We at Royal Heating, service gas fireplace units each year with years of experience in the Great Vancouver areas.
We work with a large variety of clients from homeowners, property managers, realtors, gas companies and home inspectors. We look forward to adding you to our long list of happy and satisfied customers.
Gas fireplaces, gas log inserts, gas log sets, and gas space heaters need regular professional service by a qualified technician. Manufacturers and utility companies both recommend professional maintenance on an annual basis. To choose a qualified gas fireplace service and repair technician, get recommendations from friends and neighbors and make sure the technician is licensed, bonded and insured.
Ask whether the company does tune-ups and what the basic charge covers. Some only do safety checks (to ensure there’s no back drafting of combustion gases into the house and detect any conditions that could produce carbon monoxide), which is not the same as a complete inspection, cleaning, tune-up, and repair.
Contact us TODAY, to schedule your maintenance, repair, or cleaning service.
I have gas logs. Do I still need to have my chimney swept?
You may not need to have your chimney swept, but it should still be inspected regularly. It is recommended to do annual inspections of all fireplaces, chimneys, and vents. This annual inspection is not only to determine whether or not the chimney needs to be swept, but it is also to determine if the chimney is cracked, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable and unsafe for use.
Do gas logs need to be serviced?
Yes. It is recommended that gas logs be regularly serviced. Vented gas logs will need carbon deposits removed, and possibly the chimney and fireplace swept. Logs also should be serviced to remove all dust and foreign matter from the logs and burner, and proper log placement should be verified.
What is a direct vent fireplace?
A Direct Vent Fireplace is a gas log fireplace (propane or natural gas) that has a flue at the top or back of the fireplace that vents directly out side. Fresh air is brought in through a pipe surrounding the exhaust flue so that no air is required from inside the home to sustain the fire. Unlike Vent-less Fireplaces, all the combustion gases are vented outside. The Direct Vent Fireplace has a glass plate that seals off the firebox from the room. Below and above the firebox are vents that allow cool air to enter at the bottom and exit as hot air at the top.
With a direct vent insert, do I need to reline the chimney?
No, you do not have to reline to wood burning specifications, but you must use the piping that is recommended by the manufacturer, which fits into the existing chimney.
What is an insert?
Inserts are designed to enhance the operation and appearance of an existing wood burning fireplace, whether masonry or factory-built. Categorized primarily by the fuel burned for operation (natural gas, propane, EPA certified wood, pellet and coal), a fireplace insert is installed into an existing wood burning fireplace. Fireplace inserts are made from cast iron or steel and have self-cleaning glass doors that allow the dancing flames of the fire to be viewed while the insulated doors remain closed, making the fire more efficient. Many manufacturers also augment the operation of fireplace inserts by offering state-of-the-art features such as fans and thermostatic controls (depending on the fuel).
What is the difference between an insert and a fireplace?
An insert is designed to be placed into an existing masonry or factory built fireplace. A fireplace is either masonry (not zero clearance) or factory built (zero clearance) unit built for burning wood or gas.
What is zero clearance?
A zero clearance fireplace is a factory-built fireplace that is constructed so that it can be placed, safely, close to combustible material.
How do I convert my wood-burning fireplace into a gas fireplace?
To convert your wood-burning fireplace into gas, you must get an insert type gas fireplace. They are designed to fit into existing masonry and prefabricated fireplaces.
How high above the roof should a chimney extend?
The minimum clearance for wood or b-vent is 3 feet above anything within 10 feet. For direct vent it is 18 inches above anything within 10 feet.
If the brick in my chimney is cracked, can I burn wood?
If the crack is bigger than the tip of a pencil, we do not recommend that you burn wood. We can come to your home and inspect the chimney and if needed make repairs and/or reline your chimney.
What is a BTU?
Depending on the design and efficiency of the appliance, a certain proportion of the heat generated from burning ends up as useful heat in the room (heat output) while some portion is lost to vents and chimneys (flue loss). All Valor models are tested and certified to Heater standards and therefore are rated for Heat Output. This is determined at full fire, without optional blowers and after the heater is up to operating temperatures.
A BTU or British Thermal Unit is the amount of heat required to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. All gas appliances are rated in BTU’s/hr Input which is an approximation of the amount of gas consumed on full fire in one hour as expressed in terms of the heat potential of the gas.
Are gas fireplaces safe?
Yes. All gas fireplaces are equipped with safety features such as a 100% fail-safe shut-off valves; if the pilot flame goes out, the gas flow will automatically turn off. In addition, our IAS-accredited laboratory tests and certifies all appliances to the latest multinational standards. Please remember that, like any other appliance, your gas fireplace should be cleaned and serviced regularly to ensure that it continues to provide warmth and convenience.
Will my fireplace operate during a power outage?
Most current fireplaces that have a standing (continuous) pilot ignition system will continue to operate during a power outage. Fireplaces like these generate a small amount of their own electricity – enough to operate the gas control – so that the fireplace will operate safely even when your furnace will not. If you have optional fans or a handheld remote control installed, they will not run during a power outage. Please note: if you do have a remote control installed, you may need to flip a switch in the control compartment in order to light the fireplace manually. Some fireplaces may be equipped with optional ignition systems like the Hot Surface (Electronic) Ignition or the Spark-To-Burner (Pilot less) Ignition. Fireplaces that are equipped with these systems will not operate during a power outage because they rely on the household electrical supply. Some models of fireplace are equipped with “integral” fans, which means that fans are required to keep surface temperatures below a certain safe limit. When the fans stop working during a power failure, a safety switch will automatically turn off the fireplace until it is within limits. The fireplace will then relight automatically. In this way, the fireplace will ‘cycle’ until power is restored to the fans.
Benefits
The glow and warmth of a natural gas fireplace makes any room inviting. And the beauty of it is, you can install one practically anywhere.
Energy efficient
Every natural gas fireplace in Canada carries an EnerGuide label between 20 and 70 per cent. The higher the number, the greater its efficiency.
Unlike natural draft venting, today’s direct and power venting options use no air from your home, adding to energy efficiency.
EnerGuide & EnerChoice
Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide program helps buyers choose the most energy-efficient appliances. Every gas fireplace sold in Canada has an EnerGuide rating. The number shown on the EnerGuide label tells you the energy efficiency of the unit. The higher the percentage, the better the heat value for your energy dollars.
For the highest efficiency gas fireplaces, look for the EnerChoice logo. EnerChoice only applies to:
Gas fireplaces that are 62.4 per cent efficient or higher
Freestanding stoves that are 66 per cent efficient or higher
Inserts that are 61 per cent efficient and higher
Note: Gas log sets do not qualify for EnerChoice.
Instant ambiance
Waste no time getting warm when you get home. Your gas fireplace turns on and off instantly through either a wall switch, a thermostat connected to the fireplace or a remote control.
Convenience
No more buying or chopping and stacking wood. No more setting and lighting the fire and no messy fireplace cleaning. Natural gas fireplaces are safe and easy for almost anyone to use.
Warms just the room you’re in
Your gas fireplace puts warmth where you need it, when you need it. By heating the zone you’re in, you can turn down the central heating in the rest of the house, and reduce your energy costs.
Looks as good as the real thing
It has a real flame, and even if those aren’t real wood logs burning in the fireplace, you also never have to stoke them or add more wood. Or clean up the ashes the next morning to prepare a new fire.
Safe reliable heat
A gas fireplace doesn’t need electricity to keep you warm, (unless it has electronic ignition or electric power venting). Reliable natural gas is always there when you need it.
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