With multiple fireplace systems available today, residents should ensure safety. Most common fireplaces in use are wood burning, gas vented, and gas free fireplaces. Wood burning fireplaces must be properly maintained which usually requires an annual chimney cleaning.

Many gas units provide the esthetics of a wood-burning unit without the hassle of buying or hauling wood. Even with gas units, if there is a damper on the unit it must be open when operating the fireplace. In the event you have a "vent free" system, then you an operate the unit with the damper closed. This would apply to older fireplaces being converted to gas with the use of vent free log sets. The newest models of vent free log sets can look as good as any vented log set.

When using a gas log or gas fireplace, it is always a good idea to have a carbon monoxide detector in the home to alert you if the levels of carbon monoxide get too high. Assuring that the batteries in you carbon monoxide detector are fully charged is a must.

Gas logs should be cleaned and inspected before each season of use. It is very important the the logs are properly placed over the burner. Improperly placed logs will result in heavy accumulation of soot on the logs and firebox. Additionally improperly placed logs in a vent free unit could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Whenever you plan to purchase a log set to be inserted into an existing fireplace, you must determine if you have a vented box or non vented box. Inserting a vented log set in a vent free box creates a major hazard. Vented logs create high levels of carbon monoxide and can only be used in vented fireboxes. The damper in the vented firebox must always be open when a vented log set is in operation.

If you are planning to put a vented log set in your existing vented fireplace, you should first make sure your chimney is clean and free of any build up created by the previous burning of wood in the fireplace.

Sometime is very tight homes, it is necessary to crack a window open when lighting a fireplace. The draw from the chimney will pull air from the room and it is necessary to replace that air or you will have what is termed as "negative pressure" in the home. Think of it as sucking the air out of a balloon. Obviously your home will not collapse like the balloon but with the absence of air to replenish what is being removed, something has to give. In the case of a vented fireplace, the negative pressure in the home will result in air being pulled down the chimney - commonly know as "reversed draft". Homes experiencing negative pressure can be a real challenge to correct. In some cases it is necessary to add a make up air system to correct the situation.

Sine today's gas fireplaces are direct vented they can be installed into any room in the home in which you would like a fireplace. People are adding these types of fireplaces to their bathrooms and bedrooms to provide heating on cold winter's nights and save on running the furnace. You can shop for different designs and styles of fireplaces online from Copperfield Chimney Supply , which specializes in quality hearth products for the entire home for both indoor and outdoor areas.

If you use oil for heating, there's nothing stopping you from having a gas fireplace. Your home probably isn't equipped for natural gas, but never fear; you can install a propane fireplace, which is just as efficient as a natural gas one.

Lease a Propane Tank

Your gas fireplace will be completely disconnected from the oil-heating system. You can install the fireplace in any part of the house you wish, but it will have to be connected to pipes that lead to a propane tank located somewhere outside the house. Most propane companies lease these tanks for a small yearly fee, and they maintain them when they make a propane delivery.

Size the Tank

To determine the cost of running your propane fireplace, you must first calculate how many British thermal units you need to provide the heating you require. Some companies measure propane in gallons, and others use pounds. One gallon of propane contains 91,500 BTU; 1 pound contains 22,000 BTU. Running a 40,000-BTU log fireplace for eight hours every day consumes about 100 gallons of propane a month, so leasing a 500-gallon tank and filling it should supply your heating needs for most of the winter.

Best products: Soap, Water and Elbow Grease

Soap and water with a good scrub brush will take soot off of bricks.l also need to employ a scrub brush. This will be a daunting task but you will be happy with the results.

You can also consider using a power drill with a brush attachment. This method will make the job a little easier, but be careful about over spray getting on your carpet, furniture etc

There are products available such as soot erasers. These can be used when you have build up that soap and water will not remove.

Krud Kutter and Brick Anew are other products that may help with your cleaning operation. Generally you can find these clean-up products at your local hardware or home improvement store. I like Ace Hardware as they usually have some good product advice. Bottom line is no matter what process you use, there will be considerable elbow grease involved in getting the job done properly.

With 8.8 million households in the United States using wood stoves as a secondary source for heating , regular maintenance and cleaning of the appliance is a necessity for many people nationwide. However, many wood stove owners may not be familiar with the importance of cleaning their stoves, how to do it, or when to let a professional step in. Whether you’ve just installed a wood stove in preparation for winter or you’ve had one for some time, here are some of the basics about care and cleaning that you should know.

The importance of proper care

While cleaning your wood stove might sound redundant (until it becomes noticeable), it’s an important part of owning a wood stove that should never be overlooked. This is because an unclean stove — including both the chimney and flue — can not only prevent it from working properly, but can easily become a fire hazard due to the build-up of creosote , which also makes it a health hazard as well. With that said, the cleaning and proper care of your wood stove are necessary for proper efficiency and safety, as regular maintenance can help keep your stove in an ideal condition that doesn't harm anyone's health.

Cleaning your stove

While how often your wood stove gets cleaned depends upon how often it’s used, it should still be done at least once a year. When it does need to be cleaned, always begin with the stove completely cold in order to avoid burning yourself. Then, you can scoop out the ashes with an ash shovel and wire brush and put them in a metal bucket. Next, scour the buildup and rust off with a wire brush. The exterior of the stove can easily be cleaned with a vinegar solution and rag. As for the glass, a cold piece of charcoal can easily rub away any soot, and after you wipe it with a paper towel, you’ll find that it’s clean. However, when it comes to cleaning more complicated aspects of your stove — like the chimney and flue — calling a professional can be a good idea.

When to call a professional

Calling a professional to clean your stove is never a bad idea, especially if you don’t feel comfortable with cleaning the stove yourself or don’t have the proper equipment to do so safely. Professionals can ensure that your stove is properly and safely cleaned , inspected, and safe for use. Many may use high tech equipment as well, which can be expensive to buy and hard to obtain for personal use. Thus, calling a professional can prove to be a quality and convenient service for wood stove owners, in addition to bringing peace of mind and reducing stress surrounding the issue.

While it’s definitely possible to clean your wood stove yourself, it’s necessary to be informed of the several safety precautions to take when doing so. For example, when disposing of the ashes, it’s necessary to do so properly by keeping them in a metal bucket for 24 hours (in case they contain any live coals). It’s also very important to take care when cleaning the chimney in order to prevent falling off the roof. Due to the extent of safety precautions needed, utilizing a professional is always a great idea.

Cleaning your wood stove and keeping up with its maintenance is an absolute necessity in order to keep it working properly and safely. While many may call a professional to do so, others may choose to take care of it themselves. No matter the situation, it’s important to be aware of the safety precautions involved.

Fireplaces are truly an amazing experience. Sitting beside the fire and enjoying the crackling sound of the wood, is something most people love to do. Fireplace refers to a structure, which is used for containing fire primarily for the purpose of ambiance. In the ancient times it was also used for the purpose of cooking as well. The fire is lit in a firepit or firebox, and a flue or chimney directs the combustion gases, as well as particulate exhausts to the open air. Fireplaces have a very long and illustrious history. In the ancient times, firepits were dug in ground inside a dwelling. The smoke and combustion gases used to escape through the holes of the roof.

Early fireplaces were generally constructed from masonry, stone or brick. They also included a masonry type chimney, some with tile liners. Those early fireplaces were very in efficient and today most fireplaces are factory built metal units. Factory built zero clearance fireplaces offer a dramatic increase in efficiency compared to the early fireplaces.

In addition to wood burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces have become very popular. Now there are also Bio Fuel Fireplaces. One of the best features of bio fuel fireplaces is that wood or gas is not required as fuel. Yet they give a feel, which resembles that of a traditional wood burning fireplace. Moreover, you do not need to install a chimney for the fireplace because these fireplaces do not emit any smoke or harmful gases. The most common fuel used is gel biofuel. You are not left with any residue, ash or soot to clean up. Also these fireplaces require little or no maintenance. So you save money in terms of maintenance costs as well.

Liquid biofuel, commonly used in bio fuel fireplaces, burns without any smoke or ash. An average can of biofuel will burn for approximately two to three hours. It produces an average heat of 3,000 BTU/hour.

Bio Fuel fireplaces have become quite popular in the recent times. Owing to its increasing popularity, such fireplaces are today available in a variety of designs, colors and styles, one which will surely match the ambience of your room. They are usually portable and can be easily carried from one place to another - both indoors and outdoors. Bio Fuel fireplaces are also available in wall mounted fireplaces.

See our line of Bio Fuel Fireplaces