BY ROSE FLOREZ
January is a tough month for us, because we are getting a lot of do-it-yourself fireplace installers trying to save money. It’s tough because we’ve had to tell them they can’t do what they want to do. Or we will not sell them their venting because its wrong and we won’t put them at risk for danger. I understand that everybody is on a budget and sometimes it sounds great to buy from the internet or from family and friends; but it really isn’t.
A customer and his wife came in once to buy venting for his beautiful old used wood burning stove, which is not legal to use. He wanted a seven inch pipe to adapt to the eight inch opening of his old stove. He told me that there was some seven inch pipe left in the house by the previous owner and wanted to use it. I explained to him that he could not adapt to a smaller venting because it would bottle neck the exhaust. He insisted that I sell him what he wanted and he told me if not that a Big Box store would order it for him. I refused and informed him that most of the Big Box stores are there to sell what the customers want and really aren’t knowledgeable in this field. I advised him to get a new stove that is legal to use. Another customer called wanting venting for a 16 year old gas fireplace which he had taken it out of another home and was going to install it in his home. I asked him what kind of venting he needed, he didn’t know but wanted to adapt to the old venting he had with the unit. I got the model number and I recognized that it was an old unit so I called the manufacturer and found out that it did indeed take specific venting which they did not make anymore. I informed him that the venting was no longer available. He wasn’t angry but I got the feeling that he was going to make that one work no matter what I or the manufacturer said. I just hope he doesn’t hurt himself or his family.
Fireplaces are great to have. They are warm, cozy and they can save you money on your energy bill and they bring up the value of your home. My advise is that if you’re thinking about buying a fireplace; save your money and do it right. Buy a legal certified EPA wood burning fireplace that you can burn everyday and get it installed by a qualified installer. Or, if you’re thinking about a gas fireplace, come in and talk to us. We’ll give you our suggestions of what fireplaces would work for you and your home.
Be safe, ask yourself why are people selling things on the internet cheap? Something is wrong and don’t get caught up in it.
Stay warm and safe.
You can contact Rose Florez at Fireplace Outlet, 4745 W. 38th Ave, 303-477-5447.
Apple Pie In A Bag
Use a small turkey roasting bag.
CRUST
2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup solid vegetable shortening
4 to 5 tablespoons ice water
Role out bottom crust and put in pie pan, pour mix into over bottom crust sprinkle cinnamon over mix. Roll out top crust and cut into pieces (different sizes and shapes) start from the rim and overlap crust pieces over each other towards the middle. Sprinkles sugar and cinnamon over crust pieces. Stand up 3 – 4 forks (or cut shis kabob wood sticks in half in place of forks) in pie and cover entire pie and forks (forks holds up bag away from pie) with a small turkey bag and tie ends. Bake at 325 until golden brown.