Gas Log Benefits

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Zone Heating Saves You Money, Warms Your Home Efficiently

November 23, 2009 in Energy Efficiency, Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | 1 comment

Tired of paying a high central heating bill during the winter months?  Zone heating can lower your monthly heating bill by 20-40% while heating only the rooms you’re using and beautifying your home.

Zone heating with a heating appliance like vent free gas logs saves you money in several ways.  Ventless gas logs are a 99% efficient heating source, whereas the average central heating unit is only 85% efficient.  Your central heating system cycles on and off frequently, and loses efficiency as it warms up each time, similar to a car burning gas in stop-and-go traffic.  By contrast, vent-free gas logs take almost no time to warm up, and provide a steady, even heat.

Zone heating also saves you money by heating only the rooms that you are using, which allows you to turn down the thermostat on your central heat.  In addition, you can eliminate the tug-of-war that inevitably happens over the thermostat when the upstairs is too hot and the downstairs is too cold.  A set of unvented gas logs in the downstairs living areas or in the basement allows everyone in the house to have the exact temperature they desire.

Natural gas and propane gas logs are also a dependable source of heat.  If your electricity goes out, your central heating may go out as well, leaving you in the cold.  But natural gas and propane heating don’t depend on electricity to run, so even during a power outage, your house will be warm in cozy.  You’ll also have a beautiful source of light from the dancing flames!

FastFireplaces.com has a full selection of Peterson and Monessen vent-free gas logs for you to choose from.  These gas log sets burn clean natural gas and propane, and do not require a chimney or any venting to install.  Come check us out for the lowest prices on the Internet, guaranteed!

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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Natural Gas vs. Liquid Propane Gas Logs

November 3, 2009 in Energy Efficiency, Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | No comments

Thinking of a gas fireplace, but confused about the differences between natural gas (NG) or propane (LP)?

We can help.

Natural gas is one of the best fuels known to man. Unlike oil, for example, natural gas is relatively clean burning and will not emit any unhealthy scents as part of its combustion process. It can be a bit more expensive than oil in bulk, but fortunately it is still cheap enough to be used effectively for heating your home. Amazingly enough, a gas fireplace powered by either natural gas or propane can actually heat small homes more efficiently than most furnaces.

If you are like most of us, chances are you already have plenty of natural gas appliances in your home which can make the process of installing a gas fireplace a breeze. From your dryer to your hot water heater, to your oven or stove and furnace, there are plenty of items in your house which may already use natural gas as their primary source of heating power. Provided you have at least one of these appliances in your home, you will already have a natural gas pipeline installed underneath your floorboards, making it far easier to install a natural gas powered fireplace if you do not already have one.

Then again there are some of people who will not be able to use the clean burning power of natural gas to power their fireplace, whether due to location or expense. Fortunately enough, you can run a gas fireplace on just about any type of gas – including the much more portable propane variety.

With propane you can easily take the power of gas to install a fireplace just about any place you can imagine. Since liquid propane comes in its very own tank, propane can be used to power a gas log fireplace even if there is no natural gas line for miles. Some propane gas fireplaces even have special compartments behind the mantel which will allow you to store any unsightly propane tanks while they are in use. A certified plumber or electrician can also help you run a small gas line into your fireplace so you can keep your propane tank safely locked up outside.

But how do they stack up against each other?
In some cases propane can actually be slightly more cost-effective than natural gas, but – it typically tends to burn a bit dirtier. The soot buildup from a propane burning gas log set can affect your gas fireplace’s looks and performance.  If you use propane to fuel your gas log fireplace, be sure to routinely perform a little maintenance and cleanup. Depending on how often you use your fireplace, you should take down the glass and clean the soot off of your propane burner once a season, or at least once a year.

However, some recent advances have given propane burners a cleaner boost, such as Hargrove’s System Four Optimized Burner. This gas log burner set was designed specifically to meet the challenge of a clean-burning propane fireplace. It uses controlled porting and optimal fuel to air ratios to create an extremely clean burning system that provides natural flame patterns and a full glowing ember bed, with much less carbon production than previous liquid propane systems. For more information on Hargrove’s System Four burner, you can check out our website at www.FastFireplaces.com.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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Gas Log Fireplaces and Your Health

November 2, 2009 in Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | No comments

Did You Know?

Gas Log Fireplaces May Actually Be Healthier For You

Fact: Smoke from burning wood contains thousands of chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and dioxin. These form fine particulate matter that can lodge deep in the lungs, reducing your body’s ability to fight infections and aggravating allergies and asthma. This is now considered a serious public health concern during the winter, when smoke is most prevalent in the air. In some states, “No Burning” days have been mandated in certain counties to reduce these harmful effects. One important way to make your home healthier, safer and more comfortable is to improve the indoor air quality.

This source of pollution in your home can be completely eliminated by converting to a natural gas fireplace insert.  The look and feel of traditional warmth will still be there, but it will be cleaner and more convenient. Gas fireplace inserts produce heat more efficiently by drawing cold air down and in, warming and circulating it with fans that spread the warmer drafts throughout the room. Wood-burning fireplaces actually remove warm air from the room with an upward draft, leaving a residue of smoke behind.  The warm air removed during the beginning and end of a wood-burning fireplace actually ends up being more than the radiant heat given out. It’s a net loss! By contrast, with a gas fireplace insert the room temperature can be thermostatically controlled and the indoor air is clean.

Natural gas log fireplaces are also inherently safer than wood burning ones. There’s no ash build-up or fear of chimney fires. Many homeowners enjoy the peaceful charm of a wood-burning fireplace, but they don’t enjoy the inconvenience of handling the wood or worrying about slow-burning embers catching light long after they were supposed to be extinguished. Gas fireplaces remove these concerns and let you enjoy comfort, health and peace of mind.

At FastFireplaces.com, we carry a full line of vent free gas logs and vented gas logs to suit every taste and every home.  Come check out our selection, and compare our prices – we guarantee that we’ll beat any price on the Internet.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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Gas Logs = Aesthetic Beauty

October 30, 2009 in Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | No comments

Did you know?

Recently, sales of gas log sets have exceeded 700,000 units per year.

More and more people these days are going with clean, modern, natural gas fireplaces instead of conventional wood burning fireplaces.  Natural gas fireplaces today are crafted to be more realistic and authentic than ever before. Plus gas logs offer convenience and cleanliness, and are easy to use.

Simulated to look like real wood logs, Peterson Gas Logs are made of hardened ceramic material molded around actual log pieces. These are mounted on a metal rack, or pedestal grate, similar to those in wood-burning fireplaces. When lit, the logs resemble a stack of burning wood, complete with glowing embers.

Natural gas logs are chosen most often when a homeowner is concerned about aesthetics. This is a driving force in new construction, and adds increased value to existing homes when remodeling and renovating. Numerous gas log options are now available for upgrading your existing wood-burning fireplace, adding a gas log set that maintains the beauty and realism of a wood fire.

More questions? Just drop us a line! Feel free to leave a comment, or email us at office@fastfireplaces.com.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

The Natural Gas Fireplace Advantage

October 30, 2009 in Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | No comments

Don’t know anything about gas fireplaces?

Don’t worry, with the ease of today’s gas log fireplace sets, you won’t have to. With many units, you just have to install it into your fireplace and plug into your fuel source and you’ll be set to enjoy. Natural gas fireplaces fit today’s lifestyles with the ease of convenience, safety and comfort. Here are just a few features that gas log fireplaces can offer:

* Natural gas fireplaces enhance the appearance and marketability(!) of any home.
* Natural gas units reduce the amount of pollutants and particles emitted into the air by up to 99%.
* Instant ON/OFF operation. Flip a switch or touch a remote control.
* Continuous fuel supply (versus the limited source of propane applications).
* No wood to chop or logs to haul.
* No soot, no ashes, no messy clean-up. No creosote buildup in your chimney, no chimney fires.
* No sparks that could burn holes in your carpet…or worse.
* Using natural gas logs or fireplaces can cost as little as 25% of the cost of burning wood.
* Most operate independently of electric power, providing an auxiliary home heating source during power outages.

Simple Controls:

Many of the same control options are available for operating gas logs as for gas fireplaces and inserts. Choices range from the basic manual gas valve to modern igniter safety systems that require neither matches nor electricity. Some gas log models offer wall switches or remote controls that allow ON/OFF operation.

More questions? Just drop us a line! Feel free to leave a comment, or you can always email us at support@fastfireplaces.com.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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