What kind of fireplaces do older East Texas homes typically have?
On some of your older homes, you have what they call a true brick fireplace that was made out of masonry. A lot of the newer homes, probably at least twenty years old or newer, have what they call a zero-clearance fireplace with a metal box and metal pipe. Those are a little bit harder to fit for wood-burning inserts; they're easier for gas logs.
Can a brick fireplace still take a wood-burning insert?
Yes. People with a true brick fireplace who are looking for a wood-burning insert or a gas insert can usually get one to fit in there and help put a little more heat into the house. Most everything will fit into those.
What's the biggest factor in choosing the right insert for an older home?
It's just trying to find the right insert, one that's going to help heat the home and not overheat it and heat people out of the room.
How does the layout of an older home affect heating?
On some of these homes, the living rooms just aren't as big as in newer construction, and the ceiling matters too. If it's a vaulted ceiling, there's a lot more air to heat and a lot of that hot air rises, so we always tell people to run their fan in winter mode so that it brings that warm air back down and circulates it through the living room and other areas of the house.
Why do East Texas homeowners tend to be resourceful?
A lot of the time, people already know what they're coming in for and have done their homework. They look up a lot of information ahead of time, which makes it a little easier when they come in because they already know what they're talking about.
