The Wood Fireplace Insert Blog

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This recall notice was released on March 25, 2010

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Lennox Hearth Products, of Nashville, TN, announced a voluntary recall of Superior VFGL Vent-Free Gas Log Sets and VF Vent-Free Fireplaces. Consumers should stop using these products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Lennox received two reports from installers of the log sets failing to light. No injuries were reported.  The front burners of vent-free gas log set fireplace inserts and the vent-free fireplaces can fail to ignite allowing gas to escape and posing a fire or explosion hazard to consumers.

The recalled products are Lennox Superior brand VFGL Log Sets and VF4000, VF5000 and VF6000 fireplaces. Log sets are comprised of ceramic-fiber logs with a dual gas burner system and are designed to be placed in a wood-burning fireplace or a ventless firebox enclosure. Fireplaces are comprised of log sets, a ventless firebox enclosure and accessories. Each product has a metal rating plate attached to the grate of the log sets or to the frame of the fireplaces containing the unit’s model number, serial number and other information.

The following models are affected by this recall:
Vent-Free Gas Log Set Models

VFGL18 — MSN — 4
VFGL18 — MSP — 4
VFGL24 — MSN — 4
VFGL24 — MSP — 4
VFGL28 — MSN — 4
VFGL28 — MSP — 4
VFGL18 — VSN — 4
VFGL18 — VSP — 4
VFGL24 — VSN — 4
VFGL24 — VSP — 4
VFGL28 — VSN — 4
VFGL28 — VSP — 4

    Vent-Free Gas Fireplace Models

VF4000 — CHN — 2
VF4000 — CHP — 2
VF4000 — CMN — 2
VF4000 — CMP — 2
VF5000 — CMN — 2
VF5000 — CMP — 2
VF6000 — CMN — 2
VF6000 — CMP — 2

Included in this recall are units with serial numbers starting with “6408C” through “6408M,” and those starting with “6409.” Units that had repairs made to the burner assembly between March 2008 and December 2009 are also included.

Sold from March 2008 through December 2009 for approximately $540 to $775 for the log sets and $1,300 to $1,850 for the fireplaces.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled log sets and fireplaces and contact Lennox for information about how to arrange for a free inspection and repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Lennox Hearth Products at (800) 826-8546 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.lennoxhearthproducts.com

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This recall notice was released on March 23, 2010

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Simpson Dura-Vent Company Inc., of Vacaville, CA announced a voluntary recall of the DuraTech Anchor Plate with Damper and DuraChimney II Anchor Plate with Damper. Consumers should stop using these products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Although there have been no incidents or injuries reported, the indicated hazard is that When the consumer attempts to open or close the damper, it can become stuck in its current position. In addition, some of the dampers were assembled backwards and are set to the closed position when the consumer attempts to open the damper. Both pose risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to the consumer.

This recall involves DuraTech Anchor Plates with Dampers and DuraChimney II Anchor Plates with Dampers. The products are intended for use as a starter section for chimneys in fireplace applications. The dampers allow the chimney to be closed when the fireplace is not in use.

Each damper is a short sheet metal vent pipe fitted with a circular damper plate within the vent pipe, and attached to a square anchor plate. The damper plate rotates around an axis rod to control the flow of air through the vent pipe. The damper plates have a weight attached to one side, and a chain attached to the other side. When installed in a fireplace application, the square anchor plate is generally not visible.

The DuraTech Anchor Plate with Damper was manufactured in five sizes, as follows:

Product Description              Product Number
10″ diameter DuraTech Damper    99142
12″ diameter DuraTech Damper    99242
14″ diameter DuraTech Damper    99342
16″ diameter DuraTech Damper    99442
18″ diameter DuraTech Damper    99542

The DuraChimney II Anchor Plate with Damper was manufactured in four sizes, as follows:

Product Description                Product Number
10″ diameter DuraChimney Damper    10DCA-APD
12″ diameter DuraChimney Damper    12DCA-APD
14″ diameter DuraChimney Damper    14DCA-APD
16″ diameter DuraChimney Damper    16DCA-APD

Sold from January 2007 through May 2008 for between $100 to $150, depending on the model and size.

Consumers should ensure that their damper is in the open position when the fireplace is in use. Consumers or distributors with defective fireplace dampers should contact Dura-Vent to schedule a free repair. The remaining unrepaired recalled dampers were distributed in Washington and California. Consumers and distributors whose dampers were previously inspected and repaired do not need to schedule an additional inspection.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, consumers can contact Simpson Dura-Vent at (866) 860-7908 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.duravent.com

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How can you use left-over cooking oil, toilet paper rolls, and dryer lint to make your life easier.  Well, believe it or not, there is a valuable use for these items and it not only recycles them and keep them out of the waste cycle, but it also makes your life easier as well.  This is a pretty neat idea for a recycling, self-sufficiency geek like me.

Sue Talbert of annarbor.com recenty wrote an article about creating her own easy to use fire-starters by using items in the home that she would normally throw away any way.  It is a highly creative use and a great idea for making your fireplace easier to use and making use of items you already have on hand and reducing the amount of waste that your household put out.

The full article is here.

I love this idea for the fact that it not only makes use of normally wasted materials but it saves you from spending money on commercial fire-starters as well. A double win!

If you have any great ideas like this feel free to pass them along.

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In many homes, the fireplace is the heart of the house, and when you add a wood fireplace insert, it can also bring you many hours of economic comfort and environmentally friendly warmth?  Wood fireplace inserts are a type of stove that is specifically designed to fit into the firebox of an existing fireplace so that they can use the fireplace flue as the vent.

Why invest in a wood fireplace insert you ask?

Well, a wood fireplace insert will transform a 10% efficient fireplace into a 70-80% efficient wood heater overnight.  Now that’s a major boost in efficiency!  In fact, many air-tight fireplace inserts allow one load of wood to heat a home all night long.  Because of this the insert will end up paying for itself.  Fireplace inserts can achieve sizable payback in 2-3 years just from the money saved on heating bills.  The colder your climate the faster the payback.  Fireplace inserts also eliminate the normal cold air drafts down the chimney as they provide both radiant and convection heat that distributes heat more evenly throughout the entire room.

If you have a gas equipped fireplace, gas-fired inserts are also available. Gas fireplace inserts have a greater output of heat than conventional gas logs and they are designed to be more like a wood-burning insert. Gas inserts provide convenient heat that’s clean, easy to use and safe for the whole family to use. All you have to do is turn it on and sit back and enjoy the fire and warmth.

When installing a new hearth appliance be sure to have your chimney and venting systems inspected by a Certified Chimney Sweep before the installation process begins.

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Here is a recent press release that has some interesting information about using government incentives to help cover the cost of installing a new, more efficient fireplace insert.

Tax Credit Allows Homeowners to Stay Warm and Save Cold Cash On Lennox Hearth Products

Up to $1,500 now available for purchase, installation of energy-efficient wood and pellet Stoves, fireplaces or fireplace inserts

Orange, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 2, 2010 — Providing taxpayers with incentives to make homes more energy efficient is a key portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the federal government recently issued clarifying guidelines on how the legislation affects homeowners who purchase a 75 percent efficient wood- or pellet-burning stove, fireplace or fireplace insert. When homeowners purchase and install qualifying hearth products during 2009 and/or 2010, including many from Lennox Hearth products, they can receive a 30 percent tax credit for costs incurred, up to $1,500.

Energy efficiency is a key component of the Stimulus Plan, as it provides incentives to homeowners who purchase high-efficiency, alternative energy heating sources such as wood or pellet stoves and fireplace inserts. These products provide potential energy savings to the American homeowners while also benefiting the environment

The fireplaces, stoves and inserts available today are definitely not your grandpa’s wood stove
When you add the tax credit on top of cleaner emissions, increased efficiency, the opportunity to zone heat your home and the desirability of using renewable fuels to reduce your carbon footprint, it just makes good sense for homeowners to consider the benefits of investing in a wood or pellet heating products

“Energy efficiency is a key component of the Stimulus Plan, as it provides incentives to homeowners who purchase high-efficiency, alternative energy heating sources such as wood or pellet stoves and fireplace inserts. These products provide potential energy savings to the American homeowners while also benefiting the environment,” said Wendy Howells, vice president and general manager of Lennox Hearth Products (LHP). “Wood- and pellet-burning stoves, fireplaces and inserts are cost effective and can help homeowners utilize zone heating to further save on their home-heating costs. A good example of zone heating is when a stove is used to heat the kitchen and great room during the day. Then rooms such as formal living rooms, dinning rooms and bedrooms, which families use less frequently during that time, can be maintained at lower temperatures, saving money.”

Wood and pellet stoves offer additional environmental benefits as a home-heating option since the fuel sources they use are renewable, as opposed to natural gas, oil, propane or electricity. The new legislation means homeowners who are dedicated to living in a way that reduces their environmental impact are now being rewarded with a significant tax credit to help their efforts.

“The fireplaces, stoves and inserts available today are definitely not your grandpa’s wood stove,” said Howells. “Lennox Hearth Products has more than 20 different models that qualify for the tax credit and they complement virtually any home interior, from traditional to contemporary to rustic.

“When you add the tax credit on top of cleaner emissions, increased efficiency, the opportunity to zone heat your home and the desirability of using renewable fuels to reduce your carbon footprint, it just makes good sense for homeowners to consider the benefits of investing in a wood or pellet heating products,” added Howells.

An Official Manufacturer’s Certificate, which homeowners can use when preparing tax returns, is available to customers at www.lennoxhearthproducts.com. While neither the certificate nor a product sales receipt is required for submission to the government, homeowners are encouraged to retain both for their tax records.

About Lennox Hearth Products:
Offering a diverse family of products for every style and budget, Lennox Hearth Products (LHP) is a leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor fireplaces, fireplace inserts, free-standing stoves, gas log sets, accessories and venting products for the specialty retail, residential new construction and industrial markets. LHP, based in Orange, California, is a business unit of Lennox International Inc. (NYSE: LII). Through its subsidiaries, LII is a global leader in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration markets. More information about LHP can be found at www.lennox.com.

Source: PRWeb

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With the recent major winter storms that have hit the east coast it reminds us how beneficial it can be to have a wood fireplace insert and a good supply of fuel that can provide heat for the home and for cooking at times when conventional power sources fail us.

Heavy winter storms are always a possibility in many areas and having an alternative heating source like a wood burning fireplace insert or a wood stove just makes good sense.  A good emergency plan will always provide the capability of being self-sufficient for a least a few days by having sufficient supplies on hand and having alternative heat sources.

If you live in an area where the weather can become extreme and you don’t have your own independant way of producing heat you really need to take the time to find a solution that will work well for your budget, lifestyle and amount of risk.   If you live off in a rural area and the power goes out, it may take quite some time for help to arrive in the worst of cases so you need to have a plan in place now.  Take some time and make sure your are prepared now while you are thinking about it – not when it is too late.

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