As most gas fireplaces do not require electricity to operate, they will continue to heat your surroundings even during a power outage. This means you can be assured that you and your family will stay warm even through the harshest weather conditions.
With Hamilton currently being under a severe freezing rain warning, it is natural to recall the great ice storm of 1998 that hit and devastated the city of Montreal and many other parts of eastern Ontario. Many areas were left without power for extended periods of time - some for several months. During this time, many people (those without the luxury of generators) were forced to succumb to extreme measures to try and keep their homes and themselves warm. There were reports of people bringing their propane barbecues indoors in an effort to heat their homes and families - an extremely dangerous and potentially deadly solution to the cold, due to hazardous flue gasses being exhausted directly into the home and breathed in by its occupants. Others reported open fires being set indoors, in desperation to stay warm. Most casualties of the great storm, sadly resulted from hypothermia. While we never wish for these kinds of extreme natural disasters, they are indeed a part of our ever changing world. Taking measures to ensure that our most basic necessities of life can be met in the case of need, is a prudent move that will pay off tremendously, if not only in peace of mind. Book a fireplace consultation with Family Comfort today. We will direct you to the fireplace unit that will best serve your personal needs, and ensure that you will not be caught in the cold. Snow We are expecting 15-30 centimetres of snow to fall in the Golden Horseshoe today. In honour of this, we are posting our favourite combination of wintery things..snow, fireplaces, warm spicy mexican hot chocolate and a book! This is just the beginning of today's snowfall. It is a soft, light powdery snow and so beautiful. Fireplace Our current favourite fireplace from Napoleon's Continental line. We are loving the traditional look and feel of the CDV70. With it's 35,000 btus and an 81% efficiency rating, it is sure to keep you warm on a day like today and for years to come. The CDV70 also boasts an advanced burner system providing the most realistic looking flames in the industry. Hot Chocolate Spicy mexican hot chocotate to warm and sooth. Please follow the link, which will lead you directly to the most warming, sumptuous hot chocolate with a kick of cayenne. Guaranteed to warm you up from head to toes! Follow this link to get the recipe. Book Elizabeth Gilbert's novel "The Signature of all Things" is truly a book to be devoured over a snowy weekend by the fire. Safety Recalls
If you are the owner of one of these recalled natural gas fireplaces, please be advised that they are no longer considered safe for use. Please follow the links below, for photos and model numbers of fireplaces that have been recalled. If you find that you have one of these units installed in your home, please contact the manufacturer of the product or retail establishment that it was purchased from, for instructions on how to proceed. http://www.lennoxhearthproducts.com/recall/Lennox_Hearth_Products_Fireplace_07-25-13_Final.pdf http://majesticproducts.com/customer-care/identify-2/ http://www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls/2013/fireplaces-and-inserts-recalled-by-monessen-hearth-systems-due-to-risk-of-fire/ Thinking about converting your water heater, clothes dryer, stove, fireplace, or barbecue to natural gas? Natural gas is a safe, convenient, planet friendly and cost effective alternative to other fuel sources.
Consider the benefits.. Safety Natural gas has an enviable safety record! Natural gas is non-toxic, and lighter than air which allows it to dissipate rapidly in well-ventilated areas. When used properly, it is one of the safest and most convenient energy sources. Despite being naturally odourless and colourless, a gas leak is highly detectable due to the chemical odourant called "mercaptan" that is added to it, for increased safety. The industry is very closely regulated. Licenced Gas Technicians are held to rigorous standards. They are well trained, and audited regularly by the Technical Standards and Safety Association to ensure proper adherence to the Ontario gas code. Environment Natural gas is an extremely clean burning fuel, producing very few emmissions. When burned cleanly, natural gas releases heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide. Coal, oil and wood on the other hand, release a variety of potentially harmful chemicals into the air when burned, as they are far more chemically complex. When natural gas replaces other fuels, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. Cost According to Enbridge Gas, "over the past five years, natural gas has been about 63 per cent less expensive than electricity and about 64 percent less expensive than oil". Consider also that electric heating, which is generated from coal or other fossil fuels, is only 30 percent efficient. Natural gas heating by comparison, is 94 percent efficient! It is late November, where does the time go? The days are growing shorter, darker and colder. But on this particular morning, the city of Hamilton woke up to the most beautiful dusting of light snow on rooftops, trees and just about everything else that has a (top). The city was in a bit of a panic, as is always the case when the very first significant snow of the season falls. But we quickly remember that we live in Canada, learn to adjust, pull out the scrapers, shovels and everything goes back to normal.
Turn up the thermostat, and stay warm! A portable and healthy on the go snack! Medjool dates are packed with dietary fiber, keeping you feeling full longer as well as aiding in digestion. They are also an excellent source of iron and potassium, and serve as a wonderfully healthy and natural way to sweeten food. They’re doing triple duty in these nut free energy balls as they serve to not only sweeten up the mix, but also to pack a nutritional punch and to hold everything together! The chia seeds are packed with protein, to keep you energized while you're on the go. Totally awesome, extremely portable and nut free energy balls are a perfect snack when you work on the road, as we do, and need a quick boost of energy between jobs. They are easy to make, easy to pack, and super healthy. You can load them with whatever goodness you want, (next time I'll throw in a few mini chocolate chips!) and it will pretty much work. This nut-free version is perfect if you're working with, or around people with nut allergies. Try not to omit the toasted coconut unless absolutely necessary. I think it really adds a toasty layer of flavour, that makes up for the lack of nuts. Nut Free Energy Balls 1 cup toasted coconut (see toasting method below) 12 medjool dates 1/2 cup quinoa flakes 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds 2 tbls chia seeds 1/4 tsp salt Begin by toasting the coconut – Pre-heat oven 325°. Spread a layer of unsweetened, shredded coconut onto a foil or parchment lined pan. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, checking the coconut often as it can burn quickly. Toss, and flip it around a little with a spatula at the 5 minute mark. Once it begins to take on a nice light golden hue, it's done! Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before tossing it into the recipe. Once the coconut has cooled a bit, add it to the bowl of a food processor along with the dates, quinoa flakes, pumkin seeds, chia seeds and salt. Pulse the mixture a few times (were looking for just blended, not puree!) The mixture is ready once it holds together well when pinched between your fingers. It should look something like this.. Once the ingredients have been thoroughly blended, it's time to shape them into balls, or bars..or whatever shape you like.
If you're making them ball shaped, use a spoon to scoop up about 3 tablespoons of the mixture, and roll between clean hands. This recipe should yield approximately 12 golf size balls. Enjoy! A fireplace, a book and a warm beverage in hand. We are sooo.. ready for fall.
Warm glowing flames flickering in a roaring fireplace create an ambience that can bring a large party, an intimate soiree, or lounging solo, to another level. The look, sound and feel of dancing flames is an incredibly soothing treat for your senses. Sitting fireside can fill you with a feeling of calmness and peace at the end of a busy day, or night. It's mid-October in the Golden Horseshoe. The escarpment is at it's most beautiful...auburn and ochre coloured leaves abound.
The familiar sound of crisp leaves being crushed underfoot is soothing, yet a grim reminder that winter chill is around the corner. We've had an unseasonably beautiful and warm fall, but the winds are changing and the cold is on it's way. What better time to think about a complete fireplace clean and service. A fireplace clean and service ensures that your fireplace is running at it's peak performance and efficiency level, all winter long. It also greatly reduces the chance of a mid-winter breakdown. Our technician will perform a complete checklist of services to ensure your fireplace meets health, safety and efficiency standards. Of particular concern is testing to make sure that combustion gasses (including carbon monoxide) are flowing out of your home, and that nothing is flowing back in. Although many of us take our hardworking fireplaces for granted, hoping that they will continue to keep us warm and toasty with out any special care; the truth is that your fireplace needs the same type of attention as your furnace does. Your natural gas fireplace is an investment that not only increases your daily comfort, but also your home's value. An annual service and clean will ensure that it continues to perform at it's peak efficiency, for many years. Please ask us about our "Gear up for winter" service. Here in the city of Hamilton, historic houses are the majority. We are surrounded with a multitude of beautiful century old homes bursting with character. These homes often feature original fireplaces, that are again, full of character and charm...but often unusable due to safety and insurance regulations. If you are lucky enough to be the proud owner of one of the beauties, consider making your fireplace usable again with the addition of a gas fireplace.
A gas fireplace, is a safe, easy and cost effective way to add warmth and charm to your existing chimney space. Consider the way we use our homes. We typically use only a couple of the rooms in our homes for the greater part of the day...while other rooms such as guestrooms, dining rooms, and offices are used less frequently. A natural gas fireplace in a heavily used family room can be turned up while occupied, to keep the room nice and toasty, allowing you to turn down your central heating unit (furnace, boiler etc). This can add up to considerable savings on your monthly heating bill. A clean, professional installation can be done in less than a day. Your natural gas fireplace can be operated with the flip of a switch, or by remote control and will operate for pennies/day! Check out our ideas page and be inspired! |