Want to add beauty and warmth to your home with a fireplace that looks elegant and is easy to light? A gas fireplace provides ambiance and style to your home, along with a natural flame look. Gas fireplaces have improved greatly over the past 25 years, and are a top choice among homeowners, according to the Wall Street Journal:

“Many insist nothing beats the flicker and crackle of a wood fire. But the gas fireplace, which entered the market about 25 years ago, has become mainstream by offering the ease of push-button ignition and less mess. In its early years, the gas flame often looked “too blue,” says Mike Pennington, vice president of engineering and product development at Lennox Hearth Products, a unit of Innovative Hearth Products. Today, technology has evolved to create a gas fire that is practically indistinguishable from a wood-burning fire. “Dancing, billowy, yellow flames are typically the target,” he says.

Today, 69% of fireplaces sold are gas-fueled and of those, most are “direct vented,” not requiring a chimney. Vents can be installed through almost any exterior wall, so that even multi-unit apartment and condominium buildings can have fireplaces. Direct-vent fireplaces are sealed combustion systems: Air from the outside—rather than inside—fuels the fire, and byproducts are vented back outside. The sealed combustion process requires a glass cover on the front of the firebox, to provide a barrier that can keep carbon monoxide from entering the room.”

An inviting fireplace is a pleasant, central focal point for an entertaining room, such as a living room or family room, and it provides value to your home. In Greensboro and Burlington, realistic looking gas logs are the main accessory needed to create the perfect look for your gas fireplace. With a push of a button or the flip of a switch, and instant warm fire will appear, making the room cozy and sophisticated. The WSJ explains the benefits of having a fireplace in your home:

“Whether powered by a remote control or twigs and a match, a fireplace creates a zone not only for warming cold hands and feet but also for cuddling or celebrating in the primal glow. While no longer an essential provider of light and heat, “it’s still conceptually the center of the home,” says Seattle architect Betty R. Torrell, who has written about the hearth’s history in architecture. “It dominates the room that it’s in; chairs are organized around it, it’s the focal point.” The beauty of fire remains “emotionally sustaining,” she adds, “even if it’s not physically sustaining anymore.”

With a huge variety of vented and vent-less gas logs available at our gas log showroom, you can select the perfect set of gas logs for your home. The elegance and design of a gas fireplace will bring beauty to your home for many years, with little maintenance required. At Berico, our experienced technicians will inspect your vent duct to make sure it is safe, and provide a comprehensive installation of the gas log kit, compliant with local regulations and ordinances. We even include a demonstration of how to use your new kit, along with an overview of best practices regarding your natural gas or propane heating. Call us to find out about the variety of sizes and designs that we have available for your new gas log kit: (336) 273-8663.

(Source: Homes: Sleeker Designs Bring Modern Cool To The Fireplace, www.online.wsj.com, October 31, 2012) http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204840504578086822060244366?mg=reno64-wsj

It’s deadly, without a smell, taste or color. And it could become a huge problem if your furnace is not properly maintained. Carbon monoxide can become trapped in a room or entire house, leading to a very dangerous situation. Found in a variety of sources, such as gas stoves and gas water heaters, leaking furnaces and chimneys, this gas can cause huge problems if the level becomes high. Similar to flu symptoms, thousands of people who are poisoned from carbon monoxide annually do not realize the cause of their illness right away, leading to greater danger.

Hotels in North Carolina require carbon monoxide detectors after three deaths occurred as a result of high carbon monoxide levels inside of a hotel room in NC. How can this type of poisoning be prevented? The Consumer Product Safety Commission has preventative steps that will help you stay safe, and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Make sure appliances are installed and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by qualified professionals. Have the heating system professionally inspected and serviced annually to ensure proper operation. The inspector should also check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections.
• Never service fuel-burning appliances without proper knowledge, skill and tools. Always refer to the owner’s manual when performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning equipment.
• Never operate a portable generator or any other gasoline engine-powered tool either in or near an enclosed space such as a garage, house, or other building. Even with open doors and windows, these spaces can trap CO and allow it to quickly build to lethal levels.
• Install a CO alarm that meets the requirements of the current UL 2034 safety standard. A CO alarm can provide some added protection, but it is no substitute for proper use and upkeep of appliances that can produce CO. Install a CO alarm in the hallway near every separate sleeping area of the home. Make sure the alarm cannot be covered up by furniture or draperies.
• Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent unless it is specifically designed for use in an enclosed space and provides instructions for safe use in an enclosed area.
• Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
• Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
• Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home.
• Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room where people are sleeping.
• Do not cover the bottom of natural gas or propane ovens with aluminum foil. Doing so blocks the combustion air flow through the appliance and can produce CO.
• During home renovations, ensure that appliance vents and chimneys are not blocked by tarps or debris. Make sure appliances are in proper working order when renovations are complete.

Have your furnace in the Greensboro, High Point and Burlington, NC areas inspected and maintained by a professional. At Berico Fuels, we recommend routine HVAC inspections to eliminate the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning from old furnaces that are not operating properly. Leaky and older furnaces are potential problems that need to be addressed at an inspection. Your heating system repair in Greensboro, NC will be done by a certified and qualified technician, who has the experience and knowledge to locate existing problems and potential future malfunctions with your furnace. Determine your risks now, before the weather turns cold. At Berico Fuels, our Greensboro HVAC systems specialists have the expertise to prevent your heating system from having problems this winter. Stay safe, and stay warm this winter season.

(Source: Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers, http://www.cpsc.gov/, 2014)

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers-/

During the warmer months of the year, when the sun is shining and you spend a lot of time outdoors, your heating system is probably the last thing on your mind. When the cold and dreary parts of the year are months away, why should you spend time thinking about your furnace? The truth is, well before the temperature drops, you should take some time to consider your heating system. You don’t want to ignore it and then be in for a rude awakening one very chilly morning.

The experts at Berico Heating and Air Conditioning will keep your furnace running at optimal efficiency throughout the year. Even if you think your furnace is fine, we’ll come out and give it a thorough inspection to make sure everything’s in working order. An annual inspection and tune-up of your furnace can ensure that it will keep you warm throughout the winter and last for many years to come. In addition, a yearly furnace checkup will:

• Guarantee proper airflow – The skilled professionals at Berico will make sure your heating system is receiving and providing the right airflow. Limited airflow will cause your heating bills to rise and can also put strain on your system.
• Keep your family safe – To heat your home, a furnace burns fuels, and the process of combustion has to be exact. Even a minor issue can lead to a gas leak.
• Improve energy efficiency – An annual inspection of your Burlington, NC heating system will also include a cleaning. Over time, your furnace collects dust and dirt, which can take a toll on your bills. A good cleaning will save both time and money.
• Maintain the manufacturer’s warranty – Many manufacturers require a yearly maintenance, and if it isn’t done, the warranty can become null and void.
• Decrease the need for repairs – Often heating system issues can be prevented with regular maintenance.

At Berico Heating and Air Conditioning, we offer a variety of different furnace maintenance programs for residents and businesses in the Greensboro, High Point, Burlington and Eden area. So before you find yourself in the middle of winter with a bum furnace, give us a call 336-273-8663.