Let’s face it. Traditional, open-masonry fireplaces just aren’t very efficient. Every minute they burn, these fireplaces can exhaust as much as 300 cubic feet of heated indoor air outside your home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s 18,000 cubic feet of heated air lost each hour.

What happens as the warm air is leaving? Cold air from windows, doors and other parts of your home are drawn to the fireplace. The room may stay warm, but the rest of your house is actually getting cooler. Your furnace takes notice and works even harder to heat your entire home resulting in high heating costs.

So you might be asking yourself, how can I enjoy our existing fireplaces without suffering from high energy bills and drafty homes? It’s easy… a gas fireplace insert! Inserts fit directly into the opening of existing masonry-built fireplaces and offer enhanced heating performance, style and money-saving efficiency.

By placing a gas fireplace insert into an existing masonry fireplace, you’ll not only update the look of your home, but you’ll also be enjoying a more efficient, clean-burning fire with the flip of a switch. And, it’s faster and less expensive than most people think; just $2,900 covers the average cost of a gas fireplace insert and installation, and the whole process can usually be completed in just a couple hours.

Fireplace inserts come in numerous designs allowing homeowners to find an insert that fits their needs for style and performance. Two popular, best-rated fireplace inserts are the Heat & Glo Cosmo Insert and the Escape insert.

Marvelous & Modern Gas Fireplace Insert: The Heat & Glo Cosmo Insert. This unique gas insert features a delightfully contemporary design, perfect for stylish spaces of all shapes and sizes. A striking reflective, black glass interior and long ribbon flame makes it a standout supplement to any home.

Why we think you’ll love this gas fireplace insert:

• It’s customizable! Select from 5 colored glasses or ceramic stones for a truly unique internal firebox that will perfectly suit your style.
• It works for both large and small openings! This modern gas fireplace insert comes in two sizes to allow for the perfect, snug fit into your existing masonry fireplace opening. The Cosmo-I35 is ideal for larger fireplace openings (23-3/4″ high) and the Cosmo-I30 ideal for smaller fireplace openings (19-1/8″ high).

Refined, Traditional Gas Fireplace Insert: the Heat & Glo Escape. The well-appointed Escape FireBrick insert offers high-efficiency heating and impressive flames. Deluxe features like an illuminated ember bed, accent lighting and full-function remote make this traditional style fireplace insert, best-in-class.

Why we think you’ll love this gas fireplace insert:

• It’s designed to heat better, faster! The Exclusive FireBrick® material provides authentic masonry appearance inside the firebox and allows for fast, powerful heat output.
• It works for both large and small openings! This traditional gas fireplace insert comes in two sizes to allow for the perfect, snug fit into your existing masonry fireplace opening. The Escape-I30B is ideal for a smaller opening and the Escape-I35 is great for a larger opening.

Interested in saving more on your Gas Fireplace? The Energy Trust of Oregon offers some great cash incentives when you install a qualifying Direct-Vent Gas Fireplace in your home. Additionally, the Oregon Department of Energy offers a state tax credit for high-efficiency Direct-Vent gas units you have installed. This includes zero-clearance gas fireplaces, gas fireplace inserts, and gas stoves. Upgrading to a high-efficiency fireplace, especially with the monetary incentives that are currently available, can save lots of energy and reduce your costs.

Energy Trust of Oregon Rebates

To be eligible for the Energy Trust rebates, there are four important requirements to keep in mind when choosing your fireplace. The unit you have installed must: have a Direct-Vent system, be equipped with an Intermittent Pilot Light (IPI), have a Fireplace Efficiency (FE) rating of at least 70 percent, and be listed as one of the Energy Trust’s qualifying models.

The Energy Trust rebate amount has two tiers, depending on efficiency:

• $250 for units with a 70% – 74.9% Fireplace Efficiency (FE) rating.
• $350 for units with a 75% or greater (FE) rating.

For example, this Heat n Glo Supreme I30 gas insert (shown right) has an efficiency (FE) rating of 72.7 percent, and qualifies for $250 Energy Trust Rebate, as well as a state tax credit.

Talk with one of our sales representatives to learn more about what fireplaces and stoves qualify for rebates.

Oregon State Tax Credits

Direct-Vent gas fireplaces, inserts and stoves with an efficiency (FE) rating of at least 70 percent also qualify for tax credits through the Oregon Department of Energy. This is another great incentive to install a new and efficient heat source in your home.

The eligibility requirements for the Oregon State tax credits are:

• $350 for units with a 70% – 74.9% Fireplace Efficiency (FE) rating.
• $550 for units with a 75% or greater (FE) rating.

For example, this Quadrafire Sapphire gas stove (shown left) has an efficiency (FE) rating of 76.0 percent, and qualifies for both the $350 Energy Trust of Oregon rebate AND a $550 Oregon Department of Energy state tax credit. That is a $900 value!

Call or stop by our Portland, OR location to speak to a sales representative about these Energy Trust rebates and tax credits, and find a qualifying fireplace or stove that is suitable for your home. You can find location information for our Portland Fireside location here.

We offer professional in-house installation on all of our jobs and our expert sales team can meet you at your home prior to your purchase to make sure that the unit you are looking at is the right fit. It’s also a great way to make sure you are installing a unit that will be both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Now is a great time to make the decision to upgrade your old fireplace and take advantage of these savings and incentives.

The process of picking out a new fireplace, or upgrading your current one, can be overwhelming. There are so many choices of materials, styles and sizes, where should you begin? A good place to start is by learning the definition of a zero clearance fireplace.

Zero clearance fireplaces come in all shapes and sizes. Zero clearance means the fireplace has its own insulation and it needs zero inches of clearance (distance) from combustible materials in the home. Basically a zero clearance fireplace is a self-contained firebox that is designed to be installed almost anywhere in your home. It doesn’t require the use of tile or stone surround the fireplace and you can even run sheetrock right up to the edge of the firebox.

There are a couple of different styles of zero clearance fireplaces. The traditional style resembles older masonry style fireplaces. Traditional style fireplaces can use wood or gas logs or inserts to heat a room. Blower fans can help to circulate warm air throughout the home. Newer models are designed more as efficient room heaters. Generally using only wood fuel, these fireplaces usually have heavy cast iron doors to minimize the loss of warm air up the chimney.

Zero clearance fireplaces do require a chimney for venting, but installation may be easier than you think. Usually, a few sections of stainless steel chimney pipe are run out of the top of the fireplace and up through the roof. The chimney pipe can be integrated in to the siding of you home, concealed with a masonry chimney chase, or just left as is.

A zero clearance fireplace can be installed almost anywhere in your home that needs some extra warmth or the ambience of a glowing fire. But they’re not for everyone. Stop by one of our showrooms to see if a zero clearance fireplace is right for your home.

What good is a night spent in front of the fire if your fireplace is too dirty to see the flames? Wood-burning fireplaces give off a lot of smoke and soot, which can build up on your glass doors over time. More than likely, you’re going to need something a little tougher than an everyday glass cleaner to get the job done. Here are a few ways to put the sparkle back in your glass doors.

1. Wash With Ammonia.

Make a mixture of slightly diluted ammonia and water. The water helps keep the ammonia from evaporating and makes the job easier. Grab some paper towels, spray the glass, and begin to wipe it clean. It could take a few tries to get the window clear. If you have any spots with a lot of buildup, let the mixture sit for a while. When you’re done, wipe the glass clean with a dry cloth.

2. Fight Ashes With Ashes.

Take an old newspaper or cloth and dampen it. Then, dip the newspaper/cloth in your fireplace ashes and start scrubbing those doors. The ashes help to counteract the leftover residue. Once you’ve scrubbed it clean, grab a clean wet cloth and wipe the glass to remove the ash. You can finish with a spritz of glass cleaner and wipe it dry with a paper towel.

3. Get Down To Business.

If you have a lot of buildup on your glass doors, it may take more work to get it clean. A flat razor blade can remove caked-on deposits, just be careful not to scratch the glass. After you’ve scraped them clean, spray the doors down with a solution of white vinegar and water and wipe down with a paper towel or clean cloth.

These tips can keep your wood-burning fireplace doors looking like new. If you’re looking for a fireplace upgrade or just something a little lower maintenance, the experts at Fireside Home Solutions can help find the perfect fireplace for your lifestyle.

The little flame you see in your gas fireplace after you have turned it off is called a pilot light. A Standing Pilot Light runs constantly, whether your fireplace is on or off.

“It’s the middle of summer, why do I feel heat from the front of my fireplace?” “Oh well…it’s only a little flame, it’s no biggy.”
Well that “no biggy” is costing you between $12 and $15 a month. Over the course of a year that’s up to $180, nearly two Benjamins!
Most of today’s gas direct vent fireplaces have an innovation called intermittent pilot ignition.

What that means is that you don’t have a pilot light burning in your fireplace year-round. When your fireplace is off, it’s all off. No gas is being consumed at all. Saving energy and saving you money. When you turn your fireplace on, a spark ignites a temporary pilot flame, which in turn lights up your fire. If you want to turn off your standing pilot light, learn more here about how to turn off the pilot light.

The intermittent pilot system, along with direct vent sealed combustion is one of the reasons that gas fireplaces are much more efficient now than they were only a few years ago.

So much so, that in some areas utility partners even offer rebates for replacing older fireplaces with newer more efficient ones; up to $250 in fact. That plus your savings over burning a pilot year around can add up to a $430 savings in the first year! If that isn’t enough incentive for you, some manufacturers offer instant online coupons as well. Typically around $100, but I’ve seen them as high as $500 depending on the time of year and brand of fireplace.

Check into how you can save money and conserve energy today by stopping by or calling one of our Washington or Oregon showrooms.

That little flame can be a big drain… on your pocket book!