fireplace

Picture this: you’re home on a cold winter night and you decide to build a roaring fire to keep you and your family warm.  After preparing your wood and fostering a strong flame, the house begins to fill with smoke.  Panicked, you have the family stay outside while you see to the issue, only to realize that no smoke is coming through your chimney.  This is most likely due to a faulty chimney damper.  You can think of a chimney damper like a lid for your fireplace.  It is located in the flue (the air shaft through which smoke and air can travel in and out of your chimney) above the firebox (where the fire is made) and is in use both when fireplace is active and inactive.  We commonly think of chimneys as avenues for smoke to escape from your home, but they are also a way for air to come in.  Knowing exactly what your chimney damper is, what it does, and how to control it will ensure better, safer, and more enjoyable fireside chats.

An Inactive Fireplace

Like we said before, when your fireplace isn’t in use, your chimney damper still has a job to do.  An open chimney damper will allow air into your home, so if it’s a cold night and you just can’t seem to warm up, make sure that your chimney damper is closed.  A closed chimney damper will prevent unwanted air of any temperature from making its way into your home.

An Active Fireplace

When starting a fire in your fireplace, making sure that your ch

As the owner of a fireplace, you’ve probably spent more time than you would like trying to manage and maintain the perfect fire. Turn your back on a wood-burning fireplace for just a few minutes, and that flame may dwindle away before you know it.

There are plenty of ways to fix that problem, as well as any other issues that may arise with other fireplaces.

Many people have their own fool-proof methods for building a perfect fire, but everybody needs a little help sometimes. With the right supplies, you can make sure you keep the best possible fire going.

Types of Fireplace Supplies

A Chimney Brush

Before lighting a fire, it’s a good idea to first make sure your chimney is clean. Even if you’ve never used it before, a build-up of leaves or animal nests can cause harmful blockages. There are professionals that can clean out your chimney for you, but you can also opt to do it yourself.

Start by measuring the size of the chimney flue to determine the size of brush you’ll need. Using a brush and extender pipes, first clean downward from the roof. Then clean from the bottom of the chimney to get any spots you may have missed.

Once you’re finished, you can start building a fire.

Dry, Seasoned Wood

As the crucial element in any wood-burning fireplace, the wood you use is the most important.

If you purchase wood from a dealer, first make sure it’s not wet or rotted. If you cut or gather the wood yourself, storage is key. Keep the wood stacked on the ground and covered for six months until it’s ready for use.

Stacking the wood in a layered “log cabin” form makes for a more evenly-distributed burn. It also provides a better base for adding more logs to keep the fire going.

A Good Set Of Fireplace Tools

There are three common types of tools used in tending small fires: a fireplace poker, spade, and tongs.

The poker is a steel rod that is used to adjust coal or wood burning i

The Fall weather is fast approaching and the cozy spirit of Autumn is making its way into our homes. There’s nothing better than a change of scenery to invigorate the senses and liven things up a little. If you’re fortunate enough to have a chimney or fireplace in your home, you know how the sounds of a crackling fire can calm your nerves and give you peace of mind, and adding the power of aromatherapy to the fire will only increase the effectiveness. Let’s go over some amazing fragrance bomb recipes to really add a level of comfort to your home.

Fragrance Bomb Recipes

Fall Fruit

Start by drying out a few apples and oranges in your oven. Once dry, add them to a fire to create a savory yet sweet citrus aroma. The scent will fill your house and last for hours.

Simple Cinnamon

Okay, so this one isn’t really a recipe, but simply adding a few cinnamon sticks to your fire will create a very pleasing scent that will be more robust than the old classic cinnamon broom.

Sage Advice

Dried sage wands (the real ones, not from the grocery store) create a really unique scent that is very pleasing. What’s great about sage is that it will eliminate any unwanted odors in your home and leave behind a fresh clean scent. Sage tends to smoke a lot when burned, so don’t use the entire wand; just a few strips will do the trick.

Cedar Woods

For a rustic scent reminiscent of a camping trip or winter cabin, burn some dried cedar branches. For an added bonus, sprinkle a few drops of your favorite essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus. Cedar also works well as an insect repellant, so this recipe is perfect for an outdoor chiminea.

Any of these recipes will be perfect for a Fall party or get together and will set a mood that will create lasting memories for you and your guests. Now that you have all your chimney supplies, get ready to relish in a stimulating and therapeutic environment. Enjoy! And if you need an

The outside of the home gets so much love in the summer. Homeowners eager to enjoy the outdoors plant gardens, spruce up their home’s curb appeal and even update exterior trim or siding. As temperatures soar, this winter seems so far away. Let’s face it. When people think about chimneys and fireplaces, they think about winter. With last year’s record breaking freezing temperatures and snowfall still fresh in some people’s mind, most of us want to enjoy our hot and humid days as long as possible. But like the rest of the exterior of your home, your chimney can serve a decorative purpose outside of the frigid winter months. There are some creative ways to spruce up your chimney this summer. We have several options to help you adorn your fireplace and chimney.

Chimney pots are a neat way to transform the look of your chimney. If you are unfamiliar them, then you might be asking yourself  “What are chimney pots?” Chimney pots are decorative pots that sit atop a chimney, enhancing the look of one of your home’s most prominent features. While most chimney pots are round, they do come in a variety of shapes and sizes that fit nicely with the style of any home. Whether your home is the classic Spanish style home or a mid-century modern style, there is a perfect chimney pot design for your home.

It is true that most people choose chimney pots primarily to update the look of their chimney. However, these pots have a functional value as well. Chimney pots help improve fireplace drafts due to their tapered designs. Fireplace drafts happen, naturally, when you turn on your fireplace. But, that is another wintertime issue to consider when the time comes. By securing a chimney pot now, you will be prepared to better care for your chimney come those cold winter months

If you are looking for something rare for your home’s chimney, then consider the salt glazed chimney pots. The difference between regular and salt glazed pots is the color and richness given through th