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Firebacks Increase Fireplace Efficiency with Style

July 14, 2010 By chimneyadmin Leave a Comment

When it comes to burning a fire, there are many steps you can take to make it burn as efficiently as possible to get the most heat for your dollar. Burning the right wood and having a chimney constructed such that it draws properly are two ways to ensure efficiency. One step you can take that requires very little whatsoever to increase efficiency is to install a fireback. Firebacks help heat radiate out of the firebox and into the home. Firebacks are sheets of metal that are sized to fit your firebox. Some are very plain and others ornate and beautiful. When it comes to sizing your fireback, you can leave anywhere from 4″ to 15″ of space on the left and the right of the firebox.

Stainless steel firebacks improve fireplace efficiency by radiating and reflecting heat into the room.

Stainless steel firebacks improve fireplace efficiency by radiating and reflecting heat into the room.

Firebacks are made of different materials. The most traditional fireback material is the cast iron fireback. Cast iron firebacks are often decorated with designs for a stylish touch to a functional piece. Firebacks like these will maximize your fireplace’s heat output. These are generally heavy and black. The metal is heated by the fire which, in turn, radiates heat out into the room. These heavy firebacks are difficult to manage and very expensive to purchase online due to shipping costs incurred by weight.

While cast iron firebacks merely radiate heat once they are heated, stainless steel firebacks radiate and reflect heat into the room. Firebacks made from stainless steel are installed in much the same way, right on the back wall of the firebox. They are curved ever so slightly to maximize heat and light reflection into

This fireback adds beauty and style to any room while still radiating heat into the room, improving the fireplace's efficiency.

This fireback adds beauty and style to any room while still radiating heat into the room, improving the fireplace's efficiency.

the room. Between stainless steel firebacks and cast iron firebacks, stainless steel firebacks are much less expensive and far less heavy.

Ceramic firebacks and concrete firebacks do not have the ability to reflect heat and light like stainless steel firebacks do, and they do not radiate heat as well as cast iron firebacks, but they are an option. These firebacks are an option however, as are stone firebacks and clay firebacks. Firebacks, no matter what material, are the best way to protect at least one wall of your firebox from damage due to the heat. Although the firebrick in your chimney are, if it was built in recent years, quite advanced, they are still susceptible to damage.

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Prefabricated Fireplaces

February 27, 2010 By chimneyadmin Leave a Comment

If you have a prefabricated unit installed in your home now, or you are considering purchasing one, this information is extremely important. One fact that many peoplePrefabs are made as one UL listed unit and you should only use the parts do not realize is how young factory build, or “prefab” units really are.  They have only been readily available for purchase for the past 25 years, approximately. However, as a chimney sweep, I deal with them all the time.

Nearly one half of the prefabricated units installed throughout the United States are installed improperly. It is absolutely imperative that installation instructions are followed to the letter, especially specified clearances. Clearances from the firebox and chimney to any combustible material must generally be at least 2”. Most manufacturers require a 2” air space with no insulation. These specifications are of the utmost importance because they prevent a process known as pyrolisis, in which the wood too close to the chimney dries out and will eventually catch fire, at temperatures as low as 200 degrees!

It is absolutely imperative to install a chimney cap to a prefabricated unit. It is not unusual for chimney sweeps to literally carry out buckets of nesting material from the flue systems of these types of fireplaces. Especially older versions of these units have imitation brick housing above the roof, which birds love to nest in. A cap will prevent these nesting materials from catching your house on fire and blocking air flow, which caCF_LT2_CD_8X8_34-2Tuses the chimney to overheat.

Although it is difficult to inspect firebox clearances, a trip to the attic to check out clearances of the chimney is definitely worth your while. If you find issues in the attic, it is crucial to install access ports to check the clearances in the firebox and monitor conditions as time goes by.

Another thing to consider, especially if you are in the market for prefabs is the fact that each unit is specifically tested and listed specifically for use with one another. The fireplace and the chimney are tested together and approved, meaning that you must go through that same company to obtain a replacement part years down the road.

Often times, these companies will go out of business leaving you stuck. Your prefab unit will reach the end of its useful life when repair of the unit is no longer possible. Be wary that necessary components of the listings may become unavailable.

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How To Choose Fireplace Screens To Enhance Your Home

February 24, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

In the past, fireplaces were used as the primary source of heat inside the home. With modern heating appliances and central or under floor heating, fireplaces have become more of a pursuit in architecture and made a decoration rather than the primary method of heating your home. Fireplaces can become the focal points of living rooms with the help of beautiful yet functional fireplace accessories such as screens, irons, log racks, and more. From among these hearth accessories, be it an off-the-shelf or custom designer solution, a fireplace can become more attractive and have more character with the installation of fireplace screens.

Fireplace Screen Design

woodfield screenTraditional Fireplace Screen

These are fireplace screens that are simple and classic in design. These are usually clean to look at and can work with any interior theme decoration. Traditional fireplace screens are made from brass, copper or can also be made from wrought iron fireplace screens. These could have a single panel to several ones. They come in various sizes, styles and finishes and you can never go wrong with them.

antiquescreenAntique Design

Fireplace screens categorized as antique are usually associated to rooms that are Victorian themed, rich in tapestries and are characterized as elegant. These types of fireplace screens are designed with rounded designs such as those that represent elegance such as swirls, flowers and scrolls. These screens designed for formal houses with fireplaces should be matched with other coordinating fireplace tools and log rack to make them more attractive.

Designer Fireplace Screens

These functional types of screens are typically stylish and are designed to set a balance and harmonize with a room’s décor. These screens are recommended to be displayed and used with their accompanying fireplace tools and log rack.

Outdoor Fireplace Screens

These screens are versatile and give tribute from their design the different outdoor activities such as fishing, golfing, hunting, hiking, etc. These usually have a black finish and can blend into any theme or decorations. Just like the other fireplace screen designs, makes sure that its coordinating accessories go with it.

Fireplace Screen Color

Be it a designer, traditional or antique fireplace screen, choose those that complement the dominant color of the room where you are going to place this. For rooms whose dominant colors are considered cool such as green, green-blue, blue, violet, blue-violet, violet and violet-red, the best fireplace screens would be the ones finished in black, white, aluminum, pewter, stainless steel and brass. For rooms whose dominant color is warm such as red, orange, red-orange, yellow, yellow-orange and yellow-green, the ideal fireplace screens will be those that are finished with black, gold, rust, bronze, copper and any shade of brown finish.

Fireplace Screen Size

There are so many sizes and shapes of fireplaces. They can either be single paneled or have more to create a curved effect. The simplest fireplace screen would be the single panel because this can simply be placed in a straight line across the fireplace while a multi-paneled one seems a bit more complicated especially when you want to get this as your fireplace’s screen.

How Do You Know What Size Is Right?

- Measure the width of your fireplace

- Add 10 to 12 inches to the width taken above. This is the ideal width of the fireplace screen you should get.

- Measure the height of your fireplace.

- Add 3 to 5 inches to the height measurement you took above. This is the ideal height of the fireplace screen you should get.

Both extra inches added to both measurements ensure some allowance for the screen to fold and to avoid it from tipping over. Always make sure that you compare the dimensions that you were able to derive from the measurements to the dimensions of the fireplace screen products you are interested in purchasing.

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What Is a Fireplace Insert?

February 17, 2010 By chimneyadmin Leave a Comment

A fireplace insert? Is that like a wood stove? Not exactly. It is like a stove, but modified specifically by the manufacturer to fit for insertion inside a masonry fiinsertarebox (hence, insert.) Fireplace inserts are much more efficient than regular, open wood burning fireplaces and emit a fraction of the pollutants while warming your home.

There are two main parts to a fireplace insert, the actual firebox and its surrounding steel shell. This outer shell delivers heat created in the firebox directly to the room. This air “padding” area prevents heat from being wasted on heating the actual masonry structure itself so more heat is ejected into the room. Air freely flows between the firebox and the steel shell, allowing it to be warmed and blown into the room.Some larger inserts can heat one or two thousand square feet, like this Napoleon insert. Smaller inserts heat smaller areas of the home.

It is imperative that your insert be lined from top to bottom.  Some older fireplace inserts were lined only partly, allowing smoke to meander up the chimney after a certain point. This makes for extremely expensive upkeep, seeing that the entire insert must be removed in order for it to be cleaned.  You should have your insert installed and the chimney lined by a professional, or if you choose to do it yourself, be sure that ALL of your methods comply with local building and fire codes, or you may face some costly repairs.

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Outside Air Source

February 4, 2010 By chimneyadmin Leave a Comment

As technology improves, homes are being built to be increasingly air tight to prevent expensively heated air from seeping out of your home around door frames and windows. A few years ago, enough air seeped into homes from the outside to replenish the air lost through the combustion process of burning wood or gas. Now, however, not enough air is able to enter the home which may create negative pressure which can cause all manner of problems from smoking issues to drafting problems.

With these new super tight homes, once air is back drafted down through the chimney, it along with any toxins it may bring in from the chimney smoke byproducts are trapped in the home. This can make for a very unsafe condition, which is why it is so important to have an outside air source.

window

Sometimes, merely opening the window closest to the firebox just a crack is enough to make up for the oxygen being depleted by combustion. This allows enough air to enter the home to prevent negative pressure from occurring.

You may also want to consider installing an outside air source directly into the firebox. A vent is installed such that the combustion process can draw in new air directly from the outside when it is needed, reducing the likelihood that any air will be sucked out of the home.

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Vent-free Gas Logs

January 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Gas logs that burn clean and produce a hot blue flame are known as vent-free, unvented, ventless, or non-vented gas logs. These logs lack the aesthetic beauty of vented gas logs that burn with a natural yellow flame but burn much hotter and therefore produce more heat. Vent-free gas logs do not need a ventilation system to vent the products of combustion because the gas is fully burnt into heat.

hargroveSome vent-free gas log sets come with blowers that actually blow the heat directly into the room. Since the damper can be fully closed while in operation, no heat escapes through the fireplace. All vent-free gas logs come with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor which will immediately shut off the appliance if the oxygen level reaches 18%. Normal oxygen levels are 21%, and this feature that comes standard with every vent-free gas log set insures the safety of the appliance.

Vent-free gas logs are allowed no more than 40,000 BTUs. Although most vent-free gas logs are not approved for bed or bathroom use, those that are are limited to 10,000 and 6,000 BTUs respectively. The flame produced by these logs are extremely hot and even if the minimum required clearance is met, the mantle and surrounding walls may still be warm to the touch.

Vent-free gas logs can be installed in an existing fireplace although it is not required. Some homeowners without a fireplace choose to install the logs in vent-free fireboxes, much like prefab fireplace fireboxes, that have no connection to a chimney. The latter method is highly debated. Codes may change in the future regarding the legality of installing vent-free gas logs in prefab fireboxes, but this change would not affect units previously installed.

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Vent-Free Gas Log Odors

January 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Some people who purchase vent-free gas logs complain of an odor that occurs while burning the appliance. People worry that this is due to poor air qSS_ACG-1uality in the room due to the lack of ventilation. In reality, the cause of these odors is airborne contaminants.

These chemicals in the air from odor eliminators, chemical cleaners, hairsprays, new carpet, and even freshly finished wood can be sucked into the burner and chemically and physically altered by the heat in the combustion process. This problem can be easily solved by simply cracking a window near the gas logs when using the appliance. This will provide the appliance with plenty of fresh air for combustion that will not produce an odor.

Another solution is to purchase a gas log cleaner, such as ACS Gas Log Carbon & Soot Remover. This product aids in the prevention of odor, creosote buildup, and keeps the gas logs working as efficiently as possible.

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Gas used for Gas Logs

January 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

premium-fire-oak-logsPropane and natural gas can be used to fuel a gas log set. When looking into buying a unit that uses natural gas or propane there are a few factors to weigh into the decision. First, natural gas is cheaper and more convenient. Because you can access natural gas with the flip of a switch it is easier to come by than propane, which has to be bought from a store and hauled home. Natural gas is also thought to burn cleaner and is generally safer. You may want to consider purchasing a gas log cleaner that you spray on the logs at regular intervals throughout the year to prevent odors and creosote buildups from occurring.

Propane is heavier than natural gas, and will pool in low spots in concrete or masonry surfaces. The natural gas will dissipate in the air. Private propane companies will deliver propane. They can set up propane cylinders, which come in varying sizes (usually 20 or 40 lbs.) for the homeowner to fill. Natural gas, however, is a public utility supplied through gas lines.

Whether you are looking into using propane or natural gas, any type of gas logs need to be properly installed by a professional to insure that they function properly. Also, although gas burns clean, you should still have the logs inspected annually for functionality and the flue system inspected for debris.

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Fireplace Glass Doors

January 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

glass-doorsIt is very important, for safety’s sake, to determine which type of fireplace doors, spark arrestors, or other fireplace finisher is appropriate for the style of fireplace you have in your home. There are very modern versions available today in very different materials, styles, and general look. Adding fireplace glass doors, screens, or spark arrestors are can be great accents to any home.

Both form and functionality are considered when the room is designed originally. The same must be considered when deciding on the type of accents to put around the fireplace. It may be difficult to find things that match the original architecture, however, branching out to a style not already exemplified in the home can be a refreshing addition.

Fireplace glass doors are great for gas fireplaces. Because they do not burn with the intensity of wood burning fireplaces, it is safe to install fireplace glass doors. These glass doors will help to arrest sparks, stop hot debris from exiting the firebox, and generally protecting the room in which the fireplace is.

If you intend on burning actual wood in a fireplace, it is wise to have a screen or door of heat resistant material to protect the room from fire. Cast iron fireplace doors are another option and often come with a mesh to protect the room.

If you have a faux fireplace or a fireplace no longer in use, simply adding a fireplace screen, new doors, or any other accent can change the entire feel of the room and make for a much more beautiful focal point.

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4 Tips for Fireplace Efficiency

September 22, 2009 By admin 2 Comments

fireplace-efficiencyThe fireplace has long been the favorite spot to gather in the American home. A place for warmth, the fireplace adds ambience, sparking memories that are to be treasured. With all the benefits that a fireplace can bring, there are some major downsides that if not addressed can cause a love for the fireplace to wane.

With soaring energy costs, the chief negative of having a fireplace has to be its inefficiency. When there is a fire burning, the fireplace does indeed radiate warmth in its general vicinity, but it also creates a convection current that can actually pull conditioned air out of the room and up the chimney causing your furnace to work overtime. When the fire is not burning, the fireplace has a damper which is supposed to block inside air from escaping and outside air from invading. The problem is that the damper is usually made of metal (this type of damper technology hasn’t changed in over 100 years!) and has no seal, which means that the damper is incredibly inefficient.

Your home has a dirty little secret – the fireplace that is designed to warm your house is actually doing the opposite and costing you hundreds of dollars in energy costs. Don’t fret – with a little investment of time and money, you can turn that inefficient fireplace into a powerhouse heater that will reduce your energy bills and add even more charm to your existing fireplace.

The following is a list of 4 things that you can do yourself to drastically reduce the heating costs associated with the inefficiency of your fireplace.

1.  Top Sealing Chimney Dampers replace the fireplace throat damper and are installed at the top of the chimney. The top sealing damper has a seal that acts like a storm door keeping the expensive conditioned air inside the house and the outside air – outside. This principle works year round, whether you’re heating or cooling your house. This product can be purchased online and is easily installed by either a homeowner or a handyman.

2. A fireback is a cast iron plate that is placed at the back of your fireplace. Its purpose is to protect the back wall from fire damage and it usually features a design that adds to the homes decor. The fireback improves the fireplaces efficiency by absorbing the heat from the fire and radiating the heat back into the room.

3. A Fireplace Heater pulls fresh air from the room, circulates it through a chamber that is heated by the fire and then blows the heated air back into the room. These heaters are closed systems so no smoke from the fireplace is invading the home. Depending on which kind you purchase, these heaters can make a significant difference in your homes temperature, even heating a full room on its own. Specific fireplace heaters can be installed with fireplace glass doors which will kick your cost savings up another notch.

4. Fireplace Glass Doors will likely carry the largest investment, but you can reduce some of that cost by doing some of the work yourself. There are a number of fireplace doors that can be purchased online and come with easy to install instructions. The fireplace glass door creates a barrier between the living space and the chimney, thus reducing the area that your furnace will have to heat. This alone is a good reason to install these doors, but it’s not the only reason.

Fireplace glass doors offer another level of safety for the home by protecting children and pets from the fire. If you have a wood burning fireplace you will want to purchase the screen mesh that is designed to go with the fireplace glass doors. This will allow you to have the doors open while the fire is burning and still have your home protected from sparks and embers. Fireplace glass doors are now being manufactured with modern designs and really add beauty and charm to the fireplace.

If you’re handy, all of these suggestions are easy to accomplish. In addition, all of the products, while difficult to find locally, can easily be purchased online from Fireplace and Chimney Supply. If you’re concerned about high energy costs but you want to keep your fireplace, then it’s time to plug up the holes in your monthly energy budget by plugging up the holes in your fireplace.

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