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Benefits of Gas Fireplace Over Wood

What Are The Benefits of Gas Fireplace Over Wood

Fireplaces can get a bad rap in the home improvement industry mostly because contractors say to batten them up simply because they are an energy loss risk. It’s true an unattended fireplace can leak air among a few other problems but is that enough to overlook the multitude of benefits that a unit could bring to your home? Bruni and Campisi urges you to think of some of the positives of having a fireplace before writing them off altogether:

  • Extra source of warmth to cut down on heating bills
  • Romantic, peaceful, and relaxing
  • A backup heat and light source if the power goes out
  • Adds value to your home to the right buyer
  • A fun and unique place to cook

Of course, not all fireplaces offer these benefits which brings us to a question that homeowners often have to ask themselves. Which is the preferable fire source – gas or wood?

The Traditional Wood Burning Fireplace

When most people think of a fireplace, they conjure up images of the traditional wood logs crackling on an open flame. There’s not a whole lot to explain about a wood fireplace beyond that. The hearth is the brick and mortar of the fireplace that is encompassed by the surround. The surround contains the mantel which is the decorative aspect of the wood fireplace. From there you have the firebox, where the fire is contained, and the flue, where the smoke exits the home safely. The chimney is the protective unit surrounding the flue which also adds aesthetic value to the exterior of the house.

Wood burning fireplaces are considered a very inefficient heating source for one main reason. The flame needs oxygen and a draft to survive, but at the same time, you don’t want that draft forcing smoke and fire out into the home. Therefore the wood fireplace works in the opposite manner in that it sucks the air out of the home and up the flue in order to ‘stoke’ the fire. You’ll still get some warmth from the wood fireplace, but hopefully without all the smoke and ash that makes it look like your furniture and electronics were sitting by a campfire.

How Does a Gas Fireplace Differ?

There are a couple different types of gas fireplaces but in a nutshell, their biggest advantage as a whole is that they don’t produce smoke or ash. This might take some of the ‘fun’ out of owning a fireplace at your cabin, but the numerous advantages make up for this so-called ‘faux’-er place. First of all, the oxygen source for vented gas fireplaces comes from outside of the home meaning that all the heat can be placed into the home instead of dispelled out a chimney like a wood burning unit. The exhaust produced from burning the gas is vented out of the home in the same manner in which your clothes dryer works.

There are also ventless gas fireplaces that are very close to ‘plug and play’ units. These models work in the same manner as your gas stove range. The flame burns cleanly so it can be exposed to the open air (safety screens included) without any special venting being needed. You would think you’d have to have your stove cranked up to generate enough heat to warm a room, but gas fireplaces are manufactured in the opposite manner in that they require less fuel to create more heat. Thus ventless gas fireplaces are some of the most efficient heating sources on the market.

For those who don’t want to miss out on the ‘fun’ aspect of a wood burning fireplace flames, the closest alternative is gas logs which resemble that traditional wood hearth. The heat is available in an instant and you’ve got the cool piled-up wood aesthetics – without having to actually chop and replace the logs. Gas logs are available from Bruni in both vented and unvented systems.

Reiterating the Benefits of Gas Fireplaces Over Wood Burning Units

Wood fireplaces have the ‘look cool’ advantage over gas, few would argue that fact. Even so a wood fireplace is one of (if not THE) most efficient heating source available mostly because they cause the homeowner to force air out of the building in order to produce heat. Blocked flues and dampers can also present a huge safety risk, at the very least forcing smoke and ash back into your home and damaging costly electronics and furniture. These features need to be maintained on a very regular basis in order to avoid these problems. Plus, the chimney basically connects to the firebox through an actual hole in your house, making the whole unit an incredible leak threat that could damage drywall, flooring, wiring, insulation, and more.

Gas fireplaces provide a heat source without nearly any of the disadvantages of wood fireplaces. Gas fireplaces don’t require a chimney, merely small vents the size of the one you’d find on your dryer. Unvented gas fireplaces don’t even require that. There is no risk of a gas fireplace causing your roof to leak and there is no ash that emanates from the gas fireplace being in operation. You don’t even need to stoke a gas fireplace as most modern units operate via a remote or even an app on your smartphone.

Feel free to contact us to learn more about integrating a gas fireplace into your home. Once you start enjoying the benefits of these convenient units you’ll wish you called us Winters upon Winters ago.

Sources
https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/ventless-fireplaces-what-you-need-know/
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/05/realestate/your-home-using-gas-fireplace-for-heat.htmlhttp://www.ventless-gas-fireplaces.com/frequently_asked_questions.html
http://www.hgtv.com/remodel/mechanical-systems/gas-fireplaces-offer-efficient-heating-choices
https://smarterhouse.org/heating-systems/types-heating-systems
http://heattalk.com/best-gas-fireplace-inserts-reviews/https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/vent-free-fireplaces/

What to Do When Your Pipes Freeze in the Winter?

Pipes Frozen – What To Do Now?

Unless you’re a skier or enjoy ice fishing, there really isn’t a lot to look forward to during the cold months. Our first priority is always going to be to make sure ourselves, as well as our friends, family, and pets, are safe as the mercury continues to plunge. The protection of your home from the cold temps is also critical this time of year. Prevention is always the top priority – but here’s what to do when your pipes freeze in the Winter:

Why Do Pipes Freeze and What’s the Damage?

Pipes freeze because it’s cold; a no-brainer, right? Well, why is it that your neighbors are out keeping warm in their hot tub while you can’t even pour a glass of water? The answer is because it’s not the cold temps alone that cause pipes to freeze. Also, the freezing doesn’t cause the most damage – it’s the impending thawing.

Pipes can freeze up because they aren’t properly insulated. For roughly $4 per foot, you can have foam insulation installed to create a barrier between the cold and your pipes, saving you hundreds in potential damage. Failure to ‘winterize’ your home also causes pipes to freeze. Leaving a hose hooked up outside, for example, creates a pressure buildup that will actually cause a burst in the cold weather – not good. Turning your heat off when leaving for a Winter weekend is another surefire way to return home to some sort of plumbing damage.

Damage from frozen pipes can range from plumbing repairs to the complete replacement of drywall, carpet, wood floors, furniture, and more. It’s not unheard of for frozen (then thawing) pipes to cause $5,000 – $10,000 worth of damage to a property. This is why it’s important to know what to do when your pipes freeze in the Winter.

Prevention Didn’t Work – Now What?

So your home or business plumbing has frozen up – it doesn’t have to be a death sentence especially if you act promptly and properly. Sometimes the most that happens when your pipes freeze is just that you’re without water for a stretch.

The first thing you want to do when your pipes freeze is open up the hot and cold faucets. This will relieve pressure in the system and give the thawing water somewhere to go when it does begin to thaw. You always want to start thawing at the faucet and work towards the blockage. Starting to thaw in the middle of the pipes, for example, can create a steam blockage that causes a burst.

There are a number of thawing methods that can be attempted as well. It works to wrap the frozen section of pipes in a warm towel and regularly pour hot water over the top of them. On exposed areas of pipe that are frozen you can also use a hair dryer or space heater thaw the ice.

What to Do When Pipes Freeze In Winter – Call a Plumber

Sometimes the safest option is to simply call a plumber when your pipes freeze in Winter. An experienced plumber can pinpoint the blockage and perform the proper reparation methods depending on where the issue is located (even behind walls). Best of all when a plumber comes on site, it’s like a Winter pipe audit. You’ll know the problem areas (exposed pipe, poor home insulation, gaps around windows/doors, etc.) and the appropriate solution. Peace of mind is priceless, especially in the bitter cold Winter months.

If you need help from us at Bruni and Campisi click here

Owning a Back Up Generator

Should I Get A Generator for my Home?

Here in the New York and Connecticut areas, strong summer storms often result in power outages. A potent gust of wind can cause a branch to slam onto a utility line and leave your home without electricity for hours at a time.

If you’re on the fence about whether you should buy a generator for your home, there are some situations that favor owning a residential generator you might want to take into consideration. Let’s examine a few of these situations to determine whether they’re likely to affect you and your family.

Reasons To Own a Backup Generator

The team here at Bruni & Campisi thought up a few pretty sound reasons for purchasing a backup power generator, including:

  • Generators for Medical Equipment: If you or a member of your family relies on electric-powered medical equipment, a backup power generator is essential to ensure its continued, smooth operation.
  • Generators for Food Safety: If a really strong storm hits and causes extensive damage to your neighborhood, your utility power might be out for a while. Should this happen, perishable food in your refrigerator will spoil. If a few days of restaurant take-out isn’t financially feasible, you’ll want to think about getting a generator to keep your food fresh and edible as your utility company restores power.
  • Generators for Data Safety: If your home’s IT system relies on a constant power source to maintain the integrity of your data, you’ll want to consider investing in a power generator equipped with an automatic transfer switch that can instantly transfer power once utilities fail.
  • Generators for Sump Pumps: A strong summer storm that brings with it massive amounts of rain can spell trouble for your home’s basement. If your home is outfitted with a sump pump, you’ll want to invest in a generator to ensure water is being kept out of places it shouldn’t be.
  • Generators for Peace of Mind: You should feel comfortable in your own home. If a storm knocks out your utility power, you may have to endure unpleasant weather conditions, a disengaged security system and the challenge of navigating your rooms without the aid of light. A backup power generator can provide you and your family with a sense of normalcy as utilities are restored to your home.

Bruni & Campisi: Your New York Metropolitan Area Generator Experts

If you live in Westchester County, NY, Greenwich, CT, Stamford, CT or the surrounding areas and are interested in outfitting your home with a generator or are in need of generator repaircontact us here at Bruni & Campisi today.

We are a Better Business Bureau-accredited company that has been trusted by communities throughout the New York metropolitan area to provide outstanding craftsmanship and caring customer service for nearly 40 years. Having a generator you can rely on during storms is a smart way to protect your family and investments and maintain electric power when utilities are not available. We are happy to help provide generator services to ensure your home is ready to handle power outages.

Reduce Air Conditioning Bills in summer

Reduce AC Bills This Summer

The utility bills rise during the summer because of constant air conditioner use. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and air conditioning your home take up 43% of the utility bill. By following some tips, you can reduce your air conditioning bills in summer.

Tips to reduce air conditioning bills:

  • Set your thermostat as high as possible in the summer.
  • Use ceiling fans for additional cooling and air circulation.
  • Minimize the number of times doors leading outside are opened and closed.
  • Close window coverings during the daytime to avoid heat.
  • Ensure your air conditioners are working well by getting annual cleanings and check-ups.
  • Change the filters monthly.
  • Choose the right size air conditioner for your room, as large systems result in high electric bills.

Air Conditioning Repair Services in Westchester County, NY

If you are looking for professional air conditioning repair services , then Bruni & Campisi can help. They have been providing air conditioning repair services throughout the cities of Westchester, Greenwich and Stamford since 1979. They are licensed to perform air conditioning service, repair and installation in New York and Connecticut. Call 914.229.2809 or 203.413.5533 for service.

Things to Know Before Calling an Air Conditioning Service

What to Know Before Calling For AC Repair

You might have an air conditioner that does not operate or is functioning poorly. The first thing you might want to do is call a professional. However, there are certain things you should do or know before calling for an air conditioning service.
Below are some things to know or check before calling an air conditioner repair professional:
1.Evaluate the problem– Identify the problem. Check if the unit is not working or if it is not cooling the air, or blowing warm air.
2.See if the air conditioner is not working at all-In such a case, check the condenser or air handler/furnace. Check the circuit breakers and fuses. Make sure they are in place, turned on, and functioning properly. Check also the thermostat and make sure it is set to cool at the current temperature.
3.Check the fan blower belt – Any kind of damage or breakage in the fan blower belt can cause low air flow which allows ice to form, and thus causes low cooling performance.
4.Check the coils and filter. See if there are caked with dust and debris in the coils and filters and clean them thoroughly.
5.Check the vents-Make sure the vents from where the air is ventilated are opened properly.
6.Call for service– If you have confirmed everything is connected, powered, set up properly, and clean, yet the air conditioner is not working, then it may be time to call a professional.

Air Conditioning Repair Service in Westchester County, Yonkers, Stamford and Greenwich

If your air conditioner needs a professional hand, then contact Bruni&Campisi. We have been in the business of installing, maintaining and repairing air conditioners in New York and Connecticut for more than 35 years. We provide the best service with our most reliable, skillful and experienced technicians. You can call us at 914.229.2809 (NY) and 203.413.5533 (CT) any time of the day and we will be right at your service.

Why You Should Clean Your AC Ducts

Air Conditioning Duct Cleaning For Maximum Cooling Efficiency

Dirty air conditioning ducts can lead to reduced efficiency of the entire cooling system, and also cause mildew and pathogens within the ducts. Getting the ducts cleaned by professionals using high quality air duct cleaning equipment can keep the entire AC system working efficiently. They also prevent mildew and other contaminants.

What Happens in a Non-Maintained Duct?

  1. Mold deposits visible inside the ducts: A lot of moisture is collected inside air conditioning ducts on a regular basis. This can easily lead to mold deposits forming inside the ducts. The spores from the mold contaminate the air, and results in problems such as shortness of breath.
  2. Rodents and insects make the ducts their home: If the network of air conditioning ducts is large,then rodents and insects can actually start living in it and that is why professional hands are needed for cleaning.
  3. Dust cakes form inside the ducts: Snow like deposits inside the ducts of the HVAC system can do a lot worse than simply clogging up the air conditioner and heater outlets. These dust cakes may contain as many as 250 different allergens.

Maximum Air Conditioner Cooling Efficiency

A clean air conditioner always performs at its peak. Duct cleaning can be a nightmare for many and it is impossible to achieve a good result without professional help. Professionals use equipment and techniques which are more effective and result in maximum cooling efficiency.

Air Conditioning Repair Services in Greenwich, CT

Bruni & Campisi Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, an air conditioning repair contractor has years of experience providing air conditioning repair services. Our professionals are experts and provide excellent service. We have been servingWestchester County and Yonkers in New York, Stamford and Greenwich in Connecticut for more than 35 years. We are available 24 hours at your service. Call us at 914.229.2809 (NY) and 203.413.5533 (CT).

Bruni & Campisi, Inc.

Serving Westchester, Greenwich and Stamford since 1979.

100 Grasslands Rd, Elmsford NY 10523

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