplace with?

OUTDOOR – w/ marshmellows & smores!
i would invite everyone.
You should share it with me!

Is propane stove more efficent than pellets. My stove is getting old and I’m thinking of buying a new one buy I’m hearing I should get a propane stove like the Belmont because it’s more efficient and I wouldn’t have to carry in pellets.

Propane is very expensive depending on where you live the cost is outragous this year I would see about an electic heating unit or a pellet.Pellet Stoves are kind of new so Im not sure about their effieciency but propane is about 2.25 a gallon round these parts.

The model is a Osburn Victorinanaire Mark 2. This is a 1985 modile, VH-427279, report # 4900. Also it as forsed air.I do need some help with getting the price for this used Wood Stove. If you do know of a web site or orther ways please let me know.

Check on ebay and see what they are going for. Or see if you can find the company and ask them. Good Luck.

I have been told that burning duraflame logs in a fireplace is not good for the Fireplace. That there is a creosote build-up that can be dangerous. The duraflame website claims they actually have less of a creosote buildup. Anyone have an opinion?

The Duraflame logs will cause buildup of creosote in the FP and Chimney. You are better off sticking with a hardwood (oak etc) and not worrry about buildup.
I use duraflame logs in my outdoor firepit to start fires. They burn fast, help ignite the wood logs and make lighting the fire much easier.
Creosote wants to sell its products so they are not going to admit negative issues.

We have lots of birds and baby birds living in our chimney and they make alot of noise. How do we get them out of there without harming them? Thank you

You don’t…you wait until they leave and then you block off your Chimney with a screen so they cannot nest there again in the future. If there are already chicks that are loud enough to hear in the nest, it should not be long before they leave. It is actually illegal for you to destroy or harm the nest, all wild native birds in the U.S. are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If you can hear them at night while you are trying to sleep, use ear plugs, a fan, or a white noise machine to drown out the noise.

As long as smoke is not backing up into the room, no wind will cause it to burn slower. Nothing wrong with that. The stronger the wind the more draft and it will burn faster and hotter……….Just be sure you warm up the chimney flue with some burning newspaper before you start the actual wood fire……….This way, you’ll get little smoke back into the room.
(Chimney draws better when it’s warm)

My furnace went out this year but I do have a pellet stove which heats my house more than satisfactorily. My problem is when I go out of town I have to have someone come in and keep filling my pellet stove while I’m gone. Any suggestions for alternative heat that will keep the house above freezing so I don’t have to keep the Pellet Stove on while I’m gone? It’s been getting in the teens here at night.

I helped a friend install baseboard heaters for the same reason as you. Baseboard heaters had an adjustable thermostat. They have worked out well and were easy to install.

I burn a combination of oak, alligator juniper, and hickory in my wood stove. How often should I sweep out my chimney pipe to avoid a buildup of soot and possibly a fire? Also, do those chimney cleaner things that you toss into the fire really work?
For those who aren’t familiar with alligator juniper, it is a hard wood (not quite as dense as oak) that is good for Wood Stoves – so I’m told. Maybe the guy selling it to me just wanted me to think that…

I burn wood all season in the shop and I clean mine every other year.I used to do it every year,but I was not getting much soot.Nothing cleans a Chimney but wire flue brush.

I have a regular fireplace without a flue or anything…and natural gas logs. I would like to have a gas ventless fireplace. Do I just buy ventless logs, a remote and seal off my chimney? Would it be better to do a direct vent? I’m trying to keep my fireplace..I would like to have doors (which I believe I can close the doors for a direct vent) but not have all my heat go out the chimney, which it currently does.

We had an existing gas line in an existing fireplace. We did a direct vent which was REALLY easy. They just put the vent "pipes" in your existing Chimney and attach it to the gas fireplace insert. If you get it with a blower, it will blow the hot air into the room. Most of these gas inserts are so efficient they can be considered a heat source for a home.

Ventless fireplaces are not good if anyone in your home has asthma. Also not good for pets, especially birds. Also not good in small rooms. Also ventless can cause moisture problems. It is usually recommended that you have a carbomonoxide detector if you run a ventless Fireplace in your home.

Hope this helps a little.