The Joys of a Fireplace

Owning a fireplace is a wonderful opportunity. There's nothing warmer and cozier than sitting in front of a warm fireplace watching the orange flames. Unfortunately, fireplaces take work and regular maintenance. If you've been having problems with the fireplace smoking, you may have some work ahead of you. You definitely should not continue to use it until you take care of the smoking problem. Smoke such as this is not only bad for your health, but will also stain your walls and clothes.

The Joys of a Fireplace

The Joys of a Fireplace

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The Joys of a Fireplace

The Joys of a Fireplace

The chimney should be the first thing you look at. Start by opening up the damper and stoking the chimney. Burn some newspaper of safe material in the fireplace to the get the warm air in the chimney to push the cold air out. When cold air pushes warm air down is when you'll have smoke in your home. Always make sure you use seasoned wood and not green wood, which can cause chimney fires. Get your firewood before fireplace season begins and store it in a firewood storage box to dry out. The smaller the logs you use, the quicker they'll dry and better they'll burn.

Sometimes, you may have to open a window in your home to get the fireplace to light. You need a certain amount of circulation to get the fire going. You may want to begin using bricks to build up your fireplace grate to a higher level. You need air circulation underneath the wood to make it start and the grate may provide the extra circulation.

Often larger fireplaces have problems because their chimney is smaller than the open-hearth part. The size should be balanced with the size of the stove. You may also get a shield to catch any smoke before it circulates in the room. Smoke will also fill up the room if there's not enough air in the room, do turn down the furnace.

Make sure the pipes are always kept clean as this is a major cause of smoke as well as chimney fires. The pipes on the outside can often get plugged from bird nests or other debris. Make sure your pipes are always in good shape as well. Regular maintenance should be done on your chimney and pipes every year before fireplace season begins. The build-up of creosote can damage your fireplace pipes and cause a fire. Hire a professional to come and clean your pipes each year. This is a relatively cheap expense, especially in light of the benefits.

Your fireplace should be a pleasure and not a worry. The important thing is to keep it clean and well maintained and you'll get many good years of service and comfort. There is nothing you'll enjoy more in the spring and fall than sitting in front of a warm crackling fire in the fireplace.

The Joys of a Fireplace

Wood Stove Installation

Wood stove installation is a complicated process that must be taken with care and expertise, and I would recommend using a professional to install your wood stove. Safety is key and a wood stove is very safe with the correct installation and care. If you however feel you are capable of installing the wood stove your self there are several vital factors you must consider.

Location is important, not only for optimized satisfaction but safety as well. It is not advisable to place the wood stove on any flooring that is flammable like wood. There are however appropriate surfaces for the wood stove, like concrete, ceramic tiles, marble and slate, these are more suitable as they don't catch fire easily leaving your house safer. Not only are there safety restrictions on the flooring but also the area the base Covers. The wood stove base should Cover 8 inches around wood stove with 18 inches n front of doors to reduce chance of surrounding flooring catching fire. Better to be safe than sorry. Around the wood stove there are safety precautions that can be taken with the walls as well. Again gaps of at least 12 inches should left around the wood stove. For further protection non-combustible wall protection can be used as well as a rear heat shield. Protecting the walls is essential as any flammable material within close vicinity of the wood stove is a danger.

Chimney and stovepipe connection (installation) is again another task in the wood stove installation that needs to be done with care and with some expertise. The chimney is what directs the harmful and unwanted smoke out the house. There are a number of aspects to remember. When installing the stove pipe it should be kept and least 18 inches from anything combustible. To be on the safe side you can protect the stove pip with a heat shield to greatly reduce the chance of a fire. As for the chimney it should be at least 3 feet above the roofs surface, however the taller the better. There is however one thing to remember with wood stove pipes and the chimney, there are several types with several protections so understand what you are dealing with before under going the installation.

Wood stove installation is a demanding, complicated, highly responsible, time consuming job and unless you really know what you are doing it is advisable to get a professional to install it for you.

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Why Should You Have a Chimney Cap on Your Chimney?

A chimney may be found in buildings, steam locomotives and ships. It serves to vent hot gases or smoke from a furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. It allows combustible by-products to be vented away from the structure safely without causing damage to the structure they're attached to. The maximum efficiency of a chimney is proportional to its height. A higher chimney has the ability to transfer flue gases at higher attitude and reduces its influence on surroundings. Mostly all flues need to have a cap for many reasons.

It is common for birds to enter a chimney if it doesn't have a chimney cap. Rain coming into the appliance can also cause damage to its walls and cause an unpleasant odor. Your pipe when left unCovered, rain water can enter the pipe and your home, and this can cause major problems and deterioration. The cap prevents rain, animals and dirt from getting inside. The lid of the cap must over extend your chimney in such a way that when it rains, the rain falls off to the sides of your flue and not on the top of your crown.

Another important purpose of the cap is to minimize wind downdrafts that cause more smoke. These caps offer many benefits including cleaning, safety and a clean environment. You will never have to worry about small animals making nests in your smokestack.

These caps can be purely functional or ornamental. The caps come in different styles, shapes and sizes. Choose the right sized cap for your chimney. It can make or break the look of your home. Standard caps are made of metals including steel, stainless steel, copper and aluminum. Every home should have a cap on its chimney to give a graceful look to your home and to keep your pipe safe from dirt and rain.

The cap is an attractive and functional addition to install on a residence. It will enhance the look of the exterior of your home. They will add an exterior visual appeal and be worth the monetary investment for many years. The cap will keep your chimney working efficiently for many years, eliminating the need for regular and costly repairs on your appliance.

These caps are made from a number of materials, from metal to clay. It is one of the most essential components of your chimney. Think about the important role it plays and look for the right sized cap for your appliance. You can purchase them as mass-produced or individual design units.

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