Fireplace Insert Purchase in Triangle? (Raleigh, Morrisville: sales, house, transfer)

[chessiez]

Hey, there. We're looking to purchase a direct vent fireplace insert. Anyone have recommendations of where to buy? Did you have a good experience with an installer?

We want something that has a wide 'turn down' so that it won't heat up our living room too much when we want it for atmosphere, but so it is also capable of acting as a heat source when the electric grid is knocked out. Also want something of good efficiency.

(We bought from Fireplace Editions once before, but won't again.)

Thanks for any suggestions.

[cstleddy]

I'm not sure how D-vent is different from vented but we purchased a Peterson vented gas insert during their summer sale from Fire House Casual Living on Capital Blvd (N. Raleigh). They carry lots of top manufacturers and are very knowledgeable. They gave us a list of "preferred vendors" (gas plumbers) and we were very pleased. The unit wasn't as cheap as buying off the Internet, but we think we got a good deal of education from the sales staff and the gas plumber was a little expensive too (IMO) but he was very knowledgeable as well. So all in all we paid a little more, but we feel good about the quality of product and installation.

5301 J Capital Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 235-0002

[jjevans]

Fireside Hearth & Home is located in Morrisville and has a showroom. they not only sell and install, they are owned by the manufacturer of the fireplaces they sell. this is nice because if you ever need service years down the road, you can go back to them and they will handle it. also, their fireplaces have a patented ignition that eliminates the standing pilot light. this save $$ by not always burning and producing heat in the summer when you don't need it. they also have a couple of models that have accent lighting in the actual firebox! this is nice in the summer so you get mood lighting with no heat. 319-9411 ask for jeff evans

[Tar Heel Smitty]

I have got a direct vent fireplace, bulider installed, and it does not heat very well. Any suggestions?

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel Smitty

I have got a direct vent fireplace, bulider installed, and it does not heat very well. Any suggestions?

Does it have a fan in it to distribute warm air?
If not, can it be equipped with a fan?
Most units have a fan kit available that can be added for not a lot of money.

[Tar Heel Smitty]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Does it have a fan in it to distribute warm air?
If not, can it be equipped with a fan?
Most units have a fan kit available that can be added for not a lot of money.

No, there is not a fan. It has a wall switch to turn it off/on. There is a place for the heat to come out at the top of the unit, but it just doesnt heat like you would think.

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel Smitty

No, there is not a fan. It has a wall switch to turn it off/on. There is a place for the heat to come out at the top of the unit, but it just doesnt heat like you would think.

Just relying on convection without a fan will probably produce disappointing results.

Most units will have an access panel that tilts open at the bottom.
In that area they usually have an electrical connection for a fan kit.
This moves air across the firebox and out the top, and usually makes a significant difference.
If you have the manual for the insert, it should tell you if your model has this functionality, and what model number fan kit your unit would require.

[Tar Heel Smitty]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Just relying on convection without a fan will probably produce disappointing results.

Most units will have an access panel that tilts open at the bottom.
In that area they usually have an electrical connection for a fan kit.
This moves air across the firebox and out the top, and usually makes a significant difference.
If you have the manual for the insert, it should tell you if your model has this functionality, and what model number fan kit your unit would require.

I will check it out. Thanks you for your info and time. I appreciate it.

[frankpc]

These blowers typically come in two types:

One that will draw air in through vents below the firebox and return heated air to the room through vents above the firebox.

The second will collect heated air via convection and transfer that air via HVAC ducting to a standard air register that has a fan behind it.

Nice picture of the concepts here on page 3 - "heat transfer system"

http://www.heatilator.com/downloads/brochures/MAXUS.PDF

I mention this as option two will work even if the front of the fireplace doesn't have grills above and below the firebox.

Frank

[Tar Heel Smitty]

Originally Posted by frankpc

These blowers typically come in two types:

One that will draw air in through vents below the firebox and return heated air to the room through vents above the firebox.

Frank

This is apparently the one I have.