We have all seen those homes with roaring fireplaces and beautiful fireplace mantels, drooling with envy, thinking I want one! Getting yourself a new fireplace or better still a fireplace remodel can really accentuate the room its in and make it a focul point of your home and the talk of the town. When thinking about fireplace remodels,there are some factors that you should consider before spending your haed earned cash.
The main fireplace designs that you might see are generally square and are usually either gas or electric. There are so many accessories and add ons that you can get for your fireplace, that you will find that you dont have to spend thousands to have that luxury looking mantel warming up your home.
A popular fireplace remodel would be simply to install an electric fireplace, especially if you have children and pets and maybe you are concerned about ashes and debris from log burning fires. The wring can be very simple that you just plug it in or you can go for one that is a litle more complicated and will need the assistance of an electrician to wrie it in.
A more authentic type […]

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Many of us grew up in homes that did not have a fireplace. This is not a tragic thing but it does mean that the closest most of us have ever come to building a fire is turning the thermostat knob or watching the camp director create a bonfire. However, as anyone with a fireplace knows, there simply is no substitute for a warm, crackling fire on a cold winter night. But for us city slickers without any fire-building experience, how on earth do we get the flames roaring safely so that they last through the night without burning down the house?

Building a fire is a process and there are steps to follow each and every time. First, always clean the hearth area before even thinking about getting the firewood. The ashes underneath your andirons or grate will choke off your fire because they will prevent oxygen from reaching the flames (remember, fire needs oxygen!). Using your handy fireplace tools, sweep up the old ashes into the dust pan and dispose of them properly. Now, you are ready for the wood.

One of the biggest secrets to a great fire is stacking the wood properly. If you have kindling, place it first on the grate or between the andirons. Otherwise, place smaller sticks and twigs on the bottom. Fire builds from the bottom so you want pieces of wood that will burn easily at the base of the fire. Next, the medium-sized logs should be placed with the largest logs set atop the pile. The best fires will be built with wood that has had plenty of time to dry out. Freshly cut firewood is practically useless and will not remain ablaze for very long. However, you can purchase fresh firewood in the Spring and it should be dried out and ready for use by the time fall rolls around.

Now before you even think about lighting the wood be sure to open the flue because you will dearly regret it if you don’t. The inside of your home will quickly fill with smoke when the flue is closed and it could take months to get that smell out of the upholstery, carpets, etc.!

Once the flue is open, the ashes cleaned away, and the wood stacked, it is time to actually start your fire. Now you may be tempted to use newspaper to start your fire but this is definitely not in your best interest. Believe it or not, the ink in newspaper may damage the inner walls of your chimney. At the very least, newspaper ink will cause the chimney to become dirty quicker and will actually add hefty cleaning expenses down the road.

Firestarters are actually the best option when it comes to getting the flames going in your hearth. Though the exact composition varies from product to product, many are made using sawdust and wax. The firestarter generally burns for 15-30 minutes and will be more than sufficient to get the flames going strong so long as the wood is dry, stacked properly, and well ventilated. Just be sure to place a fireplace screen across the hearth opening to prevent flying sparks from damaging your flooring.

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A fireplace insert is an easy way to increase the efficiency of your existing fireplace while at the same time enhancing its visual appeal. Fireplace inserts aren’t intended for whole house heating, but will add supplemental, zoned heat to your home.

Most older fireplaces are only 5-10% efficient. This inefficiency is the result of an open hearth that produces only slightly more warm air than it consumes.

New EPA certified wood fireplace inserts are rated 65% efficient and provide the added benefit of reducing emissions to almost zero.

Fireplace inserts are classified by the fuel they burn and the method of venting.

The available fuels are: natural gas, propane, wood, pellet and coal. For around $30, you can purchase a kit that will convert a natural gas insert to propane. Also, if you live more than 4,000 feet above sea level, your gas insert might require a smaller orifice jet to compensate for the lack of oxygen.

Fireplace inserts can be vented through an existing chimney, direct vented, b-vented, or vent free.

A b-vent unit draws air from inside the home, through ports in the firebox itself. A direct vent unit draws air through a pipe from outside the home, into a sealed firebox.

Direct vent models are usually more efficient and safer for today’s airtight homes, since they do not use inside air or cause a conflict with range foods and bathroom fans circulating the same air. B-vent units are generally less expensive to install, but are more sensitive to air flow inside the home.

A vent free gas fireplace has no outside venting and is not an option for wood, pellet or coal burning inserts.

Many new fireplace inserts are equipped with a blower for even heat distribution and can be thermostatically controlled.

The inserts are made with steel plate or cast iron. The front is sealed with a glass door that allows for an enjoyable viewing experience and increases efficiency by making the insert air tight.

Depending on the model purchased, the insert will either fit flush with the fireplace face brick or protrude onto the hearth. The protruding design is more efficient since it provides additional radiant heat from the exposed top and sides.

The National Fire Protection Association requires that fireplace inserts be installed with a direct connection between the insert exhaust outlet and nearest section of flue liner. This allows smoke and gases faster passage and less time to condense in the flue and form hazardous creosote.

Weighing in at around 400 pounds, it’s no easy task moving the insert when it comes time to clean the chimney. This in itself is good reason to rely on a professional chimney sweep.

Although they’re not easy to find, some fireplace inserts have wheels on the bottom for easier moving.

You can avoid moving the insert altogether for chimney cleaning if you install a stainless steel pipe liner form the insert outlet up through the entire chimney.

When you’re pricing fireplace inserts, make sure to include the cost of accessories such as blowers, catalytic combustors and glass doors.

Fro instance, you can purchase a wood burning insert for only $860.00, but the door comes extra, as in $200-$300 extra.

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