Hearthlist Digest #91 - Thursday, January 8, 1998 Re: Hearthlist Digest #89 - 01/06/98 by Fasted5292 <[email protected]> Re: Hearthlist Digest #89 - 01/06/98 by GHopk75169 <[email protected]> Re:Hearthlist Digest # 48 by Craig Issod <[email protected]> GAS, VENTING AND OTHERS by Craig Issod <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Re: Hearthlist Digest #89 - 01/06/98 From: Fasted5292 <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 20:36:58 -0400 I have been having problems with gas logs sooting this year. Do you have any suggestions or is that just a fact of life with propane?
(back) Subject: Re: Hearthlist Digest #89 - 01/06/98 From: GHopk75169 <[email protected]> (by way of Craig Issod) (by way of Craig Issod) Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 20:37:35 -0400 VENTING SOUND LIKE A GOOD SUBJECT TO TALK ABOUT HOW ABOUT STARTING WITH NON VENTS. IT CONCERNS ME THAT MY CUSTOMERS ARE BEING TOLD NON-VENTS ARE BAD. GREG H. A COZY FIREPLACE
(back) Subject: Re:Hearthlist Digest # 48 From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 09:25:31 -0400 At Hearthstone we leak test each DV and EPA wood stove, as well as burn all gas models. However: We have seen stoves with millivolt issues pass the line test and fail later in the real world. We've also seen freight damage reveal itself in the form of physical damage to the gas train. Damage by the installer is possible. All gas heaters are potentially dangerous and all installations should be done by a professional with careful attention to detail and safety. We can make no assumptions when it comes to Safety. Happy Heating! Dave Kuhfahl Operations Manager NHC Inc Manufacturer of HearthStone Stoves
(back) Subject: GAS, VENTING AND OTHERS From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 13:25:03 -0400 Gas Safety The gentleman from HearthStone is right..safety is a BIG issue with gas. The Home Centers and the DIY's buying from hearth shops represent a nightmare waiting to happen...in the last week I've heard about: 1. Home Depot sold a customer a vent-fre box with vented logs! 2. Customers hooking up LP logs with no regulator on the tank! 3. Others using LP logs with BBQ tanks in the garage... and the usual ones trying to convert their old woodstoves. We get about 10X the service problems with DIY's as we do for the ones we install in-house (or with qualified subs). I would assume Home Depot and others are seeing a lot of returns...which leads me to... Warm Weather....what's the bad news? Have not heard much complaining even though it's 67 degrees outside today (in NJ)....what's the scoop? Are retailers starving? Are manufacturers hurting? I think we had a good year, but then again, we are a very lean operation - I unload trucks and run the forklift sometimes :-) Not that I want to hear bad news, but I'm interested if the rest of the industry is holding up. Venting issues Some have asked for a discussion of gas venting issues. Seems to me that most gas stuff is going toward Direct vent and vent free...with B-vent being phased out slowly. We are still seeing demand for Vent-Free, BUT I'd say 1/2 the vent-Free customers are coming into our store with questions and comments they did not have in prior years. I view this as postive, since customer education is a worthwhile goal. But, is Vent-Free BAD?..It's not really quite that simple. For instance, as I type this, a customer on our floor is looking at a vent-free stove. He is quite old, uses a cane, and has an oxygen bottle at home to help with breathing...In this case, I think VF is not the technology for him. On the other hand, the smaller BTU units, used on a 1-4 hour per day basis in certain homes, can be a convienient and clean source of space heat. Still, one fact remains....many of the people who work in this industry...I'd even go as far to say that the vast majority, do not have (and do not want) a vent-free in their own homes. This is a bit of a disturbing fact. So, it's a personal decision. If customers are educated as to ALL the options, then the marketplace will decide. Buy One (if you can afford it). I got one of those 3COM PalmPilots....works with PC's or Mac's - Pretty amazing little computer that fits into your pocket..and synchs with your PC. Keeps thousands of names, addresses, appointments, memos..also has games and email applications. If you are hard up..you can even surf the web on the thing. This holds promise for finally organizing me! About $200. if you shop on the net..... Craig Issod, webmaster HearthNet http://www.hearth.com