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Announcing Flue Sentinel, the First Electronic Damper for Gas Log Fireplaces For more information, contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Announcing Flue Sentinel, the First Electronic Damper for Gas Log Fireplaces New Product Offers Increased Safety, Energy Savings, and Expanded Design Options - Without Glass Doors or Panes Orion, Michigan - Flue Sentinel, Inc. announces the availability of its breakthrough technology product: Flue Sentinel®, the first and only electronic damper for gas log fireplaces. The automatic closure of the damper and innovative damper design can save up to 30 percent annually on home heating and air-conditioning costs. Flue Sentinel eliminates fireplace drafts, provides increased safety by assisting with proper airflow and combustion byproduct exhaust, and offers endless design and décor options for the hearth by eliminating the need for glass doors or glass panes to retain heat. In most states, manual dampers for fireplaces are now required by law to be removed or permanently locked in the open position. As a result of these regulations, homeowners have a large, permanent hole in their house, through which conditioned air (heated or cooled air) can escape. Flue Sentinel is the only electronic damper on the market today, and it's changing the way many homeowners, resort owners, architects, builders and interior designers are thinking about fireplaces, said Ken McHenry, President of Flue Sentinel, Inc. Many people like the natural beauty of a real wood-burning fireplace, but do not want the mess and work associated with them. A gas fireplace is a better alternative, but energy concerns remain about having an open hearth and open chimney. With Flue Sentinel, a beautiful, real-looking fireplace can be designed - - without barricading it with glass doors to retain heat. The end result is a more energy-efficient, natural-looking fireplace, McHenry explains. How It Works. Flue Sentinel electronically opens and closes the fireplace flue, automatically, whenever the gas logs are turned on and off. There is one control for both the gas log set and the Flue Sentinel damper, providing the homeowner the ultimate in convenience and comfort. Flue Sentinel is mounted at the top of the chimney and traps warm air throughout the length of the fireplace flue. This is unlike most manual fireplace dampers, located near the firebox, which allow the flue to be filled with cold, heavier air. (The next time the flue is opened, that cold air rushes into the house). The damper closes automatically after the gas logs are turned off and exhaust moves up the flue. This automatic closure is key to energy efficiency and comfort. Without a damper, cold drafts and air leakage can occur - - up to 30 percent of the home's heat scapes through the chimney, according to the 2001 ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook*. Even in states where manual dampers are permitted, the damper is often left open to cool, overnight or even longer, allowing heat to escape through the open chimney at a rate comparable to leaving a 48-inch wide window open, according to the United States Department of Energy Web site**. Design Flexibility. With Flue Sentinel, glass doors are finally a design option, rather than a necessity. This opens a world of design and décor choices for homeowners. For those who love the beauty of a natural-looking, open hearth, the look is now achievable and efficient. The product allows builders, architects, and interior decorators to offer more fireplace design options, a larger viewing area, and creativity to their clients. Flue Sentinel is a unique lifestyle product in that it is as much a design-enabler as it is a smart investment for protecting conditioned air. We specialize in building large custom homes and we find many of our customers want a grand, unobstructed, natural-looking fireplace without glass doors. Flue Sentinel is not just another product we can offer. It is a business tool that allows us to meet and often exceed our customers expectations by building the fireplace of their dreams, with the added benefit of safety and no drafts. I wish this product was available years ago, declared Coleman Wise, project manager for R.A. Nelson & Associates, located in Avon, Colorado. We will recommend Flue Sentinel for every home we build with gas log fireplaces, continued Wise. Energy Efficiency and Environmental Awareness. Flue Sentinel has a powerful payback: it pays for itself, through energy optimization and the cost savings that result. Flue Sentinel will save homeowners up to 30 percent on home heating and air-conditioning bills annually. For most homeowners, this means that the product can pay for itself in a very short time period. In many cities across America, the building industry is just one of many being asked to utilize resources more efficiently. Builders are now being required to create alternative construction methods that make homes more efficient, use more recycled products, and produce less waste. Up until this point, glass doors were installed to reduce drafts. Although they slightly reduce the air loss, the draft is still prevalent and the doors may chatter as the air moves through them. In addition, glass doors or panes, and the large metal frame often detract from the open, natural-looking décor homeowners strive to achieve, comments Mr. McHenry. Flue Sentinel offers the desired design flexibility and allows the builder one more opportunity to comply with stringent home standards and regulations regarding energy efficiency. Installing Flue Sentinel may qualify the homeowner for tax credits through several government home energy programs, continued McHenry. Comfort. Several premium home builders I work with were surprised at the number of calls I received from their new homeowners, complaining of drafts caused by their fireplace, explained Matt Barthels, owner of The Hearth Exchange, a premium hearth retailer in Colorado. Now, many of these same builders automatically run wiring for the Flue Sentinel, even if the customer does not select to install it at the time of the initial build. They are pretty confident that after the homeowners take possession of their new home, they will be convinced of the need for this wonderful product, added Barthels. Safety. Flue Sentinel has several important safety features that provide an additional layer of security. The location of the product, at the chimney top, is key to providing a more natural draft condition and a warm flue (which is a safer flue). A cold flue, typical of manual dampers and open chimneys, does not allow for proper ventilation of combustion byproducts at start-up and siphons interior heat. The product's control circuitry, with dual, redundant switches, ensures that the fireplace damper is open before the gas logs ignite, eliminating the possibility of a closed damper causing combustion byproduct spillage into the home or building. Flue Sentinel addresses mechanical and building code standards and is tested and listed in accordance with several standards associations. Flue Sentinel enhances the overall fireplace experience and adds an additional layer of safety to the home. We believe Flue Sentinel will be the new standard for all homes with gas log fireplaces, adds McHenry. Flue Sentinel is compatible with electronic ignition gas log fireplaces. Millivolt- compatible models will be released later this year. Constructed of durable stainless steel, Flue Sentinel is available in a wide range of standard and custom flue sizes. Flue Sentinel is the first in a series of products that the company will launch to dramatically improve home airflow and efficiency. Flue Sentinel's products are available to premium fireplace retailers in the United States through a select network of manufacturer's representatives and distributors. About Flue Sentinel, Inc. *Source: 2001 ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook |
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