Fireplaces: Lighting the Fire

People have been preoccupied with creating fire since prehistoric times, but it wasnt until a few centuries ago that they started looking for a way to ease the process. Many attempts were made to come up with portable devices that could produce sparks and fire. From the invention of the self-igniting match by K. Chancel in 1805 to the first cigarette lighter invented by Johann Wolfgang Dbereiner in 1823, and Carl Auer von Welsbachs striking-wheel lighter from 1823, people have been researching on ways to make fire lighting easier. Today, we no longer have to worry about that. We do, however, have to know what we are looking for when trying to find a good lighter kit for our fireplace.

Installation

The safest choice, of course, is to let a certified professional do the job. In many cases, fireplace ignition relies on the use of a gas line that goes inside the firebox. The press of a button or turning of a knob can produce a spark and release some gas, which will start the fire. The fireplace lighter kit itself is inexpensive, but you have to take into account the installation cost as well.

Minding Your Pennies

There are many different fireplace lighters available for fireplaces. If your fireplace didn't include a fireplace lighter when you purchased it, you can always buy a separate ignition kit for it. Make sure you do a bit of research to become familiar with the features offered by various models, so that you can make a well-advised choice based not only on the price, but also on the technical characteristics and the safety offered by each fireplace lighter.

Safety Considerations

Safety is especially important if you have children. You should be careful not to choose an ignition system that will make it possible for your child to accidentally start the fire. On the other hand, the fireplace lighter should be easy enough to operate, so that when the child is old enough to use it -- under your supervision, of course -- they wont have much trouble learning how it works.

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