When you hear someone talking about a direct vent fireplace, like the models available on our website here at New Energy Distributing, you should know that they are referring to a particular style of gas fireplace.

As winter comes to a close we all need to be careful with our fireplaces and chimneys. With that in mind more than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels.

Q: My fireplace is located in the basement and the chimney is located on the wall between the house and attached garage. In the summer when it is very humid outside, the glass doors on my fireplace sweat and the condensation pools on the floor in front of the fireplace hearth. We keep our home cool (67 degrees) at night in the summer. If I open the glass doors, the condensation does not occur.

When you are installing a brand new gas fireplace or stove, you will want to determine the best placement in the room. It is common to place the gas unit in a corner or along an exterior wall.

A wood stove insertcan help breathe new life into your old fireplace. Instead of having to completely tear out the old fireplace, which can involve also tearing out a section of the chimney, an insert fits into the existing space.

When you purchase an existing home you may find the home comes with a fireplace. However, you might have no idea what type of fireplace is installed.

You will find that some general contractors prefer to install gas fireplacesover wood fireplaces with new home constructions. The reason they prefer gas units is they do not require a chimney to be ran out the top of the home.

Over continued use your fireplace can wear out over time even when it is properly maintained. Brick enclosures can start to crack from being heated and cooled.

Napoleon provides all different models and styles of fireplaces for you to choose from, when getting a new fireplace. Napoleon fireplacesare available in gas, wood burning and electric styles.

Realtors tell us that the addition of a woodburning fireplace in a house will increase its value, so it's a worthwhile investment. In most rooms, a fireplace is the focal point, adding character and ambiance.