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- Posted: November 24, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
If you are building a fireplace in your home, there are a lot of things that you will need to work on. First, you should check to see whether your building's code permits you to build a fireplace. If you have an apartment, for example, it might be a better idea to use an electric fireplace than to have wood burning fireplace inserts set up in there. On the other hand, if you are convinced that you have enough space to build your own fireplace, then you can start the process comfortably knowing that before long you will be able to enjoy the advantages of a warm fire burning in the corner.
Of course, when it comes to building the fireplace itself you can either choose to have a professional build it for you or do it all on your own. There are numerous advantages to hiring a professional, but if you feel like you can do it yourself then you should be prepared to put it some research. It can take time to build a fireplace, but it is certainly not something that is too difficult for you to do on your own.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
In order to prevent your chimney from being damaged by the elements and other factors like foreign objects dropping inside, there are certain aspects you need to consider.
First of all, it is imperative that you clean your chimney regularly. The build-up of tar and soot inside the chimney will undoubtedly cause a blockage and fire hazard eventually if it is not cleaned out. A chimney lining is a good protective barrier for your chimney to protect it against the substances produced when burning fuels. You should then have the liner insulated to make your heating cost effective and efficient. It will also keep the flue hotter, decreasing the amount of substances that condense onto the liner.
The chimney can be damaged by the weather coming in from the top, or by birds and other animals dropping nesting materials down. Other objects like leaves can cause acidity which will erode the linings or masonry in your chimney. The best way to protect against these is to use chase covers. These are caps that are placed on top of your chimney, which fit very neatly, with small openings in them where you place the chimney caps. The caps and chase covers work in conjunction with one another preventing any object, or water, from falling down the opening.
It is best to use stainless steel caps, covers and linings as they are better designed to withstand the elements and usually come with a lifetime guarantee.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
Fed up with the rain, snow or bits of nests dropping down into your fireplace? Well what you need to invest in is chimney chase covers. These covers have a very important function and are designed especially to prevent the rain, snow or other foreign objects, such as leaves or pine needles, from falling down the chimney. Over time, these can have a devastating effect on the inside of your chimney. They are also very useful if animals, usually birds, have a habit of building nests up on the warm chimney stack. The bits of nest can be a fire hazard when they drop into the chimney and get caught inside.
If you are investing in a chase cover it is best to purchase a stainless steel one as they are designed to last a lifetime and usually come with a lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion. The non stainless steel ones will begin to rust over time, with the rain and other weather conditions, and eventually they will erode completely, allowing the rain to drip into your chimney and cause damage.
It is recommended that you buy a model with a cross break on it creating like a domed effect. This prevents rain and snow ‘pooling’ on the top and eventually leaking in.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
It is sometimes difficult to know how to properly maintain things when you are not an expert on that product. To know how to look after your chimney though, you don’t need to be an expert, you just need to be well informed.
Your chimney should be cleaned regularly, about once a year on average, but if it is used a great deal or it is left for long periods of non-use then it should be cleaned more often. You can hire a chimney sweep to clean your flue and he will be able to recommend any maintenance needed also.
To get the most out of your chimney you should ensure that it is fully lined and insulated. There are many different liners available and it can be difficult to know which one to choose. Some are designed for multi-fuel systems and some just for oil or gas appliances. Some liners are flexible but you can also get shaped chimney liners. The flexible ones are good for chimneys which have a kink or are offset. The shaped ones can maximize the area inside the chimney, so instead of using a circular liner in a rectangular chimney you can insert a rectangular liner. It is advised to have your liner insulated as this keeps the gases inside the flue hotter, thus they travel up faster increasing the draw up the chimney.
If you follow these guidelines then your heating will be more efficient and cost-effective.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
When you have a new heating system, or fireplace, installed you need to work out what type of fuel you want to run your heating system. You also need to decide on the style or design of your new fireplace and ensure that it coordinates properly with the rest of the room. It is not an installation that is changed regularly so you need to be sure of the details before you go ahead with the decision-making.
Any reputable company will have a wide range of fireplaces to choose from, they will also be the best people to complete the installation for you and you need to ensure that they supply you with good quality refractory panels to go with your installation. Your refractory panels will mean the difference between efficient and wasteful heating. These panels help to reflect the heat from your fire, back into your room, utilizing as much as heat as possible. They also protect firebox and prevent it from being damaged due to prolonged intense heat.
In the installation of a new fireplace, it is imperative that you use a reliable company to make sure that safety regulations are adhered to. Heating systems can be inefficient and dangerous if not fitted correctly and if you are not very confident or knowledgeable in this type of installation then you could be risking lives.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
When fitting a chimney liner it is imperative that you use flexible chimney liner kits. Many chimneys are not straight, some often have a kink in them and because of this you need a liner that will adapt to the shape of the chimney. Inside the chimney you might find that the masonry is not straight and even, especially in older properties so again the flexibility to get round these problems is vital.
These liners come in a variety of widths, to suit any chimney stack, and they are either single or twin skinned. The single skin liners are only suitable for oil or gas heating systems, but the duel skinned is more versatile and can be used for those systems as well as multi-fuel, and solid fuel burning.
The basic liner kits available typically include: a top plate for the chimney; a rain cap; appliance connectors; chimney liner warranty; installation instructions and of course the stainless steel flexible chimney liner measured to the required length.
If you are not confident in fitting something like a chimney liner then it would be advisable to contact a local supplier for a list of recommended installers. They will be experienced at fitting and be able to give you and advice needed to help maintain your chimney liner kit.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
When you have a new fireplace fitted one of the things you need to consider is how it will fit in with your present décor. You also need to have refractory panels fitted to the new fireplace. These days you can buy decorative fireplace refractory panels so you can satisfy both requirements at the same time.
There are two purposes for refractory panels. One is that they reflect the heat generated by the fire, back into the room for more effective heating and the other is that they prevent the heat from penetrating the firebox, which can cause a considerable amount of damage.
There are so many different designs of panel available that you can’t fail to find one that appeals to your taste. You can go for plain stone if you prefer a simple style, but other designs are available, such as herringbone, diamond and rib effects. There are also sandstone, briquette and brick wall styles. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to ensure that they can be fitted adequately into your fireplace.
As so many of these refractory panels are decorated nowadays, you can ‘kill two birds with one stone’ and provide your household with an efficient heating system, prevent any unnecessary heat damage and decorate your fireplace tastefully all in one fell swoop, making life much easier when modernizing your fireplace.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
If you fancy the idea of having a wood burning stove but don’t have the room to put it or have a small fireplace, then an alternative you could consider could be a wood burning fireplace insert. The difference between them is that a wood burning stove is a stand-alone heating system which usually has a flue pipe attached and can stand anywhere. An ‘insert’, on the other hand, is a system which you can insert or slot into the original fireplace which then becomes your heating system.
The insert usually consists of a firebox, heat circulating blowers, a door and thermostatic controls. They also come with flashing and decoration. They are designed in numerous sizes so they are adaptable to any size fireplace and the flashing and decorations come in a wide variety to try and coordinate with your original décor as much as possible.
It would be advisable to speak to suppliers of fireplace inserts if you are considering this option as they will be able to instruct you as to the best choice for your home. It will depend on the size of the fireplace, what features you need on the installation and what decoration you will need after the fitting. Let the experts help to make your decisions easy.
- Posted: October 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
If you are looking to buy a chimney liner for your home you should be aware that there are different liners available, depending on whether you use multi-fuel heating or oil or gas heating. Both of these stainless steel chimney liners are used for lining masonry chimney stacks, the main difference being that the multi-fuel liner has a twin-skin construction whereas the oil/gas fuel liner has a single skin construction.
The multi-fuel liner is deeply corrugated on the outside skin but smooth on the inner core. This makes it easier for cleaning and there are no areas for the tar and soot to build up. This liner can be used for wood burning stoves, multi-fuel systems, open fires and can also be used for gas and oil appliances, making it a very versatile liner as you can change your heating system without worrying about changing the liner. This versatility does make it a little more expensive but you are paying for the convenience.
The oil/gas flue liner has a single skin which is deeply corrugated. This liner is only suitable for use with an oil or gas heating system and because of that tends to be a cheaper option then the multi-fuel liner. It is very important that you use the correct flue liner in order to prevent any problems occurring with your heating and chimney liner.
- Posted: September 21, 2011Categories: BlogRead more »
This is because the moisture created in wood burning fireplaces mixes with the creosote and this becomes a gas which rises out of the chimney. However – it really can't hurt and can benefit you in other ways.
Finally there's one more reason that insulation is a good idea for your chimney liner – and that's that having a hot fire and a cold chimney will cause down drafts. This is because air rises – meaning that the air pressure around your fire is lower. In other words there's a 'pocket' of air around your fire where much of the air has risen away, and if you don't have insulation for your liner, the cold air will rush in to fill this gap (this is the same process that causes wind – wherein the warm earth heated by the sun has the same effect as a fireplace).
If you don't get insulation and good flue liners then, you will find that the wind rushes in and blows the fire while also making your room colder. Again this will also create a lot of noise and be upsetting for you to listen too.