Fall is here, leaves are turning, days are shorter, nights are longer and a little heat in the house feels pretty good. With most homes, one of the most important elements is the fireplace. The fireplace adds style and ambience like no other appliance in the home.

Today's fireplaces offer a plethora of creative options. The basic decision that has to be made is where the fireplace will be located and the type of fuel it will burn. Some of the decision on location will be based on the home structure and availability of gas (if gas is the selected fuel) and budget. Another important consideration is whether or not the fireplace will be used for heating some or most of the home. The basic decisions should be made before the search for a fireplace begins.

Some of the choices available today are electric which have fabulous flames and are quite easy to locate in the home. Bioethanol fireplaces are also a good choice when locating a wood burning or gas fireplace becomes very difficult.

Some simple steps that should be followed when planning your fireplace:

• Location - think a little outside the box like the powder room, den, foyer in addition to more common locations such as kitchen, great room or living room.
• Fuel Type - consider the fuel options with respect to the location you have chosen.
• Find the best fireplace - Attend trade shows, visit local dealers and search online . Todays fireplaces offer a wide choice shapes including linear, vertical rectangle, square. You can also choose wall mount, table top, and built-in. There are also multi-sided units that can serve multiple rooms with just one fireplace. It is important to consider the size and shape of the fireplace as it relates to the room it will be installed in.
• Sometimes when planning a fireplace being installed in an existing structure, it is good to use some painter's tape to outline the unit on the wall and floor. If you're building a new home, you architect and be a great asset in designing your fireplace. Also, many fireplace suppliers can provide assistance in choosing the right fireplace.

After you choose the type of fuel and the actual firebox, you will have many choices in decorative trims, logs, and other items to accessorize your new fireplace. Be creative, sometimes a mantel is esthetically pleasing and sometimes a clean look is desired.

Fireplaces have become a staple in today's homes. Spending a little extra time in your initial planning will assure you that the end result will be functional and esthetically pleasing.

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When you are looking for an alternative to providing heat to your home that can also be used for other purposes, you should consider a wood burning stove. This type of stove has been around for ages and offers the ability to heat water and cook on while providing heat to your kitchen or other room in the home. You can find traditional looking cast iron stoves when you shop for Napoleon wood stoves.

Napoleon Wood Stoves Require Chimneys

Adding a wood stove to your home will require that you have a chimney in order for the smoke to be safely vented out of the home. You can find affordable prefabricated metal chimneys which you can use with Napoleon wood stoves. These types of chimneys are easy to install and will have your wood stove up and running in a short period of time. You can purchase Napoleon brand products as well as all your home hearth needs when you shop Copperfield Chimney Supply.

Adding a fireplace to your home allows you to add an alternative heating method which can be enjoyed by the entire family. Gas fireplaces are available which require only a direct vent to the outside and do not require that you install a chimney. These direct vent gas fireplace units are easy to install because you need a single vent to the outside.

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The warm glow of a fireplace is one of nature's simple gifts. To keep things simple and safe, clean the fireplace regularly and know that it is well built. It's also a good idea to have a professional initially inspect the fireplace and chimney even if you plan to clean and maintain it yourself, according to Ken Robinson, of the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

When the chimney is cleaned by a technician he will lay down a drop cloth, place lights, plug in a vacuum system, and have an array of tools and brushes at hand. But before the chimney is cleaned, key areas of the chimney are first checked.

The lintel, which is the steel bar that supports the top of the opening up to the first combustible, should be at least 12 inches high.

The bricks need to be inspected. Regular bricks can't tolerate the higher temperatures that fire bricks are able to tolerate. The regular brick will begin to crack and the mortar will crumble. If you have regular brick, it's best to chisel out the old mortar and replace it with high-temperature cement.

Before cleaning, put on a respirator because it's unhealthy to have continued exposure to creosote dust. Creosote is unhealthy for the chimney as well since it's a combustible material up in the venting portion of the chimney. In that part of the chimney, everything above the damper is designed for hot gasses but not actual combustion. If a combustible substance overheats and catches fire, it can cause serious damage to those areas.

If you clean your own fireplace, the ashes and creosote can be sprinkled on flower beds, since they are a source of calcium and other nutrients.

During cleaning, the damper should be checked for correct positioning, ensuring energy conservation and fireplace safety.

With the vacuum running, a stiff brush is used to clean the fireplace walls. The damper ledge should always be cleaned, since creosote dust builds up there also.

The outside of the chimney should be checked for obstructions and wear.

A chimney cap, which has an important function in the proper functioning of a fireplace, should be installed if one isn't already in place. It keeps animals, rainwater, leaves and debris out of the chimney, and the mesh around the cap sides acts as a spark arrester.

Trees that overhang the chimney should be trimmed back; falling branches could cause damage to the chimney.

When burning wood, make sure it is seasoned -- not green wood.

When hiring a chimney sweep, look for a certified sweep, one who has taken a test on the standards and codes and knows how chimneys are suppose to be built. He should also have insurance and workman's compensation in case of an accident.

The Chimney Safety Institute suggests cleaning the chimney when creosote is 1/4 inch or thicker on the chimney walls. Schedule the cleaning at the end of the season, as acids in the creosote can damage fireplace mortar and when humidity combines with creosote, strong odors can result.

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Traditional chimneys which run along the outside exterior of your home may have been built without a liner. You should add a chimney liner to improve the efficiency of your fireplace and keep you chimney cleaner for longer periods of time. A stainless steel chimney liner can be inserted down the opening of the existing chimney, rather than having to tear down the chimney and build a brand new one. This type of liner is available in both flexible and rigid styles.

A Stainless Steel Chimney Liner Can Be Used with Different Fireplaces and Stoves

When selecting a stainless steel chimney liner to go with your fireplace or stove, you will want to get one which is compatible with your type of unit. You can use chimney liners with gas, wood and pellet units and there will be differences in the requirements for each type. Whenever you require assistance or have questions about which type of liner you need, do not hesitate to contact us here at Copperfield Chimney Supply.