Gas fireplace advice

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jc100

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Thinking of getting a gas insert into an existing masonry fireplace. I'm interested in the radiant ones without a blower as this is for a quiet room, fireplace opening is about 29x29x21 deep and is pretty close to the gas supply. Just been quoted around $5k taxes in for a Valour G3.5 purchase + some fancy trim options + labour.

I've just started shopping about so don't have too much to compare but Valor is only sold by one place near me (Kingston) so will be hard to compare exactly with other places.

Does this price sound about right? What other makes of insert should I be looking at (blowerless)?

Cheers.
 
I have a napoleon, it has a blower that is NEVER used, With just the radiant heat on it will chase you out of the room in an hour or so. Room is 160sg ft , patio doors on one end .
I dont know what a valor is like but 5k sounds a bit pricey for a supply install no?
 
nearace said:
I love my gas insert,with blower,paid 3500 installed with new chimney liner and gas line installed.
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What make was it? Do you use the blower much? Is it loud?

yeah 5k sounded a bit high to me too, I was figuring 4k all in for something reasonable but again, I don't really know and maybe valour is a high end brand? The thing looks good but if there's equivalent out there for less then I'm interested.
 
Take a look at Napoleon, regency or continental which is made by Napoleon just a little cheaper, all great reliable fireplaces
 
jc100 said:
Thinking of getting a gas insert into an existing masonry fireplace. I'm interested in the radiant ones without a blower as this is for a quiet room, fireplace opening is about 29x29x21 deep and is pretty close to the gas supply. Just been quoted around $5k taxes in for a Valour G3.5 purchase + some fancy trim options + labour.

I've just started shopping about so don't have too much to compare but Valor is only sold by one place near me (Kingston) so will be hard to compare exactly with other places.

Does this price sound about right? What other makes of insert should I be looking at (blowerless)?

Cheers.
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Kingston rd or Kingston the city?
 
CruisnGrrl said:
Kingston rd or Kingston the city?
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Kingston the city.

Salesguy said he also sells Napoleon etc but they need the blower to put out the same heat as the Valour with just radiant heat. I'm aware that some of this may be a sales tactic but i told the guy I'd be getting other quotes.
 
check to see what the gas company has... a friend of mine heats his whole house with his gas "wood" stove. granted it's a small house (2 bedroom) in trenton but if a little stove like that can heat the whole house... plus the cost you're stating is more than i was quoted ($4200) for a new install of a propane furnace with propane tank to replace a oil/diesel one. New chimney would be required too...
 
Check out goemans (sp?). We picked up an insert with beautiful front trim (no mantle) with everything for under 3k. Install yourself and pay a gas fitter to run gas lines(price depends on how many feet of line they run.)

Oh btw its a Napoleon. No blower as they are noisy. It even has solid and changing LEDs to accent the flame. I'll see if I can snap a pic.



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If you buy one, get the blower. You don't have to use it, but if you decide you need it, you have it. If you decide later you want a bower, it'll cost you 3 times as much to have installed. Price will depend on competition. If there isn't many dealers there, you'll pay more. Don't install it yourself,for any reason. There isn't a reputable gas Tech that would install the gas line, knowing you are going to install the unit yourself.

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oilycreek said:
If you buy one, get the blower. You don't have to use it, but if you decide you need it, you have it. If you decide later you want a bower, it'll cost you 3 times as much to have installed. Price will depend on competition. If there isn't many dealers there, you'll pay more. Don't install it yourself,for any reason. There isn't a reputable gas Tech that would install the gas line, knowing you are going to install the unit yourself.

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adding the the blower would mean getting an electric line to the fireplace though that would cost a fair bit wouldn't it?
 
My unit, a napolean with a blower that we never use could not be hardwired as per the company that installed it. As an appliance it had to be plugged into an outlet. Its really ugly with a cord running across the hearth so we tucked it in and hid it.

My wife hired a local contractor to do the install, large furnace/ac place. They measured the firebox, my only stipulation was it did not stick out onto the hearth, I wanted a flush fit. They miss measured and the unit would not fit. They say they cannot alter the existing masonary firebox, so the unit they give us sits out onto the hearth. I hate it everyday.
But I wasn't here and it was in when I came home. I'd have had a mason alter the firebox to have what I wanted if thats what Mr gas tech needed.

Its a good unit, just installed by idiots.
 
Oh I'm definitely going to get it installed properly. I've had my share of botch jobs and really appreciate good workmanship now and don't mind paying for it within reason. I had another message from a dealer 80 kms away that sells Valor and they said the quote was in the right ballpark for this fire. I'll still go and see what the competition is like though.

For those who have the blower unit do you use it much?
 
oilycreek said:
I. Don't install it yourself,for any reason. There isn't a reputable gas Tech that would install the gas line, knowing you are going to install the unit yourself.

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Can u elaborate? I've installed 4 fireplaces in 4 separate houses (my own) and have had 4 different "reputable" gas companies run my lines.

Even when I installed my gas range they left the flex line with a shut off and I hooked the rest up. Not rocket science, pipe dope and leak test. So technically that's 5 different companies.

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gs500f said:
Can u elaborate? I've installed 4 fireplaces in 4 separate houses (my own) and have had 4 different "reputable" gas companies run my lines.

Even when I installed my gas range they left the flex line with a shut off and I hooked the rest up. Not rocket science, pipe dope and leak test. So technically that's 5 different companies.

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Sure I would. 1st, I hope you were living in all 4 residences and no renters when you installed the fireplaces. 2nd, it's because of people like you that TSSA should change the code about people being allowed to do gas work on their property, (without renters) You obviously have zero knowledge about gas, if you campare connecting a flex connector to installing a fireplace. If a company installs a gas line for someone, they have to pressure test it, and attach a pressure test tag, which has the company's address, the fitters license number, size and length of pipe, test pressure and duration.. So they do that, and you install the fireplace, and you do it wrong, there's an incident, lets say co in the house, and someone goes to hospital. TSSA gets on site, and reads the test tag, and talks to the guy that installed the gas line., he says he didn't install the fireplace, so they ask you, and you, to cover your *** says he did, because of his test tag, he will be the one held responsible for everything. There isn't any reputable fitter willing to put his ticket on the line because someone wants to save a couple dollars. I wouldn't even do it for a freind, or family member. I've worked to hard to have my ticket to take a chance on losing it for sonmething so dumb.
 
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jc100 said:
Oh I'm definitely going to get it installed properly. I've had my share of botch jobs and really appreciate good workmanship now and don't mind paying for it within reason. I had another message from a dealer 80 kms away that sells Valor and they said the quote was in the right ballpark for this fire. I'll still go and see what the competition is like though.

For those who have the blower unit do you use it much?[/QUOTE]
When I lived in Courtice, I had a fiereplace with a blower and used it all the time. It depends on the size of room, and if the room is heated by the CHS.
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oilycreek said:
Sure I would. 1st, I hope you were living in all 4 residences and no renters when you installed the fireplaces. 2nd, it's because of people like you that TSSA should change the code about people being allowed to do gas work on their property, (without renters) You obviously have zero knowledge about gas, if you campare connecting a flex connector to installing a fireplace. If a company installs a gas line for someone, they have to pressure test it, and attach a pressure test tag, which has the company's address, the fitters license number, size and length of pipe, test pressure and duration.. So they do that, and you install the fireplace, and you do it wrong, there's an incident, lets say co in the house, and someone goes to hospital. TSSA gets on site, and reads the test tag, and talks to the guy that installed the gas line., he says he didn't install the fireplace, so they ask you, and you, to cover your *** says he did, because of his test tag, he will be the one held responsible for everything. There isn't any reputable fitter willing to put his ticket on the line because someone wants to save a couple dollars. I wouldn't even do it for a freind, or family member. I've worked to hard to have my ticket to take a chance on losing it for sonmething so dumb.
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Great reply thanks. You r right I'm not a gas guy, only basic knowledge. Good to hear insight from a licensed guy. I've had the gas guys run the main line and the "flex connector" goes from said line to the appliance. Not sure if I confused the terminology. I'm not here to argue I was merely confused by your previous statement.

And yes they were my personal residences.

Thanks


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