If you've got an inefficient fireplace, you might as well be burning dollar bills. Any heat generated is offset by the warmth of your house being sucked up the chimney and outside.

An open-masonry fireplace might be only 15 percent efficient. But if there is no fire and the damper is left open, it can have negative efficiency as warm air escapes.

The quest for efficiency starts with the type of fireplace you have. Or want. Gas and electric fireplaces are the most efficient, wood-burners are the least. Open-faced, traditional wood-burning fireplaces are very inefficient.

Go into a fireplace shop and look at all the difference fireplaces.

When you do renovations, wood-burning fireplaces generally don't click design-wise. A redesigned room doesn't have the bang with an open fireplace that looks and feels outdated because it burns wood. You get a better return for your dollar with gas.

So let’s talk about efficiency.

If you already have a fireplace, there are things you can do to improve efficiency. First, make sure your chimney is clean and safe. After that, it's mostly about the features.

Glass Fireplace Doors

Without doors, your fireplace will suck the heat out of your home and send it up the chimney. There's an endless variety of designs for fireplace doors with tempered or ceramic glass. An advantage of the latter is it lets some heat radiate back into the room. Doors also add another level of safety, especially if there are kids around. Fireplace Doors on sale all through October at West Sport in Sudbury.

Damper

The throat damper is made of cast iron and sits near the bottom of the chimney and regulates air flow. It can warp or rust over time, compromising the seal and becoming less effective. The top mount damper sits atop the chimney and is preferred by some experts. Either way, keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.

Fireplace Grates

Steel grates have a tendency to warp and wear out. A heavy-duty cast iron fireplace grate is recommended. Another possibility is one with a blower on the bottom that sends heat back into the room. This makes them 10 times more efficient.

Fireback

A metal plate lining the back of the fireplace, a fireback only protects the masonry and radiates heat back into the room when the fire dies down.

Fireplace Inserts

Fireplace Inserts are enclosed cast iron boxes that use gas, pellets, or wood, and are retrofitted into existing fireplaces. They are very efficient, and can reduce a home heating bill between 20 and 40 percent.

For more information on making your fireplace more attractive and efficient, contact West Sport. Everything we discussed in this blog will be on sale on Saturday, October 24 at our Grill and Fireplace Sidewalk Sale in Sudbury.

Chicago Tribune

Cold weather is fast approaching. It's that time of the year when the fire not only provides warmth to a room but offers a cozy backdrop for sharing special moments. Though the fireplace is the centerpiece of a room, it is an element that homeowners don't often consider when designing their space. Here are some simple tips for bringing your fireplace to the foreground and getting more enjoyment from it this winter.

Expose the Inner Beauty – The inside of a fireplace is a showcase and should be harmoniously designed to work with your decor style. Gas logs are a wonderful option for convenience and cost-effectiveness. Real Fyre gas logs, known for their quality and beauty, offer more than 40 different styles of logs so it's easy to find one that works with your decor. For a more modern feel, try Glass or Gems – available in a variety of chic colors. Whatever your preference, gas fireplace logs or glass, these products look just as beautiful when the fireplace is off as they do when it's on.

Be Bold - If you have a fireplace that extends into the room, think of it as a different piece of architecture. Consider wrapping the exposed sides in a textured wallpaper, such as a grass cloth for an earthy Zen feel, or a shiny sparkly wall paper for a more modern, urban feel.  Since you do not need a large amount of material, you might consider splurging a on a pricier product. For a more low cost approach, pick up an accent color from your rug or favorite pillow to simply paint the wall above the mantle and then paint the mantle itself in a complementary accent color for a graphic bold approach.

Expand Your Seating – If the room allows for it, create a separate sitting area in front of the fireplace. Find a decorative screen, and create a small sitting area with a pair of small fireside chairs, or tufted ottomans and a small accent rug.  The upholstered ottomans or poufs are great for extra overflow seating when the house is full of holiday visitors and visually bring the fireplace into the room for all to enjoy.

Enjoy it Year-Round - Sometimes we only think of the fireplace when the weather turns chilly. But it is important to remember that the fireplace is in your room all year round, so make sure the dominant colors and textures in the room work from season to season. This way, you can interchange your accessories, your fireplace logs or glass, and even artwork seasonally, and enjoy the warmth of a hearth 365 days a year.

For more information on gas logs and glass fireplace doors, on sale now, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

Article Source: prnewswire.com

Now is the time to replace your drafty, inefficient masonry fireplace with a gorgeous and efficient Napoleon Gas Fireplace Insert. Gas fireplace inserts by Napoleon will complement your gorgeous home by adding class, beauty and ambiance. They are also the perfect solution to improve your home heating efficiency for a warmer cozier home. You can choose from traditional or contemporary designs that complement your home décor. So regardless of your style, you can find a gas fireplace inserts to fit your home. And right now, the Napoleon X3 and X4 Gas inserts are on sale at West Sport in Sudbury.

Napoleon X4 Gas Fireplace Insert-

The impressive Napoleon X4 Gas Fireplace Insert entertains a new level of fire and comfort. With  Napoleon’s modulating dual burner system offers a stunning triple flame pattern, and allows the option of independently operating the front burner for when max BTU’s are not necessary. With up to 40,000 BTU’s, an impressive 563 sq. in. glass viewing area and a multitude of designer accessories, it’s a perfect choice for larger rooms where a passion for luxury is evident.

Napoleon X3 Gas Fireplace Insert-

Good things come in small packages! The Napoleon Infrared  X3 Gas Inserts also offer a modulating dual burner system with a stunning triple flame pattern. Napoleon’s Infrared X3 is a deluxe, direct vent infrared gas insert which offers many standard features including a thermostatic remote and an exclusive NIGHT LIGHT that radiates a warm glow throughout the room, even when the fireplace is off. This gas fireplace inserts is the perfect solution for replacing an inefficient masonry or prefabricated fireplace.

For more information on the best gas insert for your home, contact West Sport in Sudbury. And, right now with the Napoleon X3 and X4 get a free chimney liner system.

Amantii electric fireplaces are a great solution for impossible fireplace installation challenges. They offer immediate gratification, you can have a roaring fire instantly with easy same-day installation. Our electric fireplaces are great for bedrooms, kitchens, apartments, condos, or renovations as well as in situations where running gas lines is not possible or is too costly.

Amantii electric fireplaces are:

• Easy to install – can be installed quickly and simply, usually in the same day.
• Flexibility – Can be installed in challenging areas compared to gas and wood fireplaces
• Cost savings – Perfect solution for situations where running a gas line would be difficult or expensive
• Design options – can be wall mounted or built-in – with a wide variety of design options

Consumers are looking for an easier option to gas or wood burning fireplaces. They are also looking for the ambiance a fire provides in spaces were fireplaces are not permitted or cannot be installed.

Amantii electric fireplaces are high quality and well-designed. They provide an artistic element above and beyond the basic functions of fire display and heat. Amantii units offer maximum flexibility without venting or trying to run gas lines throughout the house, which is a tremendous cost savings to consumers.

Come and view our variety of electric fireplaces at West Sport in Sudbury, MA.

Pellet fueled fire pits are a great way to enjoy these chilly evenings. Now you can relax outdoors with family and friends with an easy-to-enjoy pellet fire pit. This Flame Genie fire pit burns wood pellets for fuel, so you no longer have to waste time hunting up firewood. Because it burns wood pellets, there is far less smoke, so you are no longer moving your seat to find that smoke-free spot. And, once you're done, simply dump out the ashes and put it away. You no longer have to sit and wait for logs to burn out, or worry about flame ups when the fire pit is unattended. For more information on pellet burning fire pits, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

If you live in a home in the Boston area, you know that sooner than we know it, winter will be here. It is hard to forget about the epic winter we had last year. Now is the time to start thinking about heating your home this winter. If you want to make your heat more efficient, add supplemental heat to the most popular rooms in your home, and add ambiance all at the same time, then add a fireplace insert.

Who doesn’t love to use their fireplace? But sometimes, it can be more trouble than it is worth. But with a wood burning fireplace insert, the heat is forced out into your home, making the most popular room in the house the warmest one too. Wood burning fireplaces are not just attractive; they are also efficient heating solutions. A fireplace insert is considered a plus to home buyers, thus increasing the value of your home.

Gas or wood burning fireplaces inserts have many advantages for your home. Wood inserts are considered easy to use, burn wood more slowly than an open fireplace, and add a focal point to your favorite room.

Gas fireplace inserts are generally easier to use with less mess and effort. But, whichever fuel source you choose for your fireplace insert, one thing is certain; a burning fireplace will add atmosphere and ambiance to your home this winter.

Stay warmer this winter, and remember that a room with a burning fire adds a whole new dimension to entertaining. Contact West Sport in Sudbury for more information.

Interest in wood burning fireplace inserts has jumped recently. This is because they are environmentally friendly, because they add value and atmosphere to a home, they are more efficient, and because they keep you warmer in winter.

If you are interested in a new wood burning fireplace insert for your home this winter, make an informed decision when you buy. Do a bit of homework first. Measure both the room where the fireplace insert will be placed, and measure where the insert will be located in that room; length, depth and height.

This way, at West Sport in Sudbury, we can help you determine how much heat output you need to heat the room, the house or any amount of space in between. We’ll show you the models with the correct output, so we can make sure you have the heat you need to stay warm this winter. This will also make your fireplace insert as efficient and effective as possible.

There are some aesthetic questions you need to ask yourself too. Will it be placed inside a hearth? Do you want to see most of the fire? What color do you want? What style? With the increased interest in wood burning fireplace inserts, the styles, materials used, and colors available have increased as well. They range from cast iron and stainless steel, to antique and modern.

We service and install everything we sell so you can leave the installation of a new wood burning fireplace insert to us, the experts. Chimneys often need to be lined in order to avoid issues with soot and tar. And, the flue needs to be the right size in order to allow for the safe elimination of smoke. When it comes to wood burning fireplace inserts and their installation, the best tip is to contact West Sport in Sudbury and let us help.

My house has a wood-burning fireplace that we seldom used because of the heat loss. The heating system and water heater run on natural gas, so I’m thinking of converting the fireplace to a gas fireplace.

What are my options?

Answer: You have several options: gas logs, a gas fireplace and a gas fireplace insert. None involve structural changes, but there are significant differences in aesthetics, energy efficiency, and effects on the air in your house. Having a gas line within eight feet is great, because basic installation costs often include hooking up to a gas line within 10 feet.

A gas log set will give you the look of an open fire but not a lot of heat. The installers must lock the damper into a partially open position. That guards against someone lighting the fire and forgetting to open the vent. Having the damper open all of the time, of course, means that you’re losing heated or cooled air all the time — not the solution you’re seeking. To avoid that, you’d also need to install glass fireplace doors.

A gas fireplace is another option. Because no exhaust would go up the chimney, you’d keep all of the heat in the room, and you could still have an open fire.  They are not recommended as main heating systems; you’re only supposed to run them for three or four hours at a time, to keep the moisture and exhaust buildup to generally tolerable levels.

Finally, there’s a true gas fireplace insert. This solution changes the look of a fireplace, because you’re adding an insert, and it eliminates the option of having an open fire. But the look is still tidy, and the result is that you can enjoy the fire without worries. The glass doors are always shut because the fire chamber is sealed, with all of the combustion air piped in and the exhaust air piped out. This gives you energy efficiency and good indoor air, and it allows you to leave the fire running as long as you want.

For more information about your options for gas, contact West Sport in Sudbury, MA.

Washington Post

Heating and cooling your home can usually make up nearly half of your utility bill. Unfortunately, in many cases, some of that money spent on heat is lost.

Homeowners know that insulating, patching and weatherizing can reduce heat loss, there is one major energy eater in your home you may not have considered – your fireplace.

Traditional open, wood-burning fireplaces are a leading source of indoor air loss and draft, even more than windows and doors.

Traditional wood fireplaces have a lot of charm but they can be inefficient both when they  are in use and when they aren’t.

But, you don’t have to give up burning a fire this winter, and you don’t have to board up your fireplace. You can lower your bills, add ambiance, and improve your home value—all while keeping your fireplace burning. How? By adding a fireplace insert. Convert your fireplace into an energy-efficient heat source with the following tips:

• When your fireplace is not in use, make sure your chimney damper is closed. You may also install a flue sealer, which is an affordable, inflatable stopper that fits below the damper to further seal off the chimney.
• Ensure your chimney and fireplace is inspected, maintained and cleaned annually. A contractor can ensure the job is done safely and thoroughly.
• Add fireplace doors to your fireplace to help reduce the draft and add a nice aesthetic appearance.
• Consider a fireplace insert. In addition to lowering your energy bills and generating more radiant heat, fireplace inserts are cleaner to maintain. Plus, a new insert looks great and uses energy-saving firebox technology to increase heating efficiency.

For those who love the smell, crackle and process of building a real fire, don't despair. EPA-certified wood burning fireplace inserts are an easy, clean and efficient alternative.

In the pursuit of energy-efficiency, don't say goodbye to tradition. Instead, give your fireplace a much-needed upgrade.

For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

www.wnypapers.com

Massachusetts will once again slash the taxes on purchases during tax-free weekend, which is this weekend, Aug. 15-16.

Plan to take advantage of that 6.25% percent discount in addition to the other sales that often coincide with tax free weekend. This is an event shoppers wait all year for around Boston.

This is a great time for shoppers to save on gas grills, wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts or gas stoves and inserts. You can also save on back-to-school supplies, clothing, electronics, and other in-demand items to be purchased.

The state’s 6.25% sales tax is suspended for shoppers on most purchases of less than $2,500. Basically, as a consumer you will save on purchases that range from $50 to $2,499.

Since there is no exemption on electronics or clothes (for the most part) come and shop and save on home heating.  August is almost gone and school along with cooler weather is right around the corner. Avoid the installation rush and buy now.

Contact West Sport in Sudbury for more information on our tax free weekend sales.