Eventually, you fireplace can look old and dirty from soot and other contaminants in the fuel you burn. Cracked mortar, missing caulking and other deterioration are common. Redoing your fireplace can provide an instant update to the entire room, transforming the unit into a focal point of the room.

Fireplaces covered with a significant amount of dust and soot make then look old an dingy. Start by removing charred logs, ashes and soot from the interior fire box. Also remove any soot from the exterior surfaces. A shop vacuum is a handy tool for removing the ashes and other debris. There are commercial products available for cleaning the brick surfaces. Repair cracks with approved mortar and you can even completely reline your firebox if necessary.

Repainting the metal area around the front of the fireplace will also add to the overall appearance of the fireplace. Commercially available hi-temperature paints come in a variety of colors to enhance the look. Resurfacing the area around the firebox is another way to spruce up the old look. Wood and marble surrounds are available from a multitude of suppliers.

Installing a decorative mantel shelf above the fireplace adds a visual interest to the room. There are a number of creative designs of mantel shelves available. When using a wood mantel, make sure to check the fireplace installation manual and observe the proper clearance to combustibles.

You can also decorate your fireplace with new accessories for little cost. Artwork above your fireplace can provide a very appealing look. Potted greenery, decorative pots, candlesticks or fresh flowers can add color and texture to the space. Many homeowners choose to add a flat screen TV above the fireplace. Again, make sure you are observing he correct clearances and do not subject the TV to high temperatures.

If you are remodeling your home and installing a new fireplace or wood burning stove, you should install all new chimney pipe venting and not reuse any existing pipe from the old system. There could be a buildup of creosote in the old pipes and manufactured chimneys are not interchangeable. You can obtain chimney accessories and pipes, as well as venting ideas from Copperfield Chimney Supply .

Fireside Chat

By Larissa Lytwyn/Life@Home

As nights sharpen from brisk to downright cold, it’s time to move inside for warmth. “You can’t beat the feeling of curling up in front of a big crackling fire with someone you love,” says Matt Thornton of Saratoga Fireplace and Stove. But with all the options out there — inside, outside, wood-burning, gas and pellet — what is the best, most economical choice?

While the answer ultimately depends on the homeowner’s needs, the experts we talked to spoke most positively of flexible gas fireplaces and stoves, and eco-friendly pellet options.

Going for the Gas
Although “safe is a relative term I avoid using, I would describe a gas appliance as a more controllable (one),” says Carl Celella, general manager of Northeastern Fireplace and Design in Selkirk. “The most detrimental thing I see is that they’re installed incorrectly.” He recommends buyers use an interior gas hearth specialist certified by the National Fireplace Institute for installation. “Another thing to be careful of is having a protective screen in front of the glass,” Celella says, because it can get dangerously hot. This is especially important if you have small children.

Thornton agrees that gas fireplaces are “more flexible … and can be installed in many places you could not put woodburning fireplaces.” Where a traditional-style, open fireplace requires a vertical vented chimney system, for instance, a direct vent gas fireplace can vent horizontally.

Strapped on Time? Avoid Wood
Thornton says that if you’ve got the time, burning wood “can be a good cost-savings, but you’re trading sweat for savings.” And then there’s the mess from dragging in insects and bark with your wood, splitting wood, cleaning up ash — to name just a few of the myriad duties. Busier people, then, might choose a gas fireplace or pellet stove for its cost-efficiency. “Gas requires little active input from the consumer as long as it’s serviced regularly by a qualified technician,” he says.

Bottom line? “The only benefit of an open fireplace is that it’s aesthetically pleasing,” Celella says, with a timeless romantic appeal. But with modern gas-options available, it’s also the least practical.

Warming Up to Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves are freestanding appliances that don’t require a chimney. They burn compressed wood pellets (grains including corn work, too!) to create heat. By slowly feeding fuel from a storage container (called a hopper), they create a constant flame and are low-maintenance, controlled by the thermostat. In lieu of a chimney, they use a specially sealed exhaust pipe to prevent exhaust gasses from escaping into the living space. They can also be used as inserts into existing fireplaces

In states including New York, the 75 percent efficient Harman stove is eligible for a tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of the appliance, plus labor. “Pellets are great for cost savings, except they’re dependent on electricity, so they’re not much help in a power outage,” Thornton says. Thornton also says the air patterns and close-quarters of a space like a bedroom might not be the best idea for a pellet.

Still, “Harman (pellet) stoves are the most intelligent, best performing stove on the market,” says Lucas Stritsman, manager of Best Fire Hearth and Patio, with locations in Albany and Troy. Not surprisingly, they’re an increasingly popular option. “Everybody is looking to cut down on their fuel bill,” Celella says, “and (pellets) can be a way to do it.”

Toasty All Night Long
Everyone knows the benefits of natural gas over electric, but what are some other cost-cutting, heat-maximizing options for winter?

Install optimal thermostats. Avoid walking into a frosty home by installing an optimal thermostat, Celella says. Pre-programmed to keep your temperature “even,” it will help save money in the long run.
Buy Ecofans. Specially designed for wood stoves, ecofans create their own electricity from the heat of the stove. Each fan can move air up to 150 CFM.
Keep your stove windows slightly open. Thornton says you can conserve heat by keeping your stove windows slightly ajar, containing heat.
Invest in seal-tight dampers. Celella says seal-tight fireplace dampers are an excellent way to prevent heat loss. If your damper produces a noticeable draft (escaping air), purchase a seal-tight one to ensure maximum efficiency.

Shop Fireplaces Here

Maryland to Give Rebates for Wood & Pellet Stoves

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is starting a $50,000 pilot program that will provide rebates for partial payment of qualifying wood and pellet stoves. The pilot program will start later this year and operate on a first come, first serve basis.
“This program will extend our renewable energy incentives both to a different technology and to a potentially a diverse group of participants including those in rural parts of Maryland,” said Frederick Hoover, Director of Clean Energy at MEA in a letter to Delegate Heather Mizeur. The Maryland delegate was the lead sponsor of the bill HB 996, the Renewable Energy for All Act, which laid the groundwork for this pilot program.
“We are thrilled that the cleanest wood and pellet stoves will finally be part of Maryland’s renewable energy rebate program,” said John Ackerly, President of the Maryland based non-profit, the Alliance for Green Heat. “Throughout the US, rural low and middle-income families struggle to pay their heating bills while generous rebates and tax-incentives flowed to some of our wealthiest citizens to install solar panels. A $3,000 pellet stove can displace as much fossil fuel as a $30,000 array of solar panels,” Ackerly explained.

The Alliance for Green Heat led a coalition of Maryland organizations, businesses and consumers during the two-year push to establish this program. The program was supported by the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Mid Atlantic Hearth Patio& Barbecue Association and many other groups. Hearth retailers in the state, led by Richard Thomas of Courtland Hardware and Suzanne Turner of Survival Products also campaigned for the program. The coalition was especially trying to help rural Maryland residents who do not have access to natural gas and heat with the most expensive fossil fuels: oil, propane and electricity.
“At a time when millions of Americans are out of work and struggling to pay bills, this is a way to help families affordably heat their homes and switch to a renewable, local energy source,” Ackerly said.
Delegate Heather Mizeur, who represents Maryland District 20 that shares a border with Washington, DC, included this message to her constituents:

“While grant programs help Marylanders purchase solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems, the cost of these systems is out of reach for most families. The Renewable Energy for All Act would incentivize the purchase of biomass systems that generate heat energy via wood and corn pellet products, helping families switch to a less expensive heat source and participate in our clean energy future. … Homeowners with less efficient stoves could also receive a $200 change-out grant to replace their old stove with a more efficient, cleaner burning unit.”

During negotiations with the Maryland Energy Administration HB 996 was amended to focus on a pilot program with MEA funding. The House committee of jurisdiction voted against the amended bill, but MEA has reaffirmed their commitment to undertake the program.

When choosing a model or particular style of fireplace you will need to decide between wood burning and gas designs. While gas fireplaces can cost more to operate they do provide many features and conveniences not found with wood burning models. Gas units do not require a chimney and can be directly vented outdoors, which makes placing them in any area of the home possible. Since there is no chimney, there also is no buildup of by-products over time which must be cleaned out on a regular basis.

Shop for Gas Fireplaces Online with Free Delivery

When you are looking for gas fireplaces for your home, then you need to shop here at Copperfield Chimney Supply. We carry quality hearth products for the entire home and offer a variety of gas fireplace models for you to choose from to pick the one that best matches your home's décor. We offer free free delivery on all orders over $500, so your fireplace ships right to your home.

Here is a step by step video on how to light your Napoleon Fireplace Pilot light.

This procedure will work on other fireplaces with similar gas valves.