Duration : 0:0:24

Technorati Tags: brick, deck, fire, Fireplace, Firerock, firerockfireplace, firerockfireplaces, hearth, outdoor, patio, paver, pool, romantic, stone

HD Windows Media Player Version: http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=199686
(750Mb)

HD QuickTime, iTunes & AppleTV version:
http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=199764
(860Mb)

For those with portable media players and streaming devices like the WDTV Media player from Western Digital, save to a USB hard drive or thumbdrive and stream it directly to your big screen over HDMI.

An iPod version is also available.

Shot in high definition 1080p. Be sure to watch this in “High Quality” mode! Make yourself some hot cocoa then kick back, relax and enjoy a virtual hearth in this widescreen high quality version of a very cozy fireplace. This special youtube fire is just a 10 minute version of a 30 minute looping version available on standard DVD and 720p HD direct download.

This is not an animation, it’s an ambient Fireplace experience, with real burning wood, directly from the Pacific Northwest. For those without fireplaces, what could be better during the holidays than some cozy virtual flames at your PC or streaming on your tv? Expand the video player to full screen for maximum warmth.

Enjoy!

Duration : 0:10:0

Technorati Tags: 16x9, ambient, appletv, boydtv, christmas, digital, dvd, fire, Fireplace, HD, hearth, high, holiday, hq, itunes, lcd, log, media, plasma, player, quality, romantic, samsung, sony, tivo, tv, video, virtual, WDTV, western, widescreen, wmv, youtube, yule

Many questions arise before the selection of a Fireplace. Such questions as should I purchase a Fireplace or Stove? Should I use wood or gas to fuel it? Once installed how do I take care of my new fireplace? Is everyone safe around the fire? How can I make sure that my house is accident proof with owning a fireplace? There are literally thousands of questions that one could think of that relates to fireplace safety and maintenance. However, having a fireplace in one’s home does not have to be thought of and looked upon as a chore that one doesn’t want to do and never looks forward to.

One thought that might also be considered if you don’t have a fireplace yet is: what kind of fireplace do you want? Since there are many types, like coal, wood burning, or gas fireplaces, the answers to that question may be varied. There are even electric fireplaces if you don’t want to clean up the mess afterward. You might already have a fireplace, however, but it may be losing heat. If that’s the case, maybe you should consider a fireplace insert so that you can enjoy the full effects of the fireplace that you already have. If you want a gas Fireplace, will natural gas be used or propane? Usually the cheapest method of a fireplace is the traditional wood burning fireplace even though it is the one that you have to take care of the most. Most people prefer wood fireplaces, furthermore, just because of the great tradition that has long been held close and dear to them.

Fireplaces are settings, though, which transcend generations, age, race, and nationality. People all over the world implore the use of fireplaces. Maybe it’s because mankind likes the thought of the intimate settings in which one has surrounded by the fireplace. It might be because of the practicality of owning one, with it being used as a source for heat for your house. Whatever the case, having a fireplace in your house will definitely catch the eye of everyone who steps into your house. You, your friends, family, and close relatives will be sure to have a bonding experience and fun times enjoying being surrounded by that large ball of roaring fire that warms not only your heart, but their hearts as well!

Technorati Tags: Fireplace, Fireplaces

For woodstoves, you must construct either a stainless steel class “A” insulated Chimney approved by UL or a masonry chimney. The basic principle here is to direct combustion gases upward and away from the interior of the home. The chimney should extend at least 3 feet above any construction in the building and 2 feet higher than any surface of the roof. Of course, higher chimney is always better.

When constructing a woodstove chimney, it is important to create the best outward draft possible. Meaning, use very minimal bent.

Maintenance tips:

Stove installation should be checked at least once a year to ensure that the clearances from combustible surfaces are maintained to prevent any hazard. Stove pipes are subject to high temperature so it should be checked periodically for corrosion. Replace it if corrosion level exceeds the safe zone.

If there is a need to clean your chimney, take a professional chimney sweep to do the job. Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not used to prevent the heat or air conditioning from escaping. Always keep the damper open when building a fire. Installing a chimney cap of high quality can extend the life of your chimney. It also prevents birds, insects, and animals to nest in your chimney. A waterproofed chimney will prevent masonry damage and corrosion.

Materials being burned contribute to how much your cleaning frequency would be. Wet and unseasoned wood, incomplete combustion, and cool wall linings can contribute to creosote build up. Creosote deposits on the interior walls of the chimney can reduce the efficiency of the fireplace. Creosote deposits can also ignite under certain circumstances. Make sure that the linings are clean and the build up is controlled. Ash and charcoal deposits on the stove area can smolder if not remove immediately. Clean the stove carefully and dispose the waste properly.

Direct vent Fireplaces, inserts, and stoves do not require a chimney. Usually, these types of fireplaces are easy to install and cheaper compared to woodstoves that requires a chimney. Direct vent fireplaces, inserts, and stoves can be very ideal to places with limited space – a small house that cannot accommodate big chimney with a greater need for a heating source.

Daniel Roshard
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/fireplace-chimney-maintenance-83031.html

Technorati Tags: Chimney, Fireplace, inspection, maintenance, safety

brick or stone. i would talk to someone who works with masonry for a living… your Fireplace will be subject to extremely high and low temperatures, and all kinds of moisture. you’ll want to make sure that your morter will hold up to the extremes.

Technorati Tags: Fireplace, outdoor

Thanks in advance for anything you can share with me about fireplaces and helping me make a very important and potentially costly decision.

I am going to give you as complete of an answer as possible since it sounds like installation cost, cost for fuel use, looks, and heat generation are all issues you want addressed.

Vented Gas Logs: These are essentially the cheapest and worst of the gas log variety. Their origin is from the 70’s and they tend to be inefficient and expensive to run. Essentially they are a wood burning fireplace complete with chimney and have a burner that sits under a rack with ceramic logs. They are very low maintenance and do not need regular chimney cleaning but a chimney inspection every few years is advisable.

The worst thing about them is most building codes dictate that the damper has to be blocked open or disabled 24/7 on a vented gas log, so they do not accidentally back-up poisonous fumes into the house. This feature alone makes them ridiculously inefficient. You can use a Chimney Balloon in the flue when you are not using the gas log to stop the cold air from rushing down the Chimney into your home.

To make matters worse they are inefficient at generating heat (sending most of it up the flue) and if you don’t have glass doors it will also suck in and waste your already heated interior air that your poor furnace had to work hard to heat. I don’t sell these in my shop & I don’t recommend them.
Cost for install = $500-$800
Fuel and heat efficiency = 1 star (terrible)
Looks = 4 stars (nice flickery flame)

Vent Free Gas Logs: These are units very similar to the other style in looks, but with some very important changes. Vent free gas logs do not need a chimney (or shouldn’t anyway) and they put all the heat they produce into the room.

Unfortunately, they also put all the fumes they produce into the room so they do effect your indoor air quality. It is kind of funny that the manufacturers of these units say “oh, the vent free units just put a little moisture into your homes air and a teeny weenie bit of fumes.” then in the next breath they say “Vent free gas logs are not designed to be a home heating device and they should be used in a ventilated area”. Bottom line is…if you burn a fossil fuel you get fumes that are bad for you and it is not healthy to put those straight into your living area. Bottom line is they are good at creating heat and ambiance but bad for your indoor air quality.
Cost for install = $500-$800
Fuel and heat efficiency = 4 star (good, but with dangers)
Looks = 4 stars (nice flickery flame)

Wood Burning Fireplace: It sounds like you are already familiar with these. They are inefficient at generating heat since they tend to draw in more heated interior air than they return to the room. Most open wood fireplaces have dampers but they can be leaky even when closed and used properly so a chimney balloon is an alternative to use as an efficient damper. The chimney needs periodic cleaning and inspection.

They can be converted into gas log Fireplaces if you have propane or natural gas service that can be run to the hearth.
Cost for install = usually built with the house but can cost $2K-$10K to add onto an existing home.
Fuel and heat efficiency = 1 star (terrible)
Looks = 5 stars (nice flickery flame)

*Note* You can of course add glass doors, outside air ports, heat exchangers/blowers to any of the above units, and these will help the efficiency in some cases. However, they are by design inefficient units.

Gas Direct Vent Fireplace: These are closed combustion units. You cannot open the glass and get to the fake logs. They are very efficient at generating heat, but do not look very realistic. these can be used to heat a home or at least a zone of the home. They do not have a chimney but rather vent directly through the wall with small PVC pipes.
Cost for install = $1000-$2000
Fuel and heat efficiency = 4 stars (quite good at 70% efficiency or better)
Looks = 2 stars (stove like blue flame, not flickery)

Technorati Tags: Fireplace, gas log, wood burning

Duration : 0:7:4

Technorati Tags: fire, Fireplace, grill, outdoor, outside, patio, pit

Duration : 0:9:59

Technorati Tags: Fireplace, virtual

Many questions arise before the selection of a Fireplace. Such questions as should I purchase a Fireplace or Stove? Should I use wood or gas to fuel it? Once installed how do I take care of my new fireplace? Is everyone safe around the fire? How can I make sure that my house is accident proof with owning a fireplace? There are literally thousands of questions that one could think of that relates to fireplace safety and maintenance. However, having a fireplace in one’s home does not have to be thought of and looked upon as a chore that one doesn’t want to do and never looks forward to.

One thought that might also be considered if you don’t have a fireplace yet is: what kind of fireplace do you want? Since there are many types, like coal, wood burning, or gas fireplaces, the answers to that question may be varied. There are even electric fireplaces if you don’t want to clean up the mess afterward. You might already have a fireplace, however, but it may be losing heat. If that’s the case, maybe you should consider a fireplace insert so that you can enjoy the full effects of the fireplace that you already have. If you want a gas fireplace, will natural gas be used or propane? Usually the cheapest method of a fireplace is the traditional wood burning fireplace even though it is the one that you have to take care of the most. Most people prefer wood fireplaces, furthermore, just because of the great tradition that has long been held close and dear to them.

Fireplaces are settings, though, which transcend generations, age, race, and nationality. People all over the world implore the use of fireplaces. Maybe it’s because mankind likes the thought of the intimate settings in which one has surrounded by the fireplace. It might be because of the practicality of owning one, with it being used as a source for heat for your house. Whatever the case, having a fireplace in your house will definitely catch the eye of everyone who steps into your house. You, your friends, family, and close relatives will be sure to have a bonding experience and fun times enjoying being surrounded by that large ball of roaring fire that warms not only your heart, but their hearts as well!

Technorati Tags: Fireplace, Fireplaces