Useful Information About Your Fireplace

Energy Savings Tips

Today's ever-rising energy costs prompt wise homeowners to find energy-savings relief through alternative heat sources - such as gas fireplaces and pellet stoves - particularly during the cooler autumn and colder winter months.  Your gas fireplace can help you enjoy energy savings through regular fireplace tune-ups to ensure its peak performance gets the most out of your fuel dollars.

Gas fireplaces create between 18,000-45,000 BTU's - enough to heat and warm several rooms of your home, if the fireplace is properly maintained and serviced annually.  If you don't already have one, consider having a thermostat/blower installed to help circulate the warm air more efficiently and to keep the fireplace components cooler during operation.

On average, gas fireplaces costs approximately .16 to .32 cents an hour to burn, compared to a gas furnace, which costs approximately $1.20 to $1.40 and hour to run.  You can see the potential for savings.  Installers and utility companies agree that you may be able to recover the cost of a new gas fireplace insert in just two heating seasons when using them in a "zone heating" program in your home.

The fall and winter are excellent times to experiment with and learn the practice of zone heating.  This involves turning your thermostat way down, as low as 58 degrees, and utilizing an alternative heat source to warm the portions of your house that you spend the most time in.  The most promising alternative source of heat is, of course, your gas fireplace or pellet stove.

Malfunctioning gas fireplaces, however, may not operate efficiently and cost-effectively for a number of reasons, including poor maintenance; inefficient, faulty or time-worn compnents; improper combustion ratios; and improper venting and/or seal leaks, among other things.  Poor effieciency results in higher energy bills.

Here are the 6 most noticeable warning signs that your gas fireplace needs maintenance:

1.  Soot build-up on anything

2.  Foul or suspicious odor coming from "unit"

3.  Film, discoloration or etching on glass

4.  Slow or no ignition when unit is turned on

5.  Unit shuts itself off

6.  Unit has no service history

Remember, regularly scheduled service will enhance the life span of your gas fireplace or pellet stove, save you money on costly repairs, provide peace of mind and keep your unit burning efficiently and looking beautiful.

If you experience any of these warning signs please call RR Fireplace, Inc. to schedule your service and maintenance.