Give Your Fireplace Some TLC

If you feel that your fireplace really needs some work done to the firebox, damper or any chimney, be sure to call in a contractor. If you simply want an updated fireplace screen, andirons or fireplace tools, there are plenty of websites out there that can ship products right to your door. If you already like the screens and accessories you have but they’re looking worse for wear, they may just need a good scrubbing with soap and water. You can also give an old screen a new color. Just be sure to use the right paint for the job (like Rust-oleum High Heat). If you have an old fireplace, like what you’d see in a brownstone, there are all sorts of vintage accessories that can really elevate your style. In the summer you can install a “summer piece” or chimney board, which are decorative pieces meant to fit over the opening and keep out the draft. Try a site like Fireplace Antique Store or Ebay.

Master Fire Building

Once your fireplace is deemed safe for use, you’re ready to build that roaring fire. To build the most effective fire you’ll want to use seasoned firewood. Wood that was split over a year ago won’t contribute to creosote buildup or be as smokey. Also, do not burn wood scraps. You don’t know if those scraps were treated with chemicals and you could be burning tainted wood. Take kindling wood (the thinner, drier pieces of firewood) and lay them lengthwise across your grate. Next, take two large logs and lay them perpendicular to the kindling. Finally, lay additional firewood lengthwise on top of the stack. Before you light the kindling, open the damper and hold a lit newspaper up into the flue to warm up the chimney. Now you’re ready to light the fire!

Know Your Fireplace

You don’t need a contractor’s license to understand your fireplace. Knowing its parts will help you when you need something fixed or replaced. A standard, wood-burning fireplace consists of a hearth (the floor in front of the fireplace), the firebox (the “hole” where the wood burns), the damper (the lever that opens or closes the flue) and the smoke chamber and flue (the inside of the chimney that draws smoke up and out). The grate (sometimes called a dog grate) holds the firewood and is elevated to allow for air circulation. Andirons (also known as firedogs) are a pair decorative metal pieces that are designed to further support the firewood.

Clean Balance

Symmetry, soft surfaces, and neutral colors are the key to this zen room. Get the look by orienting your sofa towards the fireplace, then using a generous ottoman as a coffee table. Enjoy the fire from the sofa, or perch on the ottoman’s edge for extra warmth.

The Heart of Your Home

The fire place is the heart of your home and the best place for your family to gather. There are so many different styles to choose from, it’s up to you to decide.

Do you prefer a light yet cozy charm? This snowy brick fireplace place makes this living room the ultimate cozy spot.

Or do you prefer a more traditional rustic look This stacked stone fireplace fills the room with warmth and tranquility.

Fireplace Safety Tips for Kids

Nothing quite creates winter ambiance like a log in the fireplace with everyone gathered around to appreciate its warmth and pleasing light. Of course, playing with fire is dangerous for children, so please remember these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics before you light your hearth.

Minimize your child’s chance of burns from the hot glass front of some fireplaces. Safety screens can be installed to reduce the risk of burns.

Put fireplace tools and accessories out of a young child’s reach. Also, remove any lighters and matches.

Level 1 professional chimney sweep service

Chimney sweeping to remove creosote deposits greater than 1/8″ thick.
*Visual inspection of the firebox for damaged firebrick or crumbling mortar.
*Remove any debris that may restrict airflow.
*Ensure the damper operates freely and provides an adequate seal.
*Visual inspection from top and bottom of chimney to check for broken or cracked flue tiles or chimney crown.
*Written report detailing the work performed and the condition of each item, including any areas of concern.

Fireplace Maintenance

Never use a vacuum to clean up ashes, because live coals may remain in those ashes.
Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the chimney when necessary. Have him show you how to check it yourself, too. The chimney should be checked at least once a year or after about 80 fires.
Shine brass fireplace utensils with Worcestershire sauce and a toothbrush.
Clean the firebox (the area where the logs burn) at least once a week during the months you use it, when ash builds up. Leave about an inch of ash because it acts as insulation, allowing the coals to heat faster and retain the heat easier. Keep the firebox completely clean during the months when the fireplace is not in use.
To clean an exterior slate hearth, wash, dry and coat it with lemon oil every six weeks to make it shine. For cleaning exterior brick hearths, buy a brick cleaner at a fireplace shop.

Fireplace Safety Tips

If possible, keep a window cracked open while the fire is burning.
Be certain the damper or flue is open before starting a fire. Keeping the damper or flue open until the fire is out will draw smoke out of the house. The damper can be checked by looking up into the chimney with a flashlight or mirror. Do not close the damper until the embers have completely stopped burning.
Use dry and well-aged wood. Wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney. Dried wood burns with less smoke and burns more evenly,
Smaller pieces of wood placed on a grate burn faster and produce less smoke.
Clean out ashes from previous fires. Levels of ash at the base of the fireplace should be kept to 1 inch or less because a thicker layer restricts the air supply to logs, resulting in more smoke.
The chimney should be checked annually by a professional.

Even if the chimney is not due for cleaning, it is important to check for animal nests or other blockages that could prevent smoke from escaping.
Make sure the area around the fireplace is clear of anything that is potentially flammable (ie: furniture, drapes, newspapers, books, etc.). If these items get too close to the fireplace, they could catch fire.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Make sure it is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. If you leave the room while the fire is burning or the fireplace is still hot, take your small child with you.
Minimize your child’s chance of burns from the hot glass front of some fireplaces. Safety screens can be installed to reduce the risk of burns.
Put fireplace tools and accessories out of a young child’s reach. Also, remove any lighters and matches.
Install both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
Communicate to children as early as possible the dangers of fires and the heat generated from them.

The Dangers Of Creosote

Creosote is a by-product of wood burning which can build up on the interior walls of your fireplace and chimney. The important thing to know is that it is highly combustible and that a chimney fire can cause serious damage to your chimney resulting in a potential fire hazard.