Imagine leaving a window open all winter long � the heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy! Well if your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home!
In addition to the classic mantled ventless fireplace, other decorative options include a wall mounted unit that can bring a modern and contemporary feel with clean-cut polished brass or stainless steel moldings. These simple, yet sophisticated designs bring an understated elegance to a room and blend well with almost any decor.What Does Zero-Clearance Mean?An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a fireplace draftstopper. A fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.Did you know that your attic space is ventilated directly to the outdoors? In the winter, the attic space can be very cold, and in the summer it can be very hot. And what is separating your conditioned house from your unconditioned attic? That thin sheet of plywood!Why does a home with a fireplace have higher heating bills? Hot air rises! Your heated air leaks out any exit it can find, and when your warm heated air is drawn out of your home, cold outside air is drawn in to make up for it. The fireplace is like a giant straw - sucking the heated air from your house. This is like leaving a window open all year round!Do you have a folding attic stairway in your house? When attic stairs are installed, a large hole (approximately 10 square feet!) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed. And what is installed to cover this opening? A thin, unsealed, un-insulated sheet of plywood!Fireplaces:The ventless fireplace relies on the room's oxygen to burn a gas fire, therefore, special consideration must be given to the size of the room where you install the ventless unit. Having no chimney or external ventilation, the ventless fireplace emits its vapors into the living space and should have plenty of "breathing" room to release its emissions.Not Just for HeatAttic Stairs:So who says you can�t enjoy a fireplace in any environment? Whether you have a haven or hide-away, homestead or house, it just doesn�t get any easier than an electric fireplace. Brick-Anew offers a full line of stunning electric fireplaces and an amazing selection of fireplace glass doors, tools, accessories and more. Call the experts at Brick-Anew now to help you choose the perfect electric fireplace and complete your little spot of heaven.Some states have outlawed the ventless fireplace heating units due to the high release of carbon monoxide let loose into the air. A long-term usage of these fireplace substitutes can lead to a depletion of oxygen and thus create a suffocating atmosphere in the room. Before making an investment into a ventless fireplace, check with your city or county officials for restrictions. In addition, condo and apartment dwellers may wish to check with the building codes to ensure there are no prohibitions on the ventless fireplace units.Want to slide a blazing fire under the television in your entertainment center? Want to warm up that gaping 64� inch hearth with a reassuring flicker? Got a spot you just can�t figure out how to fill? Sending your teen-ager off to college in a cool clime? The great thing about electric fireplaces is the variety of size in which they�re available. With sizes from 20 inches to more than 60, electric fireplaces are a snap to move and set up�anywhere you choose.An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.Today�s outrageously affordable, smartly configured, portable electric fireplaces are glowing in hundreds of thousands of homes, with no original masonry or pre-fabricated fireplace required. That little fact means you can have a radiant hearth and luxuriant warmth in an apartment, single family home, townhouse, condo, cottage�you name it. And its simple firebox, surround, mantel and grate make for a lightweight purchase you can easily carry to that fifth-floor walk-up. Got it inside? Simply plug in to any available outlet and enjoy an instant fire at your fingertips.These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause your heat pour out and the cold outside air pour in � much like leaving a window open, costing you higher heating bills, causing cold drafts, and wasting energy.The ventless fireplace units offer an endless supply of design, color and configurations to get your creative juices flowing. And with a price that's just right, the ventless fireplace is budget friendly and easy to use. If you prefer an eclectic taste in decor, try several ventless fireplaces to bring out the mood and expression you wish to create for each room. From aristocratic English traditional to futuristic sparkling chrome, the ventless fireplace takes center stage and can set the dominate tone for your living space.But what can you do about the three largest �holes� in your home � the folding attic stair, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes that you may not have known you even had.
If your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, you can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes. At Battic Door, we have developed solutions to these and other energy-conservation related issues. For more information please visit our website www.batticdoor.com or send a S.A.S.E. to P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048.
Author: Mark D. Tyrol, P.E.
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