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3 Statistics About Maintaining Fireplaces

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:53:58 GMT

Tending to your fireplaces is likely not the most exciting part of having one, but proper maintenance is crucial for safety and efficiency. Don't let neglected tasks lead to problems down the road. Instead, keep these three key fireplace statistics in mind and stay on top of maintenance.

1. The Numbers on Chimney Sweeping

Chimney fires are no joke. In the U.S. alone, there are around 25,000 reported chimney fires each year, according to Family Handyman. Not cleaning your chimney is one major cause, with creosote buildup creating plenty of fuel. Our experts recommend getting your chimney swept at least once a year. If you use your fireplace more often, increase that frequency to at least twice annually. We've also seen that burning softwood calls for chimney sweeping more than four times a year.

2. Brick and Mortar Statistics to Consider

The bricks and mortar of your fireplace also require inspection and fixes over time. You'll want to keep the following statistics in mind to gauge the health of your brickwork. We've seen that after five to 10 years, heat exposure usually starts decaying the materials. Get the mortar inspected for cracks or missing sections. Our experts also recommend getting the firebrick replaced after two to three large fires spalling or cracking the brick. In our experience, spalling that affects over 10% of firebrick is an immediate cause for replacement. If more than a few firebricks require replacing, consider liner installation.

3. The Impact of Proper Fireplace Tool Use

Using the right tools for fireplaces the right way keeps things clean and undamaged. Avoid issues like scratched brick or spilled ash with the following tool rules. Always use a sturdy shovel and brush set designed for fireplace use. Brush ashes from the grate after the fire while still warm to remove easily. Use your shovel gently and properly to pick up ash, and try to prevent banging or scraping. Scoop small amounts to avoid spilling.

Skimping on fireplace inspection and cleaning puts safety on the line. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 30% of home fires caused by home heating are due to poorly maintained fireplaces and dirty chimneys. Enlist a chimney sweep pro's help to ensure everything meets codes and best practices. The numbers don't lie. Consistent expert upkeep prevents many fireplace pitfalls. Stay diligent in caring for one of your home's centerpieces with scheduled cleanings. If your fireplace needs cleaning, or your chimney needs inspecting, reach out to Fireside Hearth & Home today to schedule an appointment.

Should I Consider Fireplace Inserts for My Home?

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:41:28 GMT

Fireplace inserts for sale can be ideal options for your home because they can be a safe source of heat. According to the Department of Energy, fireplace inserts for sale offer an energy efficiency rating between 70%-90%. Here are some reasons you should consider fireplace inserts for sale for your home.

Energy Efficiency

A fireplace insert can improve the energy efficiency of your traditional masonry fireplace. It does this by pulling air in from outside, heating it, and venting it back out. This method allows the fireplace to warm the interior of your home while keeping the fumes away from your family. If your goal is to improve the energy efficiency of heating in your home, a new fireplace insert significantly does the trick. It can be affordable to reduce energy consumption and keep heating costs down.

Heat Control

Inserts can help you control the climate in any room. Some have high heat capacities, delivering up to 24,000 BTU (British thermal units) of heat per hour, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. An insert can give you more control over your climate in specific spaces around your home. Many can heat a room to a significantly higher temperature than other methods allow, which can take a lot of wear and tear off your main HVAC system.

Inserts are also easier to control than traditional fireplaces. You can control the flame's height and how much heat is produced. According to our team, they can produce up to 50% more heat than a traditional fireplace.

Safety and Aesthetics

An insert is safer than a traditional masonry fireplace. In the former, the fire is encased in a steel box, reducing the risk of hot ash causing a fire in your home. Inserts are available in wood-burning, gas-burning, and electric heat-generating models.

Taking a chance on fireplace inserts for sale could be the spark you need to improve safety in your home. It may also help you introduce the modern aesthetic you've been looking for. Fortunately, they are available in various styles to complement any home decor.

To take advantage of all the benefits a fireplace insert offers, contact a fireplace store near you today. The right provider will have a large inventory to choose from and can even help you make a decision on which style is right for your home. Call Fireside Hearth & Home today to learn more.

4 Fantastic Benefits Gas Fireplaces Can Provide

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:59:02 GMT

According to Learn Metrics, even larger gas fireplaces cost $1 or less per hour to operate. Today's gas fireplace is lean, quick-lighting, easy to operate, and has the same charm and aesthetics as a woodburning fireplace. If you want to have a fireplace in your home but don't have room to install a proper chimney, or you just want to replace the woodburning fireplace you already have with one that doesn't create a draft in your home in the winter, a gas fireplace can help you fill that gap.

1. Incredibly Realistic

Today's gas fireplace no longer gives off small blue gas flames like on your stove. The mixing systems of modern gas fireplaces mean that your gas fireplace will have the same crackling, beautiful golden flames as a wood fire, with no smoke or embers that need to be dealt with. Your home's gas fireplace will look and sound like the fireplace you remember from your childhood, without the ashes that need to be removed afterward.

2. Easy to Use

With the press of a button, your gas fireplace can be active. Most modern designs now use remote controls with easy-to-use on/off and intensity settings. The controls make your gas fireplace easy to use, convenient, and powerful. Its warmth and flame height can be altered from a subtle glow to a fully roaring fire in moments.

3. Kids Enjoy Them

When your kids learn how to use your gas fireplace's controls, they will enjoy the homey warmth and comfort of the fireplace. Plus, it's much safer for kids than an open fireplace. It's a great place to do homework in front of a roaring fire, without the risk that an errant ember might damage a computer or light a worksheet on fire. Also, family game nights are always improved with a fireplace in the corner.

4. Unaffected by Power Outages

When your power goes out, especially in the deep winter in the Midwest, you might have problems if your only heating is electrically driven forced air. A gas fireplace will keep your house nice and warm throughout the winter. All you need to do is run it until you feel warm enough from a proper distance, or until the power comes back on. Your home will have better resale value, too.

Gas fireplaces make your home a more comfortable place to live. Contact Fireside Hearth & Home today about fireplace installation options.

The Benefits of Having a Fireplace Insert in Your Home

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:04:55 GMT

If your home does not have a fireplace insert, you are missing out on some great benefits. There are clear positives to having a fireplace insert that you may not be aware of. A fireplace insert is a favorite amenity in any home. Here are four benefits a fireplace insert can bring to your space.

1. You'll Save Energy

Fireplace inserts do more than add ambiance to your home, they warm your home. Using a fireplace as supplemental heat can help you to save on your energy bill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are 10.1 million wood stoves in the United States and about 17.5 million fireplaces. A fireplace insert can warm up your home and reduce the amount of energy your larger heating system must use.

2. You'll Have Heat When the Power Goes Out

If you have a fireplace and the power goes out, you can still have heat. You can manually light the pilot and use it to produce heat. It is a great backup heating option to protect your home and family during winter storms.

3. You'll be Helping the Environment

A fireplace can be one of the most environmentally friendly heating options. A fireplace has low emissions, and some can even reduce your emissions to 0%. This allows you to be kind to the environment without reducing the amount of heat you used to keep your home warm.

4. You'll Have Ambiance

Is there anything cozier than a fireplace on those chilly fall and winter evenings? Without an insert, starting a fire can be a real hassle. With an insert, the process is much easier. You will be able to enjoy a beautiful fire in your home to set the mood. You will use your fireplace more if you have an insert. Inserts are also safer to use than traditional fireplaces. You can use your insert with confidence whenever you are in the mood for a fire.

Humans have been dependent on fire since the beginning of time. Today, you can have a beautiful fire in your home that is safe, looks great, and is easy to use. Choose an insert that will let you get more use out of your fireplace, save energy, and create the cozy space you want in your home. Order your fireplace insert today at Fireside Hearth & Home.

3 Signs That It's Time to Start Shopping for New Wood Stoves

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 13:32:57 GMT

How's your wood stove doing? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 65% of all wood stoves in the U.S. are inefficient or outdated. As you might imagine, this means more harm to the environment. It also means the stove is using more fuel than you should. Here are three signs that you may need to replace your wood stove.

1. The Body Appears Warped

This is one of the most obvious signs that you need to start looking at new wood stoves. When a wood stove is new, its surface should be smooth with no indents and bumps in it. Unfortunately, over time, extremely high temperatures can take their toll. Over the course of a decade, the metal will start to show signs of warping. This happens even more quickly if you overuse the stove. The problem with warping is that it ruins the airflow into and out of your stove. As you might imagine, this can significantly affect the performance of your stove.

2. You Can See Rust and Cracks

Rust and cracks are signs of damage. These are the last things you want to see on the inside or outside of your wood stove. However, this doesn't mean you should panic whenever you see a patch of rust. Rusting can occur if the stove goes without use for a while. When that happens, you can easily buff away the rust patches. The problem begins when you let the rust eat too far into your stove's structure. If it does, consider it a serious red flag. Similarly, if you notice any cracks in the structure of your stove, you must stop using it. This can cause dangerous fumes to leak out. Apart from that, it's also a fire hazard.

3. There's Excessive Smoke and Dirt

The moment your wood stove starts producing heavy amounts of smoke, ash, and dust, you must start looking into getting a new one. Healthy wood stoves should be able to provide an efficient fire that burns cleanly. Older wood stoves don't have the technology that comes with more modern options. As a result, they're usually dirtier even when functioning properly. However, the moment you start noticing more smoke than usual, you should investigate. If you haven't changed the way you use the stove, you can try changing the wood. If all of that doesn't work, the best bet would be to get a new stove.

These are some signs that indicate it may be time to get a new stove. Are you struggling to find reliable wood stoves? Get in touch with our team at Fireside Hearth & Home today. We would love to help you find and install the best wood stove for your home.

Safe Wood Burning Fireplace Etiquette and Maintenance

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:38:41 GMT

According to The Zebra, over 358,500 homes experience fires every year. While a wood burning fireplace can be a great feature in your home, a fire can occur if you don't understand how to care for it properly. Here are three maintenance and etiquette tips you need to understand prior to a wood burning fireplace installation.

1. Install Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms

While a wood burning fireplace can be quite enjoyable as a source of warmth in the home, it can also lead to some serious health issues. However, without proper maintenance, you can end up with an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and this makes it almost impossible for you to detect it. Another health hazard related to a fireplace is smoke. The best way to ensure you know as soon as these hazards become a threat is to have a carbon monoxide alarm and a smoke alarm installed in your home. Fortunately, a fireplace that's installed properly won't give you any issues.

2. Use the Right Wood

Not every piece of dry wood should be thrown into a fireplace. When it comes to operating your wood burning fireplace , you should stick to seasoned hardwood like oaks, birch, and maple, while avoiding pine and cedar. The wood that goes into your fireplace needs to be properly dried, and it should contain less than 20% moisture, according to the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Generally, you should get wood that has been dried for at least half a year to a year before you can burn it. If you have logs that you are planning to burn later, you should split them into smaller pieces to speed up the drying process.

3. Consider Safety Precautions

Safety should always be at the forefront of your maintenance routine, and there are several things you can do to make your fireplace safer. To reduce the risk of fire and property damage, keep things like combustible carpets or furniture away from the heat. If there are any rugs close to the hearth, make sure they're not flammable. When cleaning the fireplace, you should utilize the proper tools. This will prolong its life, and it also creates a safer environment in your home. Lastly, you must never leave fires unattended. You should ensure that you extinguish a fire before you leave your home or you go to bed.

Are you interested in a wood burning fireplace installation? Contact Fireside Hearth & Home today for reliable fireplace installation and maintenance.