Inventory Closeouts - We Need More Space!

Richmond's iconic breakfast and lunch diner, McLean's Restaurant, is moving into the west side of our building. They've got renovations underway and aim to open in the new location by November 1. We're thrilled to welcome them to the neighborhood, though we're hard pressed to combine all of this inventory into our remaining showroom & warehouse.

What this means, of course, is that some of our floor displays and warehouse inventory must go. We've got a huge selection of mantels, floor model electric fireplaces and mantel decor items, all marked down with savings up to 80% off!

Lots of mantel & hearth accessories 50% off

Electric Fireplace Floor Models  20-40% off

Lots of electric insert floor models, 20-60% off

They're from the Government so they MUST be here to help...

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced new efficiency standards that apply to vented gas hearth products. The goal of new efficiency standards is to reduce use of natural and LP gas to promote fuel conservation and reduce emissions.

Currently there are 3 basic categories for vented gas hearth appliances (those that vent fumes to the outdoors): room heaters, decorative appliances and gas logs. While our industry association - the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) has been involved with the pending new standards, they had little concern about the pending regulations because they were led to believe these standards would only apply to the most efficient group of appliances, those designated as ROOM HEATERS. Documentation shown on the DOE website confirms that as late as April 2010, the standards in development would only apply to ROOM HEATERS, as decorative appliances and gas logs were considered a wholely different type of appliance.

HOWEVER, now that the new efficiency standards have been decided and published, the DOE opted at the last minute to include vented decorative gas appliances and vented gas logs. Beginning 2013, these appliances must also meet a 67% AFUE conservation standard if rated at 9,000 btu's or more to be sold in the USA. These standards do not apply to outdoor fireplaces, by the way.

What this means to our customers is that if you want a gas fire, it will have to be (as of 2013) highly efficient (read: glass window), or be so low in btu consumption as to provide little flame or heat. This standard will eradicate decorative gas fireplace units, vented gas logs and vented gas coal baskets as you know them today.

It is my hope that 3 years is long enough for our industry to develop and bring to market the decorative appliances like the vented gas logs at left that many homeowners still want today and will want in 3 years. In the meantime, if you've been considering purchase of decorative gas logs or similar decorative gas appliances with a significant flame then I urge you to consider finalizing your shopping and get the installation completed while the products are still available and "legal" to buy.

Richmond Easter Parade

The RICHMOND EASTER PARADE is a great excuse for us to dress up and have some fun! I made matching Easter bonnets for Betsy and I, and a fairy wreath for my mom, Carole.

Not a traditional parade, this one features the attendees as the entertainment. Monument Avenue is closed for several blocks on Easter Sunday from 1-5pm. The event features bands, food stands, a petting zoo, street performers and boutique giftwares.

An Easter bonnet and a dog are must-haves for attendees! There's both a pet bonnet contest and a people bonnet contest.

Betsy was a finalist in the pet bonnet contest this year, and hopes all her fans will come out and vote for her in next year's event!

Faux Fireplaces Have Warmed Our Homes for Decades

Part of the allure of historic homes is the fireplace, often available in abundance in homes of bygone eras. We're often asked the purpose of fireplaces that seem original yet seem never to have been operable.

Yes, fake or "faux" fireplaces were popular even a hundred or more years ago, used as a visual element to enhance the architectural appeal of the room. While some originally burned jetted gas fires or electric fires, even "back in the day" some  were built to resemble an authentic fireplace - brick firebox, mantel and all - with no chimney and never a fire intended to burn in them. A wood burning fireplace (WBFP in real estate jargon), operable or not, was a sign of prestige in city homes where a real wood fire was as inconvenient then as it is today. Where do you store loads of firewood in a small and immaculately manicured city garden any way?

Just like the original residents of these old homes did, why not burn a cozy little electric fire in them?

Even simple electric logs are a visual chillbuster while an electric insert provides the ambience of a realistic moving flame plus an electric heater to help warm up the room.

SUPERIOR brand vent-free gas logs & fireplaces recalled

The Superior VFGL Vent-Free gas log sets and VF Vent-Free fireplaces were manufactured in the U.S. by Lennox Hearth Products of Nashville, Tenn. The log sets are comprised of ceramic-fiber logs with a dual gas burner system, designed to go inside a fireplace or firebox. The fireplaces are comprised of log sets, a ventless firebox enclosure and accessories. Included in this recall are units with serial numbers starting with 6408C through 6408M, and those starting with 6409.


The recalled items were sold by fireplace and HVAC retailers and installers between March 2008 and December 2009.
WHY: The front burners of log set fireplace inserts and the vent-free fireplaces can fail to ignite, allowing gas to escape and posing a fire or explosion hazard.

INCIDENTS: There were two reports from installers of the log sets failing to light. No injuries were reported.
HOW MANY: About 5,700.

FOR MORE: Call 800-826-8546; visit http://www.lennoxhearthproducts.com or http://www.cpsc.gov.

Meet Gary the Blacksmith

After his company eliminated has position as a welder, Gary stopped by the store to find out if we might have need for the talents of a blacksmith in fabricating fireplace equipment. Did we ever!

For over 25 years we've carried products made by a formerly great manufacturer of fireplace screens, toolsets, grates and the like. The company was purchased by a Chinese company 3 or 4 years ago and the quality has fallen substantially since production moved to China while prices have actually increased.

First we asked Gary to produce the TINY ARCH screen (pictured left) that we designed a few years back, which we've been having custom made for us by the aforementioned company. In 3 days time he returned with several screens in hand. They're heavier and more sturdy, much nicer made AND he's charging us less than we had been paying! We've been able to reduce the price by $40, which has resulted in increased sales for us. Gary has created another new screen style for us and is working on a number of new designs that you'll see in the upcoming weeks - check our website for more offerings.

I'd love to see this scenario happen time after time, so we're designing some reproduction mantels that will be made by a local carpenter from old, reclaimed wood. The mantels will be newly constructed from vintage recycled materials, giving them an aged patina and vintage charm.

We're so excited at the opportunity to help create more and more handcrafted, American-made products that create American jobs. We appreciate our customers' support and hope you'll encourage your friends to check out our selections.

Recall Info - DIMPLEX electric fireplace remote controls

DIMPLEX North America issued a voluntary recall yesterday of approximately 700,000 remote control kits used on their electric fireplace models manufactured between January, 1998 and December, 2008. This recall includes remotes replaced under warranty and are used with models manufactured under various brand names including Dimplex, Symphony, Electraflame, Optiflame, Electralog and Charmglow and includes electric fireplaces, inserts and freestanding stoves.

The recall includes both the hand-held remote control and the wall unit that plugs into the electrical outlet that communicates with the remote.

Incidents/Injuries: Dimplex has received about 5,000 reports of the plug-in wall units overheating including 19 reports of damage beyond the remote control and one report of a house fire in Columbus, Ohio that resulted in considerable property damage.

Consumers should immediately stop using these devices; unplug the wall unit receiver, unplug the power cord from the receiver and plug the appliance's power cord directly into the outlet and operate the unit manually until they receive a replacement.

For questions regarding the recall, contact Dimplex toll-free at 1-800-638-2772. You may also visit their website for instructions on obtaining a free replacement remote control kit:
http://www.recall.dimplex.com/

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Trade Show

We've just returned from our annual fireplace products trade show, having seen the newest products unveiled by the manufacturers who attended.

Both exhibitors and attendance was down again this year due to continuing struggles in this economy. Although our business does not concentrate on new construction, a vast majority of fireplace manufacturers do, so weakness in new home starts continues to weaken our industry in general. Sluggish sales mean there were fewer exhibitors and fewer new products unveiled than we've been accustomed to seeing at our trade show.

We noticed that gas fireplace styles are evolving into contemporary European designs that incorporate stones, glass beds and even simple ribbon styles with no media in the fireplace. Americans who've craved this look now for several years will soon have many more choices within this design category.

We were glad to see some new products within the categories of products on which we focus, including electric and gas fireplace models. We've found a manufacturer of very tiny electric stoves and inserts, our most exciting discovery at the show. We're also considering some very specialized outdoor cooking appliances including a very small gas grill, a small electric grill and an infrared turkey fryer that cooks without all that dangerous oil. As many of our customers live in early 20th century row homes with small yards and small porches, we feel these products - which are very competitively priced - will uniquely suit our customers' needs.

Be sure and check our website in the upcoming weeks for some great new hearth and barbecue items that we think you're really going to love.

Antique Fireplace Items

We started offering antique fireplace items late last summer and have built up quite a selection, particularly vintage mantels and some fine wrought iron and brass antique andirons dating from the early 1800's to early 20th century.

This double mantel and cast iron surround with summer cover came from a house here in Richmond that's being converted to commercial use - both are in great condition.

It's pretty heartwarming to be able to save these great old fireplace parts, and to help them find a new home to spend the next hundred years.

Hey, did you know COFFEE & FIREPLACES are usually served hot?

18 February 2010

An Oakland judge has granted 2 California homeowners to represent over 500,000 consumers in a class action suit against fireplace manufacturer Lennox International Inc.

The couple alleges that "Lennox should have warned homeowners about the dangers of its products" because the glass window on the fireplace can reach a temperature exceeding 475 degrees "a temperature that can cause third degree burns to the skin. "

"It's in the range of twice as hot as an iron on its hottest setting" said Jerome Tapley, lawyer for the couple.

Here at Victorian Fireplace Shop, the coffee is usually lukewarm though if you're here early enough then you might sneak up on a hot cup. But if there's a fireplace operating in the store, the glass IS hot enough to burn your skin. DON'T TOUCH THE GLASS.

We dare say that any gas fireplace with a glass window will be hot enough to burn you during or immediately after the fire burning so in the interest of public service, we strongly discourage you from touching the glass window on a gas, wood, coal or pellet burning hearth appliance.