straight from the hearth: the modern, more efficient fireplace - air purifier for asthma

As home heating fuel prices soar, you may find ways to warm up this winter.
Over the past decade, fireplaces and stoves powered by wood, gas, granular fuel and even electricity have made amazing progress.
But can they save you money and make you more comfortable. The answer is simple. it depends on you.
Don't expect the traditional fireplaces to add more warmth, because their efficiency is notoriously low in turning burning wood into usable energy. (
For how to get the best from the old one, see sidebar-style hearth. )
A standard open fireplace is a radiant heater-
In other words, it heats the object directly before the fire, and there is almost no other than that.
People sitting in the distance or on one side may still feel cold.
Most of the heat generated is discharged from the chimney, which is also the source of air in many warm rooms.
At $1960 and $70, pre-
Prefabricated fireplaces are popular as cheaper alternatives than traditional masonry buildings.
They are called "zero gap" fireplaces that can be installed near flammable materials such as wooden frames and do not require masonry to close the steel chimneys they make.
The "Heatilator" model is equipped with a chamber for capturing and recycling heated air, a vent for drawing burning air from the outdoors, and a tightly fitted glass door.
Rita Earle, part owner of Ledgewood Hearth & Home, said the units are attractive to those who still want to build and take care of open fires and are less concerned about heating efficiency.
There are, however, more effective options today.
An important development is closed.
Need to keep the burning fire in the burning fireplace behind the closed glass door.
Using outdoor air to burn and drain the exhaust gas out of a separate flue, it provides higher efficiency at the expense of turning off the crack crackling fire on the other side of the glass.
If you shop nearby, want the highesttech wood-
Burner, looking for "clean-
Compared to conventional fireplaces, the burn "mode can drain heat at a rate of up to 75%, producing less air contaminants.
The Environmental Protection Agency has the lowest emissions, less than 7.
5 grams of granular residue per hour.
As a fireplace fuel, the new fuel is rapidly gaining Wood.
"There are still quite a few people who want to burn wood in the open fireplace," Earl said . ".
"I think we sell 50% of the wood and 50% of the gas.
"In other parts of the state, gas rules.
Pat Van Ness, general manager of Wall Township Bright, has changed significantly over the past 15 years.
"In the past, we sold 70% wood fireplaces and 30% gas fireplaces," she said . "
"It's 95 to 97% of gasoline now.
"One big reason is convenience.
With a gas fireplace, there is no wood that can be cut and piled, no fire that can be collected, and no skill to start and maintain a fire.
In fact, most models today are equipped with remote controls that can fire or extinguish fires by pressing the button. (
Also, please note that, especially at close range developed in townhouses or apartments, your neighbor's garage door opener may set your fireplace on fire.
The solution is to adjust the frequency on the remote or disable it while you are not at home. )
Another factor in favor of gas fireplaces is the efficiency of their heat generation.
With a modern sealed firebox, the efficiency of the gas fireplace can be as high as 80%, releasing enough heat to make your life more comfortable
The rooms are warm and comfortable.
"People spend 20% of their time using 80% of their houses," Van Ness said . ".
"The gas fireplace provides you with effective area heating--
Let you turn off the thermostat in the bedroom or other space that only uses part of the time.
"Earl points out that in some cases, the heat generated by the fireplace can be discharged into the house away from the fireplace.
Therefore, when fuel prices rise, the gas burned by the fireplace may reduce some of the burden on the stove and offset the operating costs.
The gas fireplace can be installed without a delicate chimney or hidden in a traditional wood
A burning fireplace cannot be used.
They are ideal for apartments, modular homes and even mobile homes, and can burn natural gas or propane safely.
The vents are small and can be installed either by roof or by wall.
These fireplaces are also sold in a "risk-free" mode.
This means that the burning gas is discharged into the room.
These are all controversial.
Neither Earle nor Van Ness recommend them)
Because waste gas like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is emitted into the living space.
The consumer report concluded that the risk-free model it tested did not have an acute health hazard for most people, but made a "significant" effect on indoor air pollution that may exacerbate asthma or other respiratory diseases"
For the same reason, the American Lung Association opposes risk-free installation and only recommends ventilation, sealing-
Combustion model.
Another relatively new option is granular fuel made from compressed sawdust (
Most common in our region)
Feed of wheat or corn.
About $5 per $40
Pound bags, particles need a burner designed to have a special grate, Hopper and spiral, which is in the pre-set rate.
Pellet burner for free-
Over the past 12 years, more and more customers have been asking for an upright stove or fireplace insert, Earle said.
Occasionally there will be a shortage of particles;
The answer, she said, is to reserve off-siteseason.
The final option for the fireplace is electric, which is a good fake.
And in the past, they were put down as fake
It looks like the newer electric fireplace uses a fiber optic and holographic flame display, with LED lights embedded in ceramic "logs" to simulate the glowing afterfire and presents a more impressive illusion.
The advantage of the electric fireplace is that it is very simple to install-
Just plug them in--
Since they are independent and mobile, they can move to another room or another home with you.
Some models have been built-
The efficiency of the heater is similar to that of the standard space heater and air purifier, which can clean the indoor air.
Most are equipped with remote controls that allow you to adjust the size of the flame that illuminates the "brick" surround and the interior lighting.
These fireplaces are the cheapest because there is no ventilation, construction or installation cost.
If you already have an old masonry fireplace, you can install it with a plugin-
A complete stove, installed in an existing fire box, using an existing chimney.
The decoration section completely closed the old fire box and created a sealed surround environment where no warm room air could escape through this surround.
Inserts can be driven by Wood, gas, particles, or electricity and have the same efficiency properties.
For gas or wood installation, you should check the chimney and possibly line it up to provide proper ventilation for the new high rise
Efficiency Unit.
Inserts may cost less than complete installations, but their real value lies in improving the efficiency of the old masonry fireplace without a large number of disruptive buildings.
Independent stoves, by definition, are more effective as heating appliances because they are used to heat the air. Even wood-
Van Nez said that the combustion model has "excellent efficiency "(
Up to 75%)
Still a big seller.
Wood stoves manufactured since 1988 generally meet EPA emission standards.
The size of the wood and gas stove depends on the space they intend to heat up with 36 BTUs per square foot, in one with 8-
Feet ceiling and 45 BTUs per square foot for a room with 10foot ceilings.
Furnace manufacturers usually rate their models based on how many square feet they expect to heat.
One drawback is that due to so much heat generated by the wood stove, combustible materials must be allowed to be removed. Generally, non-
Combustible materials, such as tiles or stones, must be installed under and behind the stove, which may make it harder to find them than they are built inin fireplace.
Gas stoves can usually be placed near flammable materials, and some can be placed directly on wooden floors, Earl said.
The electric stove is much cheaper (
The price can start around $300)
They also do not have such customs clearance requirements.
Like electric fireplaces, they don't need ventilation, and most surfaces remain cool even when the heater is running.
Operating costs are not a problem either: In the case of flames alone, the operating costs per hour are approximately 2 cents;
There are flames and heaters, about 8 cents.
Electric furnaces do not seriously affect home heating needs, but provide an atmosphere in a small package.
After turning off the heater, it can run on the warmest night.
This is the stove for your Florida vacation.
It is difficult to offer a range of prices for a variety of options for fireplaces, inserts and stoves, as each home has a unique situation and the installation price varies greatly.
In addition, there are almost too many options for fireplace styles, glass doors, grilles and other accessories.
The best advice is
When the owner of the fireplace is out, shop and collect some estimates.
Your best option is to purchase locally from a company with a well-documented, experienced technician and service provider
Important maintenance of this equipment.
You want to enjoy your fireplace or stove, but you don't want to play with fire.
Write to the star and contact Valerie SodorLedger, 1 Star-
Ledger square, Newark, New JerseyJ. 07102-1200 or e-mail her here.