Many people are interested in converting a wood fireplace to gas. This winter, fireplaces have had quite a workout, but some homeowners are tired of lugging and stacking wood. They are interested in replacing the open fireplace with a gas fireplace. But, what does that entail?

A gas fireplace is easy to use and maintain. That's why so many people seem to prefer gas fireplace inserts these days.

Chimney inspection

It's important to be certain your chimney is clean and fully functional. A professional chimney sweep will give you an inspection and can tell you whether your chimney will accommodate a gas unit.

You'll also need to hire someone to extend your home's existing gas line to the fireplace. Plumbers and HVAC technicians are often qualified. If your home doesn't have a natural gas connection, and service is available where you live, you can pay for a connection.

Choose a gas insert or gas logs

Next, decide what kind of gas fireplace insert you want. When converting from a wood-burning fireplace, you have three options:

• a gas fireplace insert
• vented gas logs
• vent-free gas logs

To choose, consider how you expect to use your fireplace.

If you want to add warmth to your home, consider a gas insert or vent-free gas logs. Of these two options, vent-free gas logs produce the most heat, but they may introduce unburned combustion products into your home and aren't recommended for homeowners with allergies or asthma. Also, some municipalities have restricted or outlawed vent-free fireplaces.

Vented gags logs are your best option if you don't care about adding heat, don't plan to use the fireplace often or are mostly interested in how the fire looks. Vented gas-log fireplaces burn more gas than the other types and may draw heat up the chimney, but they cost less to install than a gas insert.

For more information on the best choice for your home and your lifestyle, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

The State

Heating and cooling your home makes up nearly half your utility bill. And it is very cold this winter, so you may be spending even more. Unfortunately, a portion of that expenditure is lost.

While most homeowners know that insulating, patching and weatherizing can reduce heat loss, there is one major energy eater in your home that you may not have considered -- that charming staple of dens, family rooms and anywhere people gather: the fireplace. Add a fireplace insert and make you home more efficient and more beautiful.

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

Traditional wood fireplaces have a lot of charm, but unfortunately, they can be inefficient even when they aren’t in use.

However, you don’t need to sacrifice your fire this winter to lower your bill -- in fact, it’s possible to convert your fireplace into an energy efficient heat source with the following tips:

• Don’t send your hard earned money up and out the chimney. 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 glass fireplace doors or a cover to the front of your fireplace to help reduce the draft and add a nice aesthetic.
• Consider a gas fireplace insert. In addition to lowering your energy bills and generating more radiant heat, they’re cleaner to maintain -- no ash, soot, or smoke -- and are low maintenance, turning on and off with the flip of a switch. Plus, a new insert looks great and uses energy-saving firebox technology to increase efficiency. Learn more about the benefits of a gas fireplace insert by visiting West Sport in Sudbury.
• For those who love the smell, crackle and process of building a real fire, don’t despair. Pellet and EPA-certified wood inserts can be an easy, clean and efficient alternative as well.

In the pursuit of energy-efficiency, don’t say goodbye to the tradition of a burning fire. Instead, give your fireplace a much needed upgrade with fireplace inserts.

For more information on fireplace inserts, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

KMA Land

Many homeowners in the Sudbury, Lexington and Concord area want an easy way to use the fireplace. They have beautiful homes with beautiful open hearths and expansive chimneys that are a real focal point in their living room or great room. But, they don’t want to fuss with logs or lighting a fire. They just want to enjoy their fireplace. Gas logs and glass fireplace doors are the easiest way to do this.

If you are a homeowner that loves your fireplace and hearth for ambiance with heat being an extra advantage, consider switching from wood to gas and adding gas logs and beautiful custom glass fireplace doors.

Gas logs and glass fireplace doors are an easy and beautiful way to use your fireplace. With the flick of a switch you can enjoy a beautiful fire after work or during the next snow storm. Beautifully made custom fireplace doors can enhance the beauty of your hearth and chimney too. Another added advantage is you have so many options when you choose glass doors. You can easily match your décor, making your hearth whatever you want it to be.

Gas logs are hand made from ceramic and very closely resemble real wood burning logs. There are styles of gas logs to meet every style décor and let you experience the beauty and warmth of a wood fire without the hassle of wood.

With custom-made glass fireplace doors you can also dramatically increase the efficiency of your hearth and transform your fire into a work of art while adding efficiency.

For more information, contact West Sport in Sudbury.

The weather is cold and it just keeps snowing. During this type of weather, it is nice to be able to come home and relax in front of a fire. But, who wants to lug firewood, and struggle with lighting a fire. With gas logs and glass fireplace doors, you can have a beautiful fire burning in the fireplace in seconds.

Gas logs burn like a real wood fire. But you don’t have to stack, split and transport firewood. All you have to do to start the fire is push a button on the remote control.  When you are done, turn the fire off with the same flick of a switch.  Gas logs and glass fireplace doors are incredibly convenient.

You may have a traditional open hearth and maybe you are trying to decide how to revamp it and make it more attractive and more efficient. Well, there are many advantages of gas logs in Sudbury.

If you are switching from wood to gas logs,  be sure that you buy the right size log set for your fireplace. If it is too small, the display is not as attractive, if it is too large, the logs don’t sit right within the fireplace and it won’t vent correctly.

Gas logs are hand-made and hand-painted to beautifully replicate real wood. You can decide what style logs you would like and adding custom glass fireplace doors creates a beautiful focal point in your home all year round.  Glass fireplace doors make the fire more efficient, helping the fire to vent correctly, keeping the warm air in your home from going up the chimney and keeping cold air out of your home when the fire is not lit.

When you install gas logs and glass fireplace doors, you will have endless hours of cozy relaxation and ambiance added to your home. And, no more dealing with firewood.

For more information on gas logs and glass fireplace doors, contact West Sport in Sudbury where they are on special all month long!