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Autumn is finally here, and it’s the perfect time to start using your fireplace. But before your first fire, there are certain things you need to do to ensure your fireplace is ready to go and safe to light. Please keep reading for our fall fireplace checklist.

Clean Your Chimney

Clear out your chimney before the first fire of the season! Your local chimney sweep should be able to inspect and clean your chimney for you. The professional can tell if it’s safe to burn fires this fall; they may also apply chemicals to help prevent creosote buildup, keeping your fireplace working smoothly year after year.

Be Aware of Creosote 

Creosote is the residue that gathers on the inside walls of chimneys as wood burns; this substance ignites easily and can catch fire resulting in serious damages to the chimney. Your professional chimney sweep should be able to remove any excess creosote with their equipment. If you are unable to have your flue inspected by a pro, check for excess creosote every few fires. Creosote is corrosive and will damage bricks if built up; it can also become explosive (producing flames)! After lighting your first fire of the season, wait until all embers are out before opening your damper completely; this will help prevent fumes from back drafting into the room (poisonous carbon monoxide).

Limit Your Fires

It’s recommended that homeowners light no more than two fires per day (if possible) or one large fire each day; Having too many fires creates too much creosote. To prevent creosote buildup, burn only high-quality seasoned hardwood and keep your fire hot enough to produce a long-lasting bed of coals (the hotter, the better).

Consider a Wood Stove

Fall is also a great time to install a new woodstove! Leave doors open when not in use; this will help prevent creosote buildup.

Keep it Clean

Keep your fireplace clean by removing ashes daily while fires are still burning; use an ash bucket with a handle or metal poker (never plastic) to move embers away from walls if necessary.

Test The Air

Regularly test for carbon monoxide poisoning; symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, mental confusion, muscle weakness, chest pain, and vomiting (if you experience any of these symptoms for no apparent reason, immediately vacate the premises and call the fire department).

Be Careful What You Burn

Never burn cardboard or paper; they produce toxic fumes, including hydrogen cyanide (rarely found in smoke) and carbon monoxide. Don’t burn painted, treated, pressure-treated or chemically-treated wood (including plywood); creosote can be corrosive to chimneys and may also release chemicals into your house’s air supply!

Be Selective with Your Firewood

Store firewood away from home at least 50 feet away on a hard surface such as a driveway or porch to keep rodents out – stack it off the ground if you want it kept dry. A good rule of thumb is one face cord per fireplace per year plus one; if you can’t store it inside, keep it covered at all times. Keep your fireplace damper closed when not in use (if equipped with one). Try to burn seasoned hardwood only (no pressure-treated or painted wood), but if deciding between using green or seasoned- make your choice based on how long the fire will be burning – green is better for short fires, and seasoned is better for long fires.

Follow Safety Precautions

Never leave children unattended around a lit fireplace! Kids should be taught to stay away from the hearth area unless an adult is present; teach them that the space under the fireplace’s opening typically isn’t safe either because hot embers can pop out unexpectedly.

Electric fireplaces are slowly but surely becoming a more popular choice when it comes to new construction homes, especially in more urban areas and buildings with multiple units. However, this trend is still relatively new, and many people don’t understand all the benefits of the electric fireplace. While there are plenty of reasons you might want to opt for a more traditional fireplace, we’ve outlined the specifics of why that could actually be not the best idea in the long run.

Affordable Installation

Most don’t realize that a full fireplace is usually one of the first parts of a home to go up. In most cases, homes are built around chimneys rather than the other way around. While it is possible to add a chimney and a full stone or brick fireplace to your home, it is a major investment that most likely won’t increase the value of your home by very much. Because there’s no need for a chimney on an electric fireplace, the price to install it is significantly less expensive than a full traditional fireplace. Not only is it less materials and work but it also happens much faster, an electric fireplace can easily be installed in under two days, and it requires much less technical knowledge.

Smoke Free & Hazard Free

Did you know that a buildup of debris in chimneys is one of the most common causes of house fires? By eliminating this factor you significantly reduce the chances of this hazard. No fire also means no smoke, which for many can aggravate asthma.

Lower Utility Costs

Another great thing about an eclectic fireplace unit is that it will use less electricity than your home’s heating system. If you are spending time in the common room and you’re only wanting to heat up that area and not the rest of the home, electric fireplaces are a great way to do that. Supplementing your existing heating system with an electric fireplace will save you money on your heating bill at the end of the month during the winter.

Lower Environmental Impact

In addition to all the benefits for you and your home, electric fireplaces also place less strain on the environment. Not only is electricity becoming an increasingly renewable source of energy through windmills and solar panels, but the lack of smoke going into the atmosphere also reduces your carbon footprint.

Contact New England Hearth & Home

If you’re interested in adding an electric fireplace to your home, please give us a call at 781-562-0771 or contact us here. We are always happy to answer any questions and provide suggestions if needed.

During summer nights, we often want to spend time outdoors, but lack a good way to do so. In a word that is so dominated by screens on our phones, computers and TVs, spending quality time around a fire pit is a nice return to simple living, free of distractions. Not only do outdoor fireplaces and fire pits provide warmth at night, but they can also act as a very design driven centerpiece in your patio or backyard area.

 

Fire Pits are a Great Way to Style Your Patio

Outdoor fireplaces can be built to match the design language of your home. From metal to stone they come in a wide variety of styles both modern and more traditional. A high quality fire pit can definitely set the tone for the rest of your back yard or patio set up, and many enthusiasts end up investing in higher quality outdoor furniture once they realize how much time they’re spending outside.

 

Fire Pits are Easy to Installation

Fire Pits are relatively inexpensive and easy to install compared to some of the more complex backyard staples such as pools, trampolines, or playgrounds. Not only are outdoor fire pits affordable, but they can definitely contribute additional value to your home and can be a great selling point for those looking to put their house on the market in the near future. Fire pits are available at nearly every price point, from simple fire bowls to custom stone or iron, you can find a fire pit for any budget.

 

Fire Pits are Great for Gatherings

A fire pit creates a focal point for your outdoor gathering. Some might say that it’s simply in our DNA to gather around a fire. Solidify your position as the go-to host for the neighborhood barbecue with a centerpiece that doubles as a conversation piece.

 

Fire Pits Come in a Variety of Fuel Options

The most popular fuel option for fire pits are wood, natural gas, and propane. If you’re looking for a more natural experience and you have more space, wood is a great option, but be aware that it’s more work to find firewood, chop it and light a wood fire. Natural gas and propane have the benefits of being ready to go at the flick of a switch. They also require less space and are usually more safe than a wood fire pit. The main difference is that a natural gas pit cannot be moved and pulls from your home’s supply of natural gas. A propane powered fire pit can be moved, but you also have to deal with a clunky propane tank which isn’t always the most stylish option.

 

Contact New England Hearth & Home

Are you looking to spice up your backyard living space? We offer custom fire pits design and installation that can offer style, warmth and a great change of pace to your backyard area! Please give us a call at 781-562-0771 or contact us here.