ARROWICE

5:28:22 PM EST
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No smoke. No ashes. No problem

Outdoor fireplaces let you enjoy a traditional campfire in your own backyard without the traditional hassles. “Old-fashioned campfires or fire pits mean that somebody always has smoke in their eyes,” said Roger Oxford, Senior Vice President of New Construction at Hearth & Home Technologies. “But today’s natural-gas and propane fireplaces and fire pits give you the allure of a campfire with a clean burn.”

They also eliminate the chores of chopping and hauling firewood, tending a fire and cleaning up ashes afterward: outdoor gas fireplaces operate at the touch of a switch. You can even order an unfinished fireplace and customize it with stucco, tile, brick, or stone that complement the design of your home.

Make Your Fireplace a Decor Center Piece Bring a unique sense of elegance into your home. Make Your Fireplace a Decor Center Piece with fire glass. At Arrowice.com, we provide fire glass that flames shoot thru from a bed of exquisite glass crystals showcased with your home decor fireplace. We offer more than 100 different colors, shapes and sizes of fire glass.  Product Gallery Browse at www.arrowice.com <http://www.arrowice.com/> or 909-427-8663

 

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5:03:52 PM EST
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Keeping Your Home Safe

  Fireplace Safety
  If your home has one or more fireplaces, special precautions can help to keep home fires burning safely:

• Never burn charcoal or use a hibachi in your fireplace. Both produce deadly carbon monoxide.
• Protect against sparks by enclosing a fireplace's opening with glass doors or a sturdy screen.
• Never close the flue while a fire is still smoldering. Carbon monoxide could build up.  
• Never use gasoline, kerosene or lighter fluid to start a fire. Burn only dry, seasoned hardwood. For extra safety, light fires with long-stemmed matches.

• Have your fireplace and chimney inspected annually. They should be properly vented and free of blockages. Have cleaned as needed.
• Protect the top of your chimney with a guard that keeps out birds and small animals and keeps in sparks that could ignite your roof.
• Keep flammables such as newspapers, magazines, rugs and carpeting well away from the fireplace.
• Remove holiday decorations from the fireplace and mantle before building a fire to avoid having the decorations ignite.
• Teach children to stay back from the fireplace.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

If Fire Breaks Out
Smoke detectors greatly increase the likelihood you'll survive a fire. Place at least one on each floor of your home and outside each sleeping area. Install detectors inside bedrooms for added protection. Mount detectors on the ceiling, at least 4 inches away from the wall. Test detectors monthly and replace batteries once a year. To help you remember, plan to install new batteries on an annual event, such as the Fourth of July. Replace smoke detectors after 10 years. 

 If a fire does break out, take immediate action. Smoke and flames spread rapidly. Get out of the house right away, then call the fire department from a neighbor's house or a cellular phone. Fumes overcome most victims long before flames reach them. Use your safest exit. If you must escape through smoke, get down and crawl low under the smoke, keeping your head about 12­-24 inches off the floor.

If you haven't gotten around to conducting a family fire drill, now's the time to do it. And visit your local hardware store or home center to invest in a few fire extinguishers. Extinguishers are classified according to the type of fire they will put out, and you'll find the classification displayed on an extinguisher.

A Class ABC extinguisher is multi-purpose and works well against any small, self-contained fire. Keep one in the kitchen, extras in the basement or garage. Contact your fire department to ask about training. Don't attempt to fight a fire unless you know you have the right extinguisher to handle that type of fire, and be sure to keep your back to a safe exit.

Fire Safety Checklist
Take this quick quiz to help you assess your family's fire safety plan:

• Do you follow the fire prevention practices outlined in this pamphlet? Pay special attention to safety tips on cooking, smoking, use of heating equipment, proper storage of flammables and precautions regarding children and matches.
• Are your smoke detectors working? There should be at least one on every floor of your home. Test each detector monthly, and replace batteries annually.
• Do you hold regular fire drills?  Several times a year, have your family practice exiting your home safely and quickly in the event of an emergency. Designate a meeting place for all family members to gather once they are out of the house.

• Have you taught your children to "stop, drop and roll"? In the event their clothing catches fire, kids (and adults) should stop, drop to the floor, cover their faces and roll over and over or back and forth to put out the fire. Keep rolling until the fire goes out.
• Have you planned an alternate escape route? It's important to have at least two escape routes from each room in your home, often a door and a window. Practice using them now to be sure you could get out in an emergency.
• Can you safely exit from the second floor? A chain ladder or other easily accessible ladder can help you escape from the upper stories of your home in the event of a fire.
• Do you know how to use your fire extinguishers? Know where your fire extinguishers are kept, and read the instructions for use before you need them.
• Do you know the phone number for your local fire department and the location of the nearest phone outside your house? In case of fire, always evacuate your home first, then call for help from a cellular or other nearby phone.
•  
• Arrowice produces Fire Glass Flames, exquisite glass crystals that showcase your home decor fireplace with more than 100 different colors, shapes and sizes at www.arrowice.com <http://www.arrowice.com/> or 909-427-8663

 

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3:34:44 PM EST
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Think Clean !

Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned annually by a National Chimney Sweep Guild Certified chimney sweep. A dirty fireplace can cause chimney fires or contribute to air pollution. Your local NCSG-certified chimney sweep will diagnose your fireplace and recommend what it needs in order to burn cleanly and safely.

Choose the right fuel. In general, hardwood firewood (oak, madrone, hickory, ash, etc.) burns cleaner than softwood firewood (fir, pine, cedar, etc.). Independent tests (conducted by Shelton Research Labs, Santa Fe, NM) have proven that manufactured firelogs burn much cleaner than firewood.

Use seasoned wood, wood with a moisture content of less than 20 percent, burns much cleaner than green (high moisture content) wood. Check with your cordwood supplier to make sure that the wood you purchase is seasoned.

Burn smartly. Good fireplace habits can decrease fuel consumption in the home while maintaining the same level of warmth. Make sure the fire gets enough air to burn properly. Close the damper when the fire is out to keep warm room air inside.

Minimize creosote buildup which causes chimney fires. Creosote is the black tarry or flaky substance formed in chimneys during the wood burning process. While firewood leaves flammable creosote and carbon deposits on chimney wells, tests show firelogs leave significantly less creosote accumulation than wood.

Make a fire that fits your fireplace. A fire that's too large or too hot not only wastes fuel, it can crack your chimney.

Keep your fireplace in good working condition. If you notice any cracks in the chimney, and any loose mortar or brick, have your chimney repaired. Have the chimney liner inspected for cracking or deterioration.

Read and follow the label when using firelogs. Use one firelog at a time, starting it with a fireplace at room temperature. Don't poke or break manufactured logs. This will cause them to crack apart, releasing their energy at a high rateand resulting in a shorter burn time. Firelogs perform best when burned on a supporting fireplace grate with a maximum of three to four inches of space between support bars.

If your fireplace is equipped with glass doors, leave them open while burning a firelog to allow proper draught and cleaner burning. Once you're sure the fire is extinguished, close the damper and glass doors to retain warm air inside the house.

Arrowice produces Fire Glass Flames, exquisite glass crystals that
showcase your home decor fireplace with more than 100 different colors,
shapes and sizes at www.arrowice.com <http://www.arrowice.com/>  or
909-427-8663

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3:21:09 PM EST
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What will happen during a power outage?

If you choose a millivolt ignition system, nothing will happen. The millivolt system uses a pilot light that stays lit at all times and is not dependent on electricity for power. Because of its virtually foolproof nature, millivolt ignition is popular in most of the country. It uses a small electromagnet built into the gas valve. When you light the pilot, that electromagnet allows gas to flow to the pilot only. The pilot's flame heats a thermocouple (a small electrical generator). That generated power holds the gas valve open. Then, when you flip your wall or unit switch, the gas flows and voila! Instant ambience!

If the pilot flame is extinguished for any reason, everything stops: the thermocouple cools and stops generating electricity, the electromagnet loses its power, a spring in the gas valve snaps the valve shut and the burner goes out.

The other type of ignition is electronic ignition, where you flip a wall or unit mounted switch, or press a button on a remote control to "fire up" the fireplace. California and New York have actually mandated electronic ignition. Stories of carbon monoxide poisonings are all over the news. What about the quality of room air?

Since 1980, about 45 states have allowed the use of vent-free fireplaces, which are designed so that the by-products of combustion—as well as the heat—are sent into the home. The burners in these fireplaces are designed for low carbon monoxide (CO) output: somewhere around four to six parts per million, which is far lower than the CO output from an average kitchen range.

Consider Superior Fireplace's Pure Heater. It's a ceramic catalyst that cleans the products of combustion, removing hydrocarbons and allowing the fireplace to emit absolutely no carbon monoxide.

Vent-free fireplaces also employ an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS). This device measures the amount of oxygen in a room-20.9 percent being normal. If the oxygen level drops too far, the ODS shuts off the unit. Many units shut off around 18.5 percent or 19 percent, making them even safer.

Conventionally vented gas fireplaces have spill switches, which measure the temperature on the top of the fireplace. If the fireplace is not venting correctly, the spill switch shuts the fireplace down. Fireplace surfaces get hot. Are my children safe around a natural gas fireplace? As today's fireplaces become increasingly efficient, more heat is conducted to the room and surfaces get hotter. Don't worry, though; common sense will serve you in good stead. You can use a fixed screen on the front of the fireplace to keep curious fingers away from the hot spots; or, for an extra measure of safety, visit your local hearth shop and try a standing fixed screen to keep kids beyond arm's reach.
Remember, it's not just the little ones who can get burned. You could also be at risk while working with the gas valve and controls. Check out several different brands to see which offer roomy servicing compartments. Larger compartments keep your hands away from hot surfaces.

It's time to consider a natural gas fireplace, not only for the safety features, but for the sake of the environment. Emission requirements for fireplaces are appearing in many states, including Nevada, Colorado and Arizona. Utah and California are considering strengthening their current laws, and in 1997 Washington State began regulating fireplace emissions.

Why not try a natural gas fireplace in your home today? Once it's in place, all you'll have to do is kick back with the Sunday paper and flip a switch.

Arrowice produces Fire Glass Flames, exquisite glass crystals that showcase your home decor fireplace with more than 100 different colors, shapes and sizes at www.arrowice.com <http://www.arrowice.com/> or 909-427-8663

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3:17:45 PM EST
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Will the fireplace leak gas?

When humans built their first fire in a cave, they didn't worry about carbon monoxide or ventilation. They pushed a few sticks together near the cave's entrance, lit them up and hoped the prevailing winds would blow the smoke away. They concerned themselves first with ridding the area of wild animals, not maintaining a healthy and safe cooking fire.

Times have changed. Most of us no longer live in caves, nor are we apprehensive about saber-toothed tigers. And we no longer need fires for cooking. What we do need are quiet, clean-burning flames that kindle our romantic spirits and heat our rooms, without cramping our style or filling our home with dangerous gases

Major fireplace manufacturers like Superior, Heat-N-Glo, Majestic and Temco just to name a few—are sensitive to these concerns, and cater to them with a bumper crop of gas-burning fireplaces that don't sacrifice appearance or convenience. We spoke with Don Kaufman, training manager for Superior, who answered some of your most pressing questions.

Arrowice produces Fire Glass Flames, exquisite glass crystals that showcase your home decor fireplace with more than 100 different colors, shapes and sizes at

www.arrowice.com <http://www.arrowice.com/> or 909-427-8663

 

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6:45:30 PM EST
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Heat Up Your Home’s Value with a Fireplace

BY ARROWICE.COM, 2006

Adding a fireplace when you’re building or remodeling undoubtedly
increases the enjoyment of your home, but did you know that adding a
fireplace is also a great investment in a home’s resale value?

Because of their warmth – both literal and figurative – fireplaces are
one of the features that potential homebuyers inevitably gravitate
toward. “When I get a new listing of a home that has a fireplace, it’s
imperative I work that fact into all of my marketing materials about the
property,” said Brad Palecek, a realtor with Edina Realty in St. Paul,
Minn.

By bringing the idea of “hearth and home” to life, a fireplace increases
a home’s livability – an important quality these days, with more people
opting to spend quiet time at home with family and friends. In fact,
many of today’s homebuyers consider a fireplace a “must-have” feature. A
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey found that 77% of
homebuyers want a fireplace in the family room, where they’ll spend most
of their time. And fifty percent of homebuyers would like a fireplace in
the living room, where they do much of their entertaining.

Return on investment
With the high demand for fireplaces, adding one to your home clearly
means a great investment. Remodeling magazine’s 2003 “Cost vs. Value
Report” points out when selling a home, it’s easier to recover the cost
of lower-priced projects like fireplace additions than the cost of major
renovations like new kitchens.

According to MSN’s “House & Home Advisor,” adding a fireplace is one of
the top three remodeling jobs in terms of return on investment (the
other two are adding a bathroom and minor kitchen remodeling).

Studies show that homeowners can often recoup more than 100% of the cost
of adding a fireplace when they sell the home. In fact, according to the
National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, homeowners without
fireplaces can potentially raise the selling prices of their homes by
about 6-12% simply by adding a fireplace.

A fireplace also adds less-tangible value by helping buyers see your
home in a better light. “If I’m the listing agent on a property that’s
showing in the fall, winter or early spring, I’ll always light a fire in
the fireplace for open houses – particularly if the fireplace is a
woodburner,” said Palecek. “People are drawn to a fire; it makes them
feel good about being in a room.”

Options Abound
Many homeowners opt for more than one fireplace (Brad Palecek’s own
house has three), often mixing and matching the types of fireplaces
depending on how each room is used. And when you’re building a home, the
choice is yours. As you work with your contractor on fireplace
selection, remember that it’s a good strategy to invest in the best.
Choosing the most high-end fireplace that your budget will accommodate
will give you top-dollar return on investment if you sell your home
later.

Tom and Cari Reichenbach decided to give themselves the best of two
worlds in the home they built earlier this year. Their home features a
stunning flagstone woodburning fireplace as the focal point of their
great room upstairs and a gas fireplace in the corner of their
lower-level family room.

“We wanted that organic feel of a wood fire upstairs with a nice big
hearth we can sit on,” said Cari. “And it’s not just a special-occasion
fireplace – I’ll often light a fire in the middle of a weekday
afternoon.”

Downstairs, a gas fireplace was the right choice for the family. “We
wanted the convenience of having a fire at the touch of a button in the
TV room,” Cari explained. “Turning on the fireplace warms up the room
right away, both in terms of temperature and the coziness factor.”

Choose the right fireplace for you
When you’re thinking about adding a fireplace to your current home or
new construction, consider the following options:

Wood, with its unmistakable look, sound and smell, is the fireplace
experience that evokes feelings of nostalgia for many homeowners.
Today’s wood burning fireplaces are more environmentally responsible
than ever. Many models, comply with the strictest government air-quality
regulations, and work in communities that have imposed bans on
conventional wood burning fireplaces.

Gas is currently the most popular choice among homeowners, thanks to its
convenience, efficiency and safety. A direct-vent gas fireplace can be
installed almost anywhere; most gas fireplaces burn natural gas, but
many can be installed to burn propane. In addition, unlike unvented or
vent free gas fireplaces, direct-vent gas fireplaces use outside air for
combustion, and expel 100% of the combustion exhaust and by-products
(like moisture, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide) outside the home. As
a result, they do not decrease your home’s indoor air quality in any
way.  Making is safe for alternative gas inserts like Fire Glass Flames
by Arrowice.

Electric fireplaces don’t require chimneys or venting systems, so
they’re a good option for apartments, condos and town homes. These
fireplaces can provide a fire-like ambiance either with or without heat.

Arrowice produces Fire Glass Flames, exquisite glass crystals that
showcase your home decor fireplace with more than 100 different colors,
shapes and sizes at www.arrowice.com <http://www.arrowice.com/>  or
909-427-8663

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