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Our Best Fireplace Tips for Winter

It’s officially winter, and that means it’s peak fireplace season! If you don’t have much experience using your fireplace yet, don’t fear! We’ve put together a mini guide on how to get the most out of your fireplace this season, and also stay safe while you do it! Your fireplace is a great way to stay cozy all winter, so keep reading and learn how to become a master fire keeper!

Close The Chimney Flue When You’re Done

Make sure once the fire is out that you close your flue to avoid any cold air coming into your home, or letting out the warm air you just produced with your fire.

Pre-Chop Your Firewood

Dry wood burns the best, so it’s always best to chop as much firewood ahead of time and store it in a warm and dry place so it’s ready to burn at a moments notice. Always make sure that your firewood is stacked away from any flammable materials, and at least 2 1/2 feet high. The best way to do this is to use a firewood rack or start stacking them in between walls.

Clean it Regularly

While you probably had your fireplace cleaned at the beginning of the season, it isn’t a one time thing! Make sure after every few fires you take a look at your flue to make sure there isn’t any soot or creosote building up which can be a hazard to you or your chimney.

Watch Your Fires Closely

As your fires burn, please don’t leave them unattended, even if they are small and you’re letting them die out. You never know what nearby items might fly into the fire and cause it to flare up.

Have The Right Tools on Hand

Make sure you have access to all the right fireplace tools, such as pokers, shovels, tongs and brooms. Again, having these tools readily available is crucial in case you need to clear out your fireplace or chimney (or perform some other maintenance on them). If you don’t have the right tool for the task at-hand, then you could risk causing additional damage to your chimney and/or fireplace. There are also times when it may be safer just to let a fire burn itself out.

 

Contact New England Hearth & Home

If you’re thinking about adding a fireplace to your home this season, please get in touch with our team of experts. We can guide you through the process of picking out the perfect fireplace for you and your home, including our selection of electric, gas and traditional fireplaces. Give us a call at (781)562-0771 or contact us here for more information.

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Can an Electric Fireplace Lower My Heating Bills?

While it might not seem like the most practical way to heat your home today, installing an electric fireplace actually can help keep your heating bills low during the cold winter months. An electric fireplace not only creates a special warm, cozy atmosphere in your home, but it also gives you the benefit of being able to turn down your regular furnace without depriving you of the ambiance or visual focal point of a fire.

How Electric Fireplaces Lower Utility Bills

There are a few ways that electric fireplaces can help you lower your utility bills. One of the main factors here is that you don’t have to heat your entire home with your fireplace insert- you can be much more selective and just heat the common areas while lowering the general temperature on your house-wide heating system by a few degrees. This is great to do throughout the day when house members are mostly in the common space, or even at night too when everyone is in their beds under the covers.

Electric Fireplace Vs Traditional Fireplace

Another benefit is that with an electric fireplace, you don’t have to use as much heating fuel since it’s a more effective way to heat a room. It does a very good job of warming up a home without taking as much energy from your regular heating system. If you do decide to install a wood-burning fireplace later on, remember that it will take more energy to maintain the temperature in your house and you’ll also be dealing with the hassle of chopping logs and hauling them around.

Why Fireplace Inserts Are The Best Choice

Electric fireplaces are great because they come in so many different styles and designs that can fit into almost any space or décor. You can find electric fireplaces that look just like real wood burning fireplaces, or you can find beautifully designed fireplaces that offer a much more modern and sleek look.

What about gas fireplaces?

Gas fireplaces produce heat that results in higher utility bills than those due to electric fireplaces or wood-burning stoves. A gas fireplace produces heated air that is blown into the room with fans attached to the unit. These forced drafts increase heating costs and source another indoor air pollution problem besides carbon monoxide poisoning. Newer models eliminate these draft problems by introducing sealed combustion technology so they burn cleaner with cleaner air.

Where Should I Put My Electric Fireplace?

To get the most out of your electric fireplace, place it in a room that you will be using often, especially if you live in the north east where we get a lot of snow. For more tips on how to get the most out of your electric fireplace, or for advice on how to install one, give us a call at (781)562-0771 or contact us here for a free quote on a brand new fireplace.

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What is the most eco-friendly fireplace insert?

If you’re looking for a fireplace insert for your home this winter, Electric fireplaces are essentially the most eco-friendly unit. While it may not have enough energy to heat your entire home on its own, most are very efficient and don’t use nearly as much energy as a gas or wood fireplace. You’ll also save money and energy compared to using no fireplace at all. 

If you aren’t quite sold on it yet, we’ve laid out some of the benefits of the electric fireplace, including its energy efficiency, heating capabilities, not to mention the great energy it can bring into a room.

Do Electric Fireplaces Produce Carbon Emissions?

Unlike wood or gas inserts, electric fireplaces do not produce any carbon emissions. They are the best source of all electric heaters. The heating process is very different from using natural gas or wood to create a flame, which is why there are no emissions produced by the fireplace. Electric fireplaces rely on electrical elements known as resistors to generate heat, producing none of the harmful carbon monoxide that some fossil fuels emit when burned incompletely.

How Fuel Efficient Are Electric Fireplaces?

Electric units run as efficiently as any other kind of electric heater, and they don’t require venting like a wood fireplace does either. In addition, some units can have their energy consumption precisely adjusted to provide just as much heat as you want, unlike with gas or wood fireplaces that have a set supply of heat. As long as you don’t set your thermostat to its maximum setting, it’s possible to save money every month.

Can Electric Fireplaces Save You Money?

An electric fireplace can help you save money on your energy bills by taking the place of other heating sources in your house. An electric fireplace can actually reduce your heating costs by 20-40% in total. They are especially useful for areas where you don’t want to use gas or wood and they allow you to turn off the furnace until they need supplementary heating (like at night). Our most popular models can even be programmed to come on at certain times – they include built-in timers – so they only run when necessary and thus increase your savings further! In addition to its direct benefit by reducing carbon footprint, an electric fireplace can lower your energy bill because it requires less overall heat to be effective in warming a space than a natural gas or wood fireplace does.

Find Your Next Fireplace Insert

With all of this information in mind, we understand many still prefer a more traditional wood or gas stove. However if you do use wood/gas and you’re looking to make a change in order to help the environment, we definitely suggest switching to electric. Regardless of the type of fireplace you’re looking for, give us a call at 781-562-0771 or contact us here for more information.

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How To Prep Your Fireplace for Fall

fall fireplace tips

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.