Page 13 - NY Cooperator November 2019

COOPERATOR.COM THE COOPERATOR — NOVEMBER 2019 13 www.automaticindustries.com 1-800-THE-WASH WOMAN OWNED COMPANY BACKED BY A LOT OF MAN POWER FAMILY-OWNED SINCE 1971 We offer a boutique style of service We are compassionate and caring to our customers While still being competitive with the “Big Box” Boyz! Offering state-of-the-art laundry rooms Providing a Full Range of Architectural & Engineering Services In-house professional expertise in: Exterior Restoration & Historic Preservation Construction Inspection Alteration Review Architectural Design Engineering: n Mechanica l n Electrical n Plumbing n Structural Energy Audits Forensic Investigation Façade Safety Inspection Program Reporting Green Design – LEED Professionals Client satisfaction assured by the active daily involvement of the firm’s principals www.lawlessmangione.com info@lawlessmangione.com 914.423.8844 he adds, residents, building staff, and others clearly not the “real thing,” many electric should never attempt to do fireplace repairs units do a very good job of mimicking the or serious maintenance by themselves! It’s sound and look of crackling logs and flick- just too dangerous to both the unit owner ering flames. The technology is remarkably and the building. Always use a licensed pro- fessional chimney sweep. While there is no a rotating metallic silver refractor (a bit like formal certification or degree for chimney a rotisserie) cut with three-dimensional pat- sweeps, these professionals must be mem- bers of a chimney sweep guild, be properly flickering flame. Some models feature an licensed by New York State, and carry the audio element that makes a crackling noise, necessary and appropriate insurance, like extending the illusion even further. Delgar- any other contractor. Speaking of Insurance... Lovely and value-adding as they are, at colors, for example – that users can control the end of the day, a fireplace is essentially an with their smartphones and other devices. open blaze in close proximity to any number of flammable materials, as well as foot traf- fic, kids, possibly pets – so operating them in As described on electricfireplacesdirect. an apartment building poses obvious safety com, “Electric fireplaces can provide supple- challenges. Fireplac- es by their very pres- ence in a home in- crease the probability of a fire or of smoke- or ventilation-related problems. That risk has moved some co- op buildings simply to ban owners from using their fireplaces entirely. And some insurance compa- nies will not insure a multifamily building with fireplaces. Alex Seaman, se- nior vice president with HUB Insurance located in Wood- bury, New York, ex- plains: “The primary concern of insurance similar to a traditional wood-burning or gas carriers is lack of maintenance. When not fireplace but doesn’t require any venting or properly maintained, fireplaces pose a seri- ous fire hazard. Insurance companies that fireplaces work by drawing in cool air, heat- underwrite properties with fireplaces de- pend on systemic inspections at least annu- ally and sometimes biannually. “Inspections can be arranged indepen- dently by unit owners,” Seaman continues, directly heats objects within a room. In both “but a better way is to have one contractor cases, supplemental heating is provided for \[inspect\] all the units in the building at one the desired area without the mess, fumes, or time. That way they can confirm that every- thing has been done according to require- ments and that no individual unit has been century conversation starter featuring a left out.” Seaman says that when a building three-foot-deep mantelpiece held up by board or management chooses the inspec- tor and maintenance people, it’s crucial that you can switch on and off from 1,000 miles they verify that the chosen pro is properly li- censed and carrying proper and adequate in- surance that contains risk transfer language. Electric Fireplaces According to Delgardo, electric fireplaces have been growing in popularity in recent years. “They are very popular with mil- lennial buyers,” he says. “Many new rental buildings are opting for them as well.” While simple: light from an LED bulb bounces off terns that create the illusion of a random do says that other popular features include programmable optical effects – like changing In addition to looking cool, electric fire- places can provide actual warmth as well. mental heat- ing for rooms approximately 400 square feet in size as well. Customers con- trol the heat- ing elements, in addition to the flame effect. As a result, electric fireplaces can provide a flame with or without heat so that it can be enjoyed throughout the year. An elec- tric fireplace is a heating ele- ment that looks professional installation of any kind. Electric ing it internally using a heating coil, and gen- tly forcing the warmed air back out into the room by way of a fan. Some electronic fire- places also use infrared technology, which dangerous gas.” Whether you’ve got a turn-of-the-last- carved lions, or a sleek new electric model away, it’s important for your own safety and that of your neighbors to know how your fireplace works and to make sure it gets all the care and maintenance it needs to func- tion properly – and safely. n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter with The Cooperator and a published novelist. “Insurance companies that underwrite properties with fireplaces depend on systemic inspections at least annually and sometimes biannually.” — Alex Seaman