A fireplace can add both visual and decorative warmth to any room. However, all wood burning fireplaces require some air to escape up the chimney. Outside air kits can help with this but they do not totally eliminate the fact that some heated air from your home will escape up the chimney. Of course that loss of heated air increases energy cost for the home as it takes more energy to raise the room temperature to the desired setting.

A properly designed glass door can help keep the room air from escaping, keep the cool air from back flowing down the chimney, and add a bit of decor. Also, the glass doors can be closed when the fireplace is not in operation thereby eliminating the huge flow of heated air up the chimney.

The damper inside your fireplace greatly aides in keeping out cold air, birds, animals etc. when the fireplace is not in use. Dampers are often made from cast iron but can also be made of steel - but none will completely prevent the loss of heat up the chimney.. There are also chimney top dampers available. Chimney top dampers are operated by a chain inside the fireplace and can tightly close off the chimney, keeping cold air out.

Additionally, there are devices such as pillows, plugs and balloons. Such devices are inserted inside the fireplace above the firebox. Some are inflatable and expand to fit the dome area of the fireplace. Of course they must be removed prior to using the fireplace.

Styrofoam insulation - 2 inch thick - can be cut to fit the dome area of the fireplace and inserted there when the fireplace is not in use. Painting the foam with flat black paint will make it nearly invisible from the room.

How to Prep Your Fireplace for the Cold Season

Before you spark up the logs, make a clean sweep using these seven crucial safety tips

• With natural gas and propane prices continuing to rise, you'll likely be looking to the old fireplace this winter to help cut your home-heating bills. But before you spark up the logs, take heed that fireplaces and chimneys are involved in 42 percent of all home-heating fires. So first make sure yours is up to snuff by following these seven safety tips.
• The National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys be swept at least once a year at the beginning of the winter to remove soot and debris. Find a certified sweep in your area via the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
• In addition to cleaning, a chimney sweep should inspect the chimney structure for cracks, loose bricks, or missing mortar. Chimney liners should also be checked for cracking or deterioration.
• A cap fitted with wire-mesh sides covers the top of the chimney and keeps rain, birds, squirrels, and debris from entering. Replace or repair a cap that's missing or damaged.
• Choose dense wood, such as oak, that's been split and stored in a high and dry place for at least six months. Green wood and resinous softwoods like pine produce more creosote, a flammable by-product of combustion that can build up in the chimney.
• Small fires generate less smoke, thus less creosote buildup. Also, a fire that's too large or too hot can crack the chimney.
• Place logs at the rear of the fireplace on a metal grate. Use kindling, rather than flammable liquids, to start the fire.
• Prevent errant embers from shooting out of the firebox with a mesh metal screen or glass fireplace doors. A guard in front of an open flame is especially important when the room is unoccupied.

Some conditions can guarantee the production of soot. In most cases incomplete combustion starts with the inappropriate adjustment and setup of the appliance. However, several factors must be considered when attempting to diagnose a sooting fireplace condition. Remember that two or more of these factors could be involved.

· Is the log placement correct?

· Proper primary air adjustment for each burner

· Excessive ember material

· Improper placement of the lava rock

· Is the fireplace over or under fired?

· Direct venting not properly sealed or blocked

· Direct vent gasket Leaking flue gas

· Atmospheric effects on B- vent and insert models

· Improper orifice alignment

· Valve and orifices not matched with fuel type

For those that love to entertain and cook outside, a built in gas grill is a crucial part of an outdoor kitchen. Many built in gas grills offer more cooking space than portable grills and optional accessories such as a rotisserie kit, an optional side burner, a smoker box and more. Some outdoor gas grills offer you the option of choosing between natural gas and propane. For those who tend to do their cooking and entertaining in the evening, purchase a gas grill with a built in grill light.

Where to Shop for Gas Grills for Outdoor Entertaining

When deciding where to purchase gas grills from, choose a company with a reputation for excellent customer service and a staff knowledgeable enough to ask any question you may ask. Copperfield Chimney Supply is one such company with a wide selection of gas grills, fireplaces, and stoves available for purchase.

Chimney liners are just one portion of installing a chimney for your wood burning stove or fireplace. The liner is an important piece which should be properly insulated to help create a better draft. This moves smoke and other harmful by-products of the fire away. A well-insulated liner will also stay cleaner longer, which means you can get more use out of your fireplace or stove before having to get the chimney cleaned.

Clay Tile Chimney Liners Will Eventually Need Replaced

Traditional chimneys were built using an inner liner of clay tiles to form the chimney liner. Over time these clay tiled chimney liners can crack, crumble and deteriorate, which could even allow smoke and other by-products of the fire to seep into rooms in the home. Cracked and broken liners are considered a fire hazard and should be replaced with new liners, like the ones available from Copperfield Chimney Supply , before using your fireplace or stove

A wood stove insert is a specially designed firebox which can be installed into your existing fireplace. This type of firebox is sealed and provides the ability to burn wood more efficiently and preventing heat from going up the chimney. This insert is often made of steel or cast iron. Inserts are available with blowers that circulate the warm air into the room.