BUILDER SUPPORT - INSTALLATION PREPARATION

Please review the installation expectations below carefully.

What You Do
Preparation needed for fireplace installation that is not included in the installation labor cost:

• Any exterior fireplace chase must be properly constructed before the scheduled installation date. (Ask sales for the proper dimensions for your chase, they differ for each fireplace)
• For any interior fireplace applications, the exact location of the fireplace must be clearly marked.
• Framing must allow for adequate clearance for flue to exit the home. This includes floor and roof joists and trusses or any applicable exterior walls. The path of our venting must comply with the minimums and maximums set forth in the installation instructions for your fireplace. Please verify requirements before job begins.
• If your fireplace is to be raised, a framed platform must be constructed and in place before the date of installation.
• The roof of the house must be shingled.
• We feel more comfortable installing the fireplace after the windows are installed (to assure no water damage to the fireplace).
• If there is a heater B-vent being installed in the same chase as the fireplace, please make sure that it is installed prior to the fireplace install.
• Is the chase top packed out (band board around the top of the chase). This does not apply if the fireplace is being directly vented out the side or rear of the house, or if the fireplace pipe exits the roof through a roof cone.
• Make sure there is clear access for our installers to carry the heavy fireplace AND venting material into the house.
• If there is a 2nd or 3rd floor fireplace being installed, make sure there are sturdy and safe stairs installed.

What We Do
Your fireplace will be installed by professional installers who follow strict standards that exceed the manufacturer's requirements!

• Our installations include proper placement of the fireplace, flue components, fire stop spacers, wall shields, and flashings. We will cut necessary penetrations (in non structural or load bearing framing) and reframe for our wall shield penetrations. All components will be installed carefully and safely maintaining all proper clearances. The fireplace will be level and plumb and set on a 1/2" homosote board used as a thermal barrier.
• Gabriel Spry also offers optional insulation packages for the fireplace chase. By having us also professionally insulate the chase, we can properly prevent cold air problems for your homebuyers.
• Gas fireplace installations also include an additional trip for us to set up the fireplace logs and ember material. If the gas is on, we will light and test the fireplace. If not, bleeding the gas line and lighting the fireplace is the builder's responsibility.
• *Please note that although very thorough, the plumbing of gas lines, framing of the chase, and the electrical wiring to the fireplace are the responsibility of the builder and/or other trades.

COMMON QUESTIONS - GAS OPERATION

Can I burn wood or other materials in my gas fireplace?
No! Burning anything other than natural or LP gas in a gas fireplace or stove will create a potential fire hazard and present a danger to your home and its occupants. Only burn the gas fuel for which the unit was originally designed.

Can gas hearth products burn either natural gas or LP gas?
They can burn one or the other, but not both. You need to be sure the gas hearth appliance you have is set up for the type of gas fuel you intend to burn. Conversion kits are available which will allow a unit to be changed to match the proper fuel type.

Doesn't the solid glass panel keep me from getting heat out of my direct vent gas fireplace?
On the contrary, the glass panel keeps warm room air which your furnace has already heated from going up your fireplace flue. Direct vent fireplaces are excellent sources of zone heating by bringing room air in the bottom grill, heating and returning it to the room through the top grill.

Can I remove the glass panel on my gas fireplace?
Not if your fireplace was shipped with a glass panel on the front. Direct vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems and need the glass on to function properly. We sell optional screen mesh panels that go on the front of the glass that takes away any reflection, and adds an additional safety barrier against accidental contact with the hot glass panel. The other type of gas fireplaces we sell, called B-vent fireplaces, come with fixed or operable bifold, not sealed, glass fronts. You would need to check with your local dealer in the area to determine if the glass panel can be removed from this type of unit. Because removal of the glass is totally dependent on the specific unit installed, we cannot recommend that the glass be removed unless the specific model of unit denotes that it can be removed and the fireplace will still operate safely.

What gas fireplaces do you sell that do not have glass fronts?
Please contact one of our sales associates. There are many different models.

The glass on my fireplace is unusually hot.
The glass on a gas fireplace WILL reach very high temperatures. USE CAUTION: Carefully SUPERVISE children in the same room as your appliance; alert everyone to the hazards of high temperatures; do NOT operate with protective barriers removed; keep clothing, furniture, draperies and other combustibles away. Barriers such as screens over our direct vent glass help reduce the risk of burn from touching the glass. These screens are available through your local dealer.

The mantel on my fireplace is unusually hot.
While direct vent gas fireplaces are designed principally for their aesthetic value, we try to get as much heat output as possible to provide added value to the homeowner. It should be noted that while we are getting a lot of heat, we are passing the ANSI and UL standards for combustible temperatures. The allowable is 117°F above room temperature for combustibles. Average room temperature is 70-75°F; therefore a 187-192°F surface temperature can be expected. On a solid surface, 150°F is very hot to the touch (to put this in perspective, water boils at 212°F and the average bath water temperature is 110°F).

Will my gas hearth product still burn if I lose electricity to my home?
Most of the fireplaces we provide will still run as long as you do not have an electronic ignition fireplace. If you have a fan, they will not work without power, but the appliance itself will burn and provide heat, light and comfort.

Are gas hearth products expensive to operate?
Operating cost will vary by region, by gas utility, and by fuel type. Based on national averages, a natural gas fireplace consuming 27,000 BTUs/hr will cost less than 20 cents/hr to enjoy. LP units run slightly higher. Your monthly gas bill should include your exact cost per therm (100,000 BTUs). Based on this rate, and the BTU input listed on the rating plate on your appliance, you can calculate the cost for your area. Consider that when you burn your gas fireplace in the room you desire, you can offset some cost by having the thermostat for your furnace turned down.

What is the recommended burn-in procedure on a new gas fireplace?
On a new gas fireplace there is a curing time or burn-in time. When initially burning your new gas fireplace, the oils, etc. from manufacturing will be burning off the fireplace. We recommend burning the fireplace 8-10 hours; completely cooling down the fireplace, removing the glass and cleaning it with household glass cleaner or Glass Bright, newspaper or cotton cloth; replacing the glass & continuing to burn the fireplace an additional 9-21 hours. (Make sure you re-latch the glass so it is securely fastened on your fireplace.) If necessary, open a window to release any odor during this process. This should eliminate the manufacturing smell on a new fireplace. Any cleaning product used should not contain amonia.

I have an odor in my gas fireplace
On gas fireplaces that are not brand new and are emitting some odor, try cleaning behind the upper and lower louvers. Dust can cause odor. Another source of odor can be the items you have on your mantel. Remove all objects from your mantel and then replace the objects one at a time.

Why am I feeling a cold draft from my fireplace?
There are several possible causes of feeling cold air from a gas fireplace. 1) Check around the area where the gas line enters your home. That is the primary cause of cold air infiltration. You can stuff fiberglass or foil tape insulation in the hole to prevent the cold air from coming in there. 2) Check to make sure that your glass is clamped on tight by all clamps or screws. You would need to remove the front on the fireplace and look top & bottom, at all corners of the fireplace. (Make sure you hold the glass in with one hand while examining and checking the clamps with the other.) 3) If the fireplace is mounted on cement versus plywood, that can also transfer cold into your home. 4) If the chase area or "doghouse" is not insulated adequately, that is another possibility. Please check out the insulation of the chase with your builder.

Can I adjust the flame height on my fireplace?
Flame height adjustments are available on many gas units. Check the manual for your appliance.

COMMON QUESTIONS - PILOT LIGHTS

How do I light my pilot?

1. Locate gas supply valve (typically behind louvers, below glass opening - may be red or blue).
   
   
2. Open valve by pivoting handle to be parallel to gas line.
   
   
3. Locate pilot assembly with spark ignitor (located behind and below logs in the firebox - typically in the bottom center).
   
   
4. Then locate red or black ignitor button. Push ignitor to verify spark at pilot area.
   
   
5. Locate the black valve control knob (knob with the words "ON", "OFF" and "PILOT" on it). Push in and rotate it so it is in the pilot position (The pilot position is the only position that you will be able to push the entire knob in about 1").
   
   
6. While pressing and holding in the valve knob (in "PILOT" position - it should press in about 1/4"), press the red piezo button repeatedly (once per second) until the pilot ignites. If the pilot does not light, wait 5 minutes and try again. Once the pilot is lit, continue to hold the valve knob in for 1 minute, then slowly release it.
   
   
7. If the pilot light goes out, contact your nearest dealer for service. If it remains lit, press the valve knob in slightly and rotate counter-clockwise to the word "ON."
   
   
8. Finally, turn the unit's ON/OFF switch (or wall switch or remote control) to the "ON" position to start your fire.

Can I shut the pilot off in the summer?
It's not recommended in climates that are high in humidity. Otherwise, you can turn the pilot off when you won’t be using your appliance for an extended period of time, and then use our on-line instructions to relight the pilot when needed.

Electronic Ignition Systems.
Electronic ignition systems are available, contact your sales person for details.