Frequently Asked Questions
Here we have tried to answer as many common questions regarding our products as possible. If your question is not answered here, simply follow the "Ask My Question" links to fill out and submit a form with your inquiry. One of our professionals will be happy to give you an answer.
Can I install a fireplace, stove, or insert myself?
Installation of our hearth products must be done in strict accordance with local and/or national building codes, and the unit's installation manual. Therefore, our factory-trained professionals install every heating unit we sell.
Should I have any type of inspection done to my fireplace, stove, or insert?
Yes. We recommend annual service of your heating unit by a qualified serviceperson. This will ensure that your appliance is functioning properly.
What does the term "zero clearance" mean?
Zero clearance has two meanings. The first is whether or not the fireplace can be placed on the floor without footings. All our fireplaces are classified as zero clearance in this respect, meaning they do not need special footings. The second meaning of zero clearance is whether or not you are able to finish up to the face of the fireplace, so that no metal shows after installation in complete. We offer several models that are capable of this clean-faced, zero clearance finish. Ask our sales professionals which models offer this option.
What is a flue?
A flue is another name for the fireplace chimney or venting system.
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How do I clean my glass?
It is very important to clean your glass after the initial 3 hours of burn time. Failure to do so can cause permanent etching of your glass. 1) Make sure your glass is completely cooled. It is also recommended to turn the gas off when servicing your appliance. 2) Remove the front face or louvers of your fireplace; carefully remove the glass assembly of your fireplace (following the instructions in your manual) and lay it on a soft surface. 3) Wipe both sides with household glass cleaner (do not use a product with ammonia), using a soft cloth. 4) For heavy deposits, use Stove Bright Glass Cleaner, Rutland White Off Glass Cleaner, or other hard water deposit glass cleaner recommended by your servicing dealer. 5) Carefully replace glass on front of fireplace (following the instructions in your manual), making sure glass assembly and front are secured. 6) After this initial cleaning, clean your glass as often as necessary, particularly if adding new ember material. Never use any abrasive cleaners or cloths to clean the glass. Scratching can cause the glass to shatter.
Why do I have blue flames?
This is normal in the first few minutes of operation. If after the first 30 minutes of full burn you still have blue flames, a unit adjustment may be needed. For assistance with this, please contact Patrick Allen Fireplace Innovations.
Can I change the look of my fireplace?
In many cases a gas fireplace has several facing and trim options. Fireplaces can be given a "face lift" by changing the stone facing or surrounds, and wood mantel options.
Can I convert my gas fireplace to a wood burning fireplace?
No.
How often do I have to clean the gas fireplace and vent?
Although the frequency of your fireplace servicing and maintenance will depend on use and the type of installation, you should have a qualified service technician perform an appliance check-up at the beginning of each heating season.
What is the difference between "steady state" efficiency and AFUE?
Steady State: An efficiency rating is testing only the efficiency of the fireplace when it is burning. AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency): Both the on cycle and off cycle are calculated in this rating. By including the off cycles (when the fireplace is turned off) a more accurate yearly operational cost can be estimated.
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What does an outside air kit do, and do I need one?
For wood burning fireplaces, you should consider installation of an outside air kit. It provides additional combustion air to the fireplace that feeds the fire with oxygen from outside your home. This will help the performance on any fireplace installed in tightly-constructed or well-insulated homes.
What's the best way to start a fire in my fireplace?
If your fireplace does not have a gas starter, arrange kindling (small diameter sticks) in a crisscross pattern on top of crumpled newspaper under the grate before arranging the logs. Arrange logs in a safe way to ensure that logs don’t roll out during burning. Note that the first few fires you build in your woodburning fireplace should be small to help avoid excess cracking or spidering in the refractory. NOTE: Do not overfill your fireplace, as this will cause unsafe operation.
How efficient is a woodburning fireplace?
While they produce some radiant heat, most woodburning fireplaces are primarily decorative. Even heat circulating models still pull a tremendous amount of air from the home. There are several woodburning models that are efficient and clean burning. We also have several woodburning stoves and inserts that are very efficient.
Can I get glass doors for my woodburning fireplace?
Glass doors are available for current model fireplaces. It is important that you purchase glass doors that the manufacturer of your fireplace sells for your particular model. Using a non-approved door can block off cooling air into the firebox chassis and cause a potential fire hazard.
How should I use the glass doors on my woodburning fireplace?
The doors should always be fully open or fully closed. Glass doors should be fully open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning strongly. The glass doors should be closed as the fire dies down to minimize the amount of room air going up the fireplace chimney. ALWAYS keep the screen mesh on your fireplace closed when using the fireplace to guard against sparks popping out of the firebox area. If you have a see-through woodburning fireplace, the doors should be either closed or open on both sides when burning.
Can I partially close the damper on my woodburning fireplace so less air goes up the chimney?
No. The damper must be in the fully open position when using a woodburning fireplace. Partially closing the flue (chimney) damper can cause smoke to spill into the room when burning wood, or cause carbon monoxide (CO) to come into the room when using gas logs.
Can I add a fan to my woodburning fireplace?
You can easily install a fan kit, if you have a heat circulating model. Please contact Patrick Allen Fireplace Innovation to see if your model meets the requirements.
I have a fan kit on my fireplace, but it does not seem to blow much air.
Our fans are purposely designed at lower CFMs (cubic feet per minute). There are two reasons for this. First, to minimize fan noise. Second, a high velocity would tend to cool the air temperature coming out of the top louver of the fireplace. The fan is designed to move warm air into the room, not to move air clear across the room.
Why am I feeling a cold draft from my fireplace?
There are several possible causes of feeling cold air from a wood fireplace. Make sure the damper is closed. Also check the installation manual for any other potential openings that may need to be shut. If the fireplace is mounted on cement versus plywood, that can also transfer cold into your home. If the chase area or doghouse is not insulated adequately, that is another possibility.
If I want to convert my woodburning fireplace to gas, is a set of gas logs or a gas insert going to be my best option?
Your decision really comes down to how much a priority heating efficiency is for you. If you want a lot of heat from your fireplace, you should consider a direct vent gas insert. From a cost standpoint, an insert will cost approximately five times the cost of a nice gas log set. However, since the insert is very efficient, it will pay for itself over a period of a few years in gas bill savings. We offer both a full line of inserts and vented gas logs to choose from. Installing room-vented or vent free log sets in our woodburning fireplaces is unacceptable. Doing so will void your warranty on the fireplace and possibly your homeowners insurance.
How does the Quadra-Fire wood burning system compare to a catalytic converter system?
The Quadra-Fire wood stoves incorporate secondary burn tubes, which are more efficient, burn cleaner and require less maintenance than stoves with catalytic converters. More than 50% of the heat from your wood stove comes from burning the smoke, and stoves with secondary burn tubes burn that smoke inside the firebox, instead of in your chimney. Generally, the Quadra-Fire wood stoves average less emissions versus the EPA standard of 6 grams per hour. They are very clean burning. And, over the life of a catalytic converter stove, you will need to replace the converter several times. This is quite a costly maintenance requirement. You will not need to replace the heat tubes on the Quadra-Fire stoves.
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Why are pellet burning appliances so popular?
They are very easy to use. Pellet burning appliances offer automatic ignition (no matches or buttons to push), and a thermostat which can regulate the room (or house) temperature perfectly, turning the appliance on and off whether you're at home or away. Plus, they cleanly burn pellet fuel which is an environmentally friendly choice!
What are pellets made of?
Pellets are made by compressing fine sawdust through a high-speed molding process. There are no additives; the natural binders and resins in the wood hold the pellet together.
Can I burn corn in my pellet burning appliance?
In newer appliances from Quadra-fire you can. We recommend a maximum mix of 80% corn/20%pellets. A 50/50 mix of corn and pellets is ideal for the optimal burn.
How often should I clean my firepot?
In some cases, it may be necessary to clean the firepot on a daily basis. The build-up of clinker material will depend on the quality of fuel being used. Firepot cleaning involves simply pulling the cleanout rod on the front of the appliance. If the rod is hard to pull, it may be necessary to use a scraper or screw driver to chip away the carbon material that has built up on the bottom plate of the firepot. Once debris is chipped away, the rod will be easy to pull.
How often should I clean out my firebox ash?
The firebox ash should be removed at the same time that the firepot is cleaned. Frequent cleaning of the ash in the firebox will help slow down the build-up of ash in the exhaust blower and vent system. Deposit ashes in a non-combustible container.
How often should I clean my heat exchanger?
The heat exchangers can be cleaned by pulling the 2 rods located under the top lid of the stove. The rods should be pulled each time the firepot is cleaned. A more thorough cleaning will be needed at least once a month. This will include removing the baffle plates in the firebox and accessing the clean-out plate on the right hand side of the stove. This is necessary to remove the excess ash that is left behind from the use of the pull rods for the heat exchanger tubes.
How often should I clean my vent/chimney system?
This needs to be cleaned and inspected at least once per year. It may be necessary to perform more frequent cleaning if there are a lot of horizontal pipe sections. Ash will build up more quickly in the horizontal sections.
How often should I clean my blowers?
The blowers may only need to be cleaned once per year. If the use of the stove is heavy, then it may need to be done more frequently. If the blower is getting noisy, then the fan blades will need to be cleaned.
My cleaning rod for the firepot is sticking.
Carbon is building up on the plate, making the rod harder to pull. Loosen the slide plate bolt to the point where the distance between the firepot bottom and the slide plate is about a dime's width. That should help with opening and closing the firepot.
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