Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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