Bob visits a Heat n' Glo showroom where Ross Morrison shows him a variety of direct-vent gas fireplaces. With a sealed glass chamber there is no interplay of of room air�no products of combustion will get into the room and it doesn't use any of the the room's already warm air for combustion. The fireplace inserts come with ceramic fiber logs. When the flames hit the logs they produce a nice glow. The logs are light, unbreakable, and last a lifetime. Ross shows Bob the 6000 TRXI, a premium model that is rated as a furnace. It has a beautiful masonry appearance inside and a pumps out enough BTUs to heat a 1200 - 1500 sq. ft. house. The fireplace also offers the option of turning the flames down or off or opening the climate control damper to cut the heat by one half.

The walls in the new addition to the home are just about ready for paint. The new fireplace will make this new in-law suite very cozy. Malcolm Gurney of The Fireplace Connection reviews features of the fireplace. It is a Majestic wood-burning fireplace that uses outside air for combustion. It operates like a standard wood stove with the doors closed while the fire is burning. Measurements for the fireplace were taken prior to installation, allowing for a six foot mantle. The pipe needs to be installed in-line with the peak of the roof. Thirty-degree offsets, the steepest degree available, will be used to install the pipe. A multiple number of offsets can be used in the installation. The fireplaces come with installation manuals to explain the process.

Fireplaces are a nice feature in any home. Count Rumford fireplaces, known for their heat efficiency, are tall and shallow, reflecting heat back into the room. Constructed from firebricks and refractory mortar, they will tolerate very high temperatures. The distinctive throat connecting the firebox to the flue wastes less heated room air.

The Rumford fireplace is being built and Bob reviews the herringbone construction process being used. The Rumford fireplace uses a design which is approximately 200 years old. The fireplace is tall and shallow to reflect a lot of heat and has a streamlined throat between the firebox and the flue. Heat Stop Refractory Mortar is used to withstand the high temperatures generated in the firebox. This mortar conforms to building codes. Bob then reviews the construction elements of the fireplace.

Jack Murdock from RMI and Craig Ryans from Vermont Castings of Mississauga, Ontario, demonstrate how simple it is to have gas appliances and heat in a rural location. With a 500 gallon underground or exterior tank, enough fuel is stored on site for most common uses and requires just a few fill ups a year. The stove being installed, a Vermont Castings product, uses a direct vent technology that draws no interior air to aid in combustion. The unit pulls air in from outside through a cylinder pipe and releases exhausts outside as a typical furnace would. Gas appliances and heat function during power failures, although electric fans that circulate the heat will not work without an auxillary power supply. The fireplace installed in the Modular Mountain Retreat project home will provide 30,000 BTUs of heat. A realistic ceramic grate burner and ceramic logs enhance the fireplace�s look.

The EnergyWise House's fireplaces use state-of-the-art technology to produce clean, efficient heat. Ross Morrison from Heat-N-Glo joins energy expert Steve Easley on location for a preview of a few of the heating technologies that will be used in the home. On display are 33,000 Btu direct-vent model capable of heating up to three rooms, and indoor/outdoor model that does not require a flue, and a portable "campfire" style that can run on propane or natural gas.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. While it s hard to argue with the romance of a crackling fire on a chilly night, your fireplace might be costing you more in energy dollars than you know. A fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat energy you ve paid for goes up in smoke. Heated room air is drafted up the chimney as well, so your main heating system actually works harder to keep the house warm. Glass fireplace doors raise the efficiency somewhat but only to about 20 percent. While wood burning is becoming less viable in heavily populated areas, if it s still your fuel of choice you should invest in an EPA-rated wood stove with a catalytic combuster. And only burn seasoned wood or wood that s been split and stacked in the sun for about 6 months. Green wood makes for a smoky fire that pollutes more and coats your chimney with resins, which can lead to chimney fires. If you re tired of shoveling ashes and hauling wood, a gas-burning fireplace insert is a more efficient option that also saves space. A built-in fan distributes heat into the room and a thermostat allows you to set a target temperature. Some models even have a timer so a roaring fire welcomes you when you get up in the morning. One gas fireplace insert can heat a whole small house in all but the coldest weather, which can save you a lot if your main heating system is oil-fired or electric. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

You can lose a lot of heat through your chimney, even with the damper closed. Installing fireplace doors is a great way to eliminate that draft. They are easy to install. Most models attach by tension with simple hardware that doesn't require drilling or damaging your fireplace brick.

A hole is drilled into the hearth of the fireplace to accomodate the gas line. The gas line is then connected using a straight adapter to the black iron pipe. The unit has two pilot assemblies and a logset burner that supplies the gas to the logset itself. A high-efficiency heating burner sits behind the logset and gives the fireplace great heating efficiency. The unit comes with a remote control and a programmable thermostat. The logset is placed in the firebox and the finish surround is put in place. The finish surround acts as the transition between the Rinnai fireplace and the masonry fireplace.

The crew from The Ironhouse joins Dan DeMagistris of Heat-N-Glo to install the fireplace. The fireplace selected for the dining room is taller than it is wide, which makes it look like a traditional Count Rumsford fireplace. Because of the proportions it has a raised burner for aesthetic purposes to bring the flame up to fill out the area. The fireplace can be mounted right into the opening as it only requires a one-half-inch clearance. The diningroom fireplace is positioned in a framed area contiguous to the garage with the ductwork traveling through the wall into the garage, taking a sharp turn, then passing out through the front wall of the house. The fireplace is vented with an eight-inch direct vent double-walled pipe. The exhaust is carried through the pipe to the outdoors and fresh air for combustion is drawn from the outside into the combustion box. This is a totally radiant fireplace. The heats passes into the room through the glass panel. There is no convection system.