Fireplace Accessories Advisor

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The Evolution of the Fireplace

The fireplace is a very old invention, a traditional way of heating the home during the cold season. Commonly linked with an idealized image of the past, a fireplace is often a recurrent motif in depictions of the traditional countryside. The warmth and coziness the fireplace provided during those times made it a favorite place for the family to gather. Fireplaces were sometimes used for cooking in addition to heating.

With the implementation of more economical and effective sources of heat, fireplaces stopped being a practical necessity. Nevertheless, their sentimental values remained and were even amplified. Not only were fireplaces kept even though other ways of heating the home had become available, but many people whose homes had not been built to include a fireplace started installing one. Wood and coal are not the only fuel anymore, as gas and electrical fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular.

Fireplace Maintenance

Keeping the fireplace in good repair is of key importance in order to maintain its good performance and to prevent fire hazards. On the other hand, since a fireplace is a beloved possession, taking care of the way it looks is also important. For the former purpose, there are sets of tools that you can use; for the latter, you just have to browse store offers to see if you find anything that could harmonize well with your fireplace and the room where it is located.

Whats in Store

Fireplace stores await you with an impressive offer of fireplace and accessories — both for maintenance and for aesthetic purposes. You can find, for instance, cushions to place around the hearth, adding a welcoming feel to the already warm environment. You’ll be able to choose the right cushion covers to create a harmonious whole with the room.

Hearths can be replaced too, due to the modular design of fireplaces. Getting a new hearth can bring a fresh tone to your interior.

If you like to exhibit pictures on the mantelpiece, you’ll want to have frames that go well with the fireplace mantels as far as both the material and the color are concerned. You might want to have a snack in front of the fire with your friends sometimes; you can get a nice basked to put the food — or even some collectibles that would look good in that arrangement.

Most of these items can also be made to your specific requirements. Fireplace stores can even offer you wood or coal for your fireplace, though most people today probably use electrical or gas fireplaces.

The idea is that you should make sure that your fireplace stays alive. Change a few things now and then, and always choose the decorations that you find most suitable, rather than buying what’s available on your first visit to the store.

Many people are reluctant to install a fireplace in their homes because they do not find it an efficient way of heating the house. Its true that a fireplace, just like a wood stove, can only heat the room where it’s installed. Moreover, if the room is large, there can be differences of temperature between the areas closer to the fireplace and those parts that are farther from it. The problem is not insurmountable, however. Ducts can help distribute the heat evenly not only in a certain room, but also throughout the house. If we install some fireplace fans inside them, we can control the air flow even better, which will increase the heating efficiency of the fireplace.

Adding a Fireplace Fan

The best thing is to purchase the fireplace fan together with the fireplace. That will ensure full compatibility between them. However, most fireplace fans follow the same standards and fireplaces are typically equipped with the necessary elements for connecting a fireplace fan. An electrical junction box is all you need for your fireplace fan to start working.

Fireplace Fan Benefits

Increasing the flow of air while keeping noise at low levels, fireplace fans make it possible to use the heating power of the fireplace more efficiently. This means, of course, lower operating costs. However, it is not just the other rooms that benefit from the use of fireplace fans: the lower part of the mantel will not overheat as a result of the air being constantly routed out of the fireplace. The installation and removal of fireplace fans are both very simple, while the costs of using them are quite low. Some gas fireplaces are designed to generate small amounts of electricity, which can still be used even during power outages, so your fireplace fans will still be working even when there is no power in the rest of the house.

Useful Information

For most efficient heating, you can use fireplace fans with several different operating speeds, according to the heating needs in every room. There should be an electrical socket under the firebox to allow you to connect the fireplace fans. Make sure you read the information provided by the vendor before deciding what fireplace fans to buy, so that you can be sure you’re making the best choice.

The main purpose of a fireplace hearth rug is to protect the area around the fireplace against flying sparks. A fireplace hearth rug often comes in a semicircular shape and occupies the part of the floor immediately in front of the hearth. A fireplace hearth rug is usually woven out of wool or some other material that cannot catch fire from a spark or even a flying ember or piece of live coal. The particular shape, color and size of the fireplace hearth rug is, of course, subject to your choice. For decorative purposes, you can always choose something that goes well with the style of the room. Also, check that the fireplace hearth rug is compliant with federal requirements concerning such protective surfaces.

A New Fireplace Accessory

Most fireplace accessories usually have a long tradition, because fireplaces themselves have been around since ancient times. Fireplace hearth rugs, however, are not so old. Centuries back, the floor was not covered with anything; it was just earth, so there was no danger of fire. Later, people started scattering herbs on the floor to fend off insects, and then wood floorings and rugs came to be used as well. That’s where the history of the fireplace hearth rug starts.

Material

When choosing a fireplace hearth rug, you should pay attention to the material it’s made of. Treated wool is a popular choice, since it doesnt suffer any permanent damage from sparks or even pieces of burning coal landing on them. Synthetic fibers such as polyester are also often used for making fireplace hearth rugs; nylon is especially effective, due to its high melting point. The most effective protection is generally considered to be offered by fiberglass rugs.

Aesthetic Considerations

Regardless of material, fireplace hearth rugs come in various shapes and sizes. Depending on the way your room is decorated, you should be able to make a choice so that the fireplace hearth rug will harmonize with the carpets and furniture around it.

Chances are that your fireplace will be among the first items to attract your visitors’ attention. Interior designers are well aware of this, so you can expect to find a variety of models for every accessory you want to add to your fireplace. The accessory we’re going to have a look at in the following paragraphs is the metallic frame that holds the logs in the fireplace, usually called a fireplace grate. Apart from their practical use for maintaining a good flow of air to keep the fire burning, fireplace grates are also designed so as to appeal to our aesthetic sense.

Fireplace grates can be made of steel or cast iron. Cast iron is generally preferred due to its higher durability and the possibility of using such fireplace grates with coal in addition to wood. The use of steel fireplace grates is restricted to wood, since coal can easily slip through the bars. Fireplace grate heaters are also available, enabling you to save costs by using more of the heating power of the fireplace. Lets have a brief look at each of these types, to help you decide which is the most suitable for you.

1. Steel fireplace grates consist of bars for supporting the wood. Because these bars are not so close to one another, steel fireplace grates is not recommended for coal. There are various degrees of bar thickness. The choice should be made according to the frequency with which you use the fireplace and the quantity of wood you expect to be using. For a fireplace that’s used a lot, you should take a fireplace grate with thicker bars.

2. Cast iron is often a better choice, for the reasons we have already stated. Again, the weight should be chosen according to how much you use the fireplace. You’re safer with the heavier models of fireplace grates, of course, but they will be more expensive, so it might be worth it to make an estimation of how much wood you will be burning before purchasing a fireplace grate.

3. Fireplace grate heaters are more complex, because they not only serve as support for the wood, but also direct the heat towards the room. Fireplace grates consist of tubes that blow the heat generated by the burning wood into the room. It is generally known that as much as 90% of the heat goes up the chimney, so anything that will direct some of that energy where you need it is worth the money. Thermostats are usually included, to give you more control.

The chimney can also influence the life span of the fireplace grate. If the chimney doesn’t draw well enough as to keep the fireplace dry, that can have a bad impact on the fireplace grate. As long as everything is working fine, however, you will not only enjoy better heating, but you’ll also be spending less money in the long run.

Fireplaces are traditionally associated with the idea of warmth and coziness on cold winter evenings, when the family gathers around the fire or people can enjoy a romantic evening in the glow of the embers. The only problem with this image is that it leaves out three thirds of the year: what do you do when its warm outside?

Lighting up the fire is not only unnecessary, but also inconvenient. Should you postpone such evenings until winter comes? Of course not. The solution can be as easy as placing a fireplace candle holder inside the fireplace. This will create the same flickering effects as the fire, without the need to turn on the air conditioning in order to maintain the air at breathable temperatures.

Material and Shape of fireplace Candle Holders

You wont have to worry about not having enough models to choose from. The most popular material for fireplace candle holders is probably iron, while the color most people prefer is black — probably for practical reasons, since it shows no signs of degradation, but also for the antique look it gives to the fireplace.

As for shapes and types, just check and website featuring such products, and you’ll find yourself in a universe of candlesticks. You’ll sometimes have to see pictures to get a clearer picture, as the names of the different models are often linked with the manufacturers imagination. There are electrical candlesticks too, using light bulbs instead of candles, but many people say the effect is not nearly as impressive.

Candlestick Designs

Some fireplace candle holders and candlesticks are covered with intricate patterns and carvings, which can give them a luxurious look. Others, on the other hand, have a striking simplicity, looking nonetheless elegant. There are classic designs available, as well as modern ones and combinations of them. Pillar, table, tea-light candle holders — the choice is really overwhelming. We should not forget votive candlesticks, symbolizing a wish or a promise.

Placement

The candlestick is normally put in the fireplace, for an effect as close as possible to the idyllic fireplace image. However, candles will look just as nice anywhere in the room, spreading their flickering glow around them. Just make sure there are no flammable materials close to them to avoid any risk of fire. Soon, your room will change its appearance and you’ll be able to admire then dancing shadows cast by the shimmer of the candles after dusk.

The coziness and refinement that a fireplace adds to the home are indisputable. However, that should not distract our attention from the fact that there’s a fire burning inside them, and there are many hazards associated with fire. Soot can be blown onto the surrounding area, staining the rug or the floor, sparks or embers can fly into the room, the smoke can deteriorate the mantel. To prevent fireplaces from becoming a source of trouble, you should consider using a fireplace screen.

A Work of Art

Fireplace screens have been in use for quite a long time. Being a necessity, however, has not impeded the evolution of their artistic features. Most of the times, fireplace screens are exquisitely designed so as to enhance the beauty of the fireplace and the room. Carefully elaborated ornaments such as animal shapes often adorn the metal mesh, making the fire cast dancing shadows on the walls that will ignite the viewers’ imagination and create unique light effects.

Fireplace Screen Options

Metals such as brass, steel or iron can be worked into a variety of shapes, according to your preferences. It is not uncommon to have a fireplace screen custom-made, so as to make sure that it blends into a harmonious whole with the rest of the room dcor. High-quality fireplace screens may be more expensive, but you can be sure they are seamlessly cast and welded. Some of the fireplace screens will have doors to ease access to the inside of the fireplace, others may have several panels. Some fireplace screens are mounted into the fireplace opening — these are usually quite affordable. Most people prefer an arched fireplace screen or one that portrays fauna or idyllic village sceneries.

However, not all fireplace screens are made of metal. In fact, it is probably glass fireplace screens that will attract the most attention, due to the effects they have on the general ambiance. Glass fireplace screens enable you to see the inside of the fireplace in all its incandescent beauty, while protecting the room against the dangers already mentioned.

Find the Best Screen for Your Fireplace

Shops and fireplace companies await you with catalogs, usually both on paper and on the web, to help you decide what model of screen you prefer. With such a wide variety of options, you can be sure to find the fireplace screen that will turn your room into a cozy paradise.

Having a fireplace can make your living room look cozier, while feeling warm on winter days. It wouldn’t make much sense, however, to use the fireplace only for one room, because that would require a second heating installation for the rest of the home.

This is why a fireplace blower can be useful to you, as it can help distribute the hot air to all the rooms in your home. Even if you decide that you prefer to rely on another heating system and only use the fireplace occasionally, the fireplace blower can still be used for the living room in order to ensure that all the parts of the room are heated at the same temperature. Otherwise, the area near the fireplace will be much hotter than the parts of the room farther from it — especially if you only keep the fireplace on for a short time.

Where to Put the Fireplace Blower

The position of the fireplace blower very much depends on where you want the hot air to go. The placement of the fireplace blower greatly determines its effectiveness. Thus, if you put the fireplace blower very close to the fire, it will only contribute to the warming of that room, while installing it in the doorway will distribute the heat to other parts of the house as well.

Connecting the Fireplace Blower

Fireplaces usually have a 110-VAC junction box included, which makes it easy to add a blower to them. If this is not the case, the installation of the fireplace blower might get more expensive. It is a good idea to purchase the fireplace blower together with the fireplace, and to ask the shop clerk or call the company’s help desk for information regarding the procedure for connecting the fireplace blower. Based on their answer, you can choose a model that will make the installation easy.

Final Remarks

The fireplace blower will have no influence whatsoever on the way the fireplace works, as far as energy consumption and combustion rate are concerned. All that a fireplace blower does is route the hot air towards other places than the area in the immediate proximity of the fireplace. Fireplace blowers come in different types, so make sure you know exactly what you are expecting from them before buying one.