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497 37th Street NE | Rochester, MN 55906

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Spotlight – Renaissance Rumford

  • By Laura Miller
  • 11 Oct, 2015

Count Rumford knew his stuff: classic Rumford firebox proportions produced a vertical fire which concentrated hot combustion gasses while at the same time radiated heat back through the firebox for a hotter fire.

Renaissance Fireplaces, a division of the Industrial Chimney Company, also knows their stuff.  As a recognized leader in both chimney and fireplace design, they broke new ground in with the unveiling of their new fireplace – the Rumford 1000.  It all started with an industry challenge – build an open door fireplace that would burn as cleanly as a modern day, high efficiency wood stove.

At a time when reduced emissions and high efficiency are held in high regard, traditional wood fireplaces with large viewing areas  have been losing ground to their smaller and cleaner counterparts – especially in colder climates.  The smaller and popular breed of fireplace resembles a wood stove; air-tight combustion design, baffling in the firebox to retain the smoke and heat as long as possible, and a slow and lazy burn whose warmth can nudge any onlooker into a fascinated trance.  But it’s not for everybody.

Until now, the firebug who wanted to enjoy the snap and crackle of burning wood, and the dance and roar of a standing flame had to pay a price.  Tolerating cold down drafts, difficult start-ups, and smoke spilling into the house if conditions were not ideal was only the beginning.  Add the odor of the chimney, dirty glass that hides the fire, and a thankless pittance of  heat for the effort and it’s no wonder that  holiday gatherings around the fire were filled with snickers and guffaws.

Now the game has changed.  The modern day Rumford 1000, much like it’s  name sake of centuries past, makes building a wood burning fire easy and effortless.  Boasting a viewing area that is over 1000 square inches (wood stoves and other fireplaces offer viewing areas closer to 350 sq. in), and guillotine door and screen systems that slide out of your way when not wanted, you can enjoy the feeling of having a bonfire in your living room, without having to send smoke signals to the neighbors!

In  addition to the Vesta Award from it’s own industry, the U.S. EPA and the Interior Designers of Canada have saluted this feat of engineering with the Clean Air Excellence Award and an Award for Innovation respectively.   How did they do it?

Here are key points about the Rumford 1000 as described by the Renaissance Fireplace Company…

  • 1 – “We fabricated the Rumford throat from smooth low mass insulating refractory: this promotes smoother air flow into the throat of the firebox and prevents cool room air from lowering combustion temperatures”
  • 2 – “Utilizing low mass insulating refractory throughout the unit resulted in hotter fire and lower emissions.  Traditional firebrick is durable but it absorbs a lot of heat, making it difficult to achieve the high temperatures necessary for clean combustion.”
  • 3 – “Insulation, insulation, insulation.  No magic here, the Renaissance Rumford burns clean because it burns hot.  Lot of high temperature insulation is utilized, not only to keep the fire hot, but also keep the outside of the unit cool and safe.”
  • 4 – “The Renaissance’s guillotine door system was designed to be the smoothest operating and sturdiest guillotine fireplace door ever made.  When the door is closed emissions plummet to a level equivalent to an EPA certified stove.  The door is perfectly counterweighted so it can be raised and lowered with one finger and will stop smoothly at any point.     The door lifts straight up and completely disappears withing the facade above the fireplace, but it can also be opened horizontally on a hinge so it can be cleaned easily.”
Cutaway of Renaissance Rumford 1000
In addition, it’s construction and geometry reflect and radiate heat back into the room, leaving you toasty and warm as you enjoy the roaring fire.
By Laura Miller 06 Jul, 2016
Learn the basics for smoking meat with your new Primo grill.
By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016

Do NOT touch the glass or any metal part of your fireplace. These are heat producing appliances and you can be burned by them.

By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016

The Maximum allowable surface temperature is 117° F OVER ambient (room) temperature. Thus, if a room is 70° – 80° the exposed combustible surfaces immediately surrounding the Fireplace can have a surface temperature as high as 187° F. – 197° F. (Too hot to touch) and still be safe.

By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016

Yes, Call for a service technician to come out and take a look

NO – Then you need to break-in your fireplace

 During the initial burn and curing cycle of any fireplace, it is normal for the appliance and any accessory item installed on the Product to emit some amounts of smoke and odors.

The sources of the emitted smoke and odor are normal emission of paint curing chemical reaction at high temperatures, evaporation of manufacturing related oils or lubrication, small amounts of dextrin emitted from heated gaskets and insulation materials and small amounts (less than 0.5 grams) of polyester burning emissions from glass gasket adhesive film.

Smoke emission is to be expected for the first 2-1/2 hours of initial burn on high fire with fans turned off. Remove or disconnect any smoke alarms which may alarm during this period of initial burn. Prior to initial firing, it is required that the glass gasket to firebox face seal be thoroughly inspected to make certain glass gasket is seated properly and sealing properly. (This is done by our technicians during the finish on the fireplace )

It is recommended that during the first 2-1/2 hours of initial burn, that all windows in the room be opened to evacuate emitted smoke and odors. If anyone in the home has allergies or any is sensitive to smells or smoke that they not be in the home during the initial burn of the fireplace.

Following the initial burn, some slight odors may be present but will diminish with further use and will completely dissipate.

Any odors that are emitted from the appliance are of non-toxic origin.

By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016
If you are not the original owner we recommend doing the “break-in” on your fireplace. Sometimes it can take multiple days or burns for the smell to completely go away. We recommend running the fireplace for 6 – 8 hours on high for 3 consecutive days. If you still have the smell, call to have a service technician come out and take a look.
By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016
This information can be found in your owner’s manual. If you can’t find it give us a call and we would be happy to try and help you over the phone.
By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016
IPI (Intermittent Pilot Ignition) – This is also sometimes referred to as “Electronic Ignition” Your pilot light is not on all the time. When you turn your fireplace on you may here a faint “tick, tick, tick” noise and then the pilot will light and then a few seconds later your fireplace burner will turn on.
CPI (Continuous Pilot Ignition) - Your pilot light (blue flame down by your logs or alternate media) will be on all of the time
If you live in a colder state like Minnesota the manufacturer recommended that even if you have and IPI (Intermittent Pilot Ignition) system that when the temperatures fall below 32 degrees that you switch your fireplace into the CPI (Continuous Pilot Ignition) for the colder months. Your fireplace will have easier time lighting.
By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016
We do not service fireplaces that come from the Big Box Stores as our technicians are not familiar with these fireplaces and parts are not readily available from our distributors.
By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016
Yes! We have full time service technicians that go through regular training so they are up-to-date on the most current information for all of the brands we carry.
By Laura Miller 01 Jun, 2016
Typically not, but sometimes during the off-season (spring and summer) we may be able to accommodate this request.

Installing a product that was purchase elsewhere is often a challenge because we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the components, know if parts are missing and often the warranty must be filed with the original retail store as they have the relationship with the manufacturer. In addition, repeat visits are often required incurring additional costs for the home owner.

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