Category: Fireplaces & Stoves

Fireplace Archives

The 20 Best Fireplace Accessories You Must Have To Update Your Fireplace

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We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 accessories for your old wood-burning fireplace. They include:

  • Wood Racks
  • Log Carriers
  • Fire Starters
  • Poker
  • Ash Rake & Shovel
  • Ash Bucket
  • Gloves
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Alarms
    		•
  • Mantel
  • Damper
  • Screens
  • Doors
  • Ash Vacuum
  • Grate
  • Hearth Rugs
  • Broom
  • Bellows
  • Hearth Center
  • Andirons

    • We’re all aware of those wonderful woodsy aromas that snap, crackle, and pop and those fond family memories that last a lifetime. Around the fireplace, families gather, and life seems to move forward at a more subdued pace. If you’re burning wood, you can relate to this.

    To make that wood-burning experience even more enjoyable, give special consideration to adding several of these accessories to your home. In no particular order, the list is broken down into two categories; “must have” and “safety and convenience” items. So, get that fire going. Sit back, relax, and consider how you might make your life a bit easier with beautiful and functional fireplace accessories. You’ll enhance the appearance of your living room, too!

    MUST HAVE ITEMS FOR YOUR FIREPLACE:

    1. Wood Rack: What’s better than dry wood? Convenient, dry wood! Keep a couple of days’ worth of wood next to the fireplace, stove, or insert for quick and easy fuel reloading. Log racks, hoops, or a large wooden box can keep your wood conveniently located near the appliance.
    2. Log Carrier: You’re going to need some means to get the wood supply to the fireplace. Leather, canvas, and heavy denim log carriers will make this task much easier.
    3. Fire Starters: Many folks make their own by slicing wood into ½” to 2” pieces. However, others have found that fatwood is a quick and easy way to get a fire going from scratch.
    4. Poker: This tool will likely be your most used. Positioning and repositioning burning wood requires a well-designed and built-to-last tool. You’ll use a poker several times every day while tending a fire. Don’t skimp on quality.
    5. Ash Rake and Shovel: Two more tools will be used daily. Stirring up the ashes with the rake ensures all chunks of wood are thoroughly burned before removal.
    6. Ash Bucket: Proper burning practices include appropriately dealing with the ashes. The correct way to do this is to place the ashes in a metal ash bucket with a tight-fitting lid.
    7. Gloves: Invest in a good pair; you’ll be wearing them a few times each day. Look for lined gloves with high cuffs, made from heat-resistant treated leather.
    8. Fire Extinguisher: Just in case… it’s always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby, in the kitchen and/or living room.
    9. Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm: Strategically placed alarms are essential, especially if you’re burning wood.
    10. Damper: A damper is a required component for your fireplace. It opens and closes the chimney, sealing it when not in use to prevent warm air loss.

    SAFETY & CONVENIENCE ITEMS FOR YOUR FIREPLACE:

    1. Screen: If your fireplace has a screen, make sure it’s in good repair and use it every time you have a fire. Replacement screens are readily available.

     Accessories by Minuteman

    1. Doors: Evaluate older fireplaces for a set of doors to limit air loss and improve efficiency. Definitely worth it if your fireplace doesn’t have any.
    2. Ash Vacuum: A good ash vacuum can make quick work of cleaning. Look for models with washable HEPA filters and adequate tank capacity.
    3. Grate: A grate supports the burning logs and is essential for efficient burning. Your WE LOVE FIRE® dealer will have numerous options.
    4. Hearth Rugs: A hearth rug is fire-resistant and adds a decorative touch while protecting the floor from sparks.
    5. Broom: Keep your hearth area clean with a good fireplace broom, which can sweep up ash, wood chips, and other debris.
    6. Bellows: Bellows blow air directly into the fire, helping it ignite quickly. They come in various styles and can add a decorative touch.
    7. Hearth Center: A hearth center organizes your fireplace tools and accessories, keeping them within easy reach.
    8. Mantel: A mantel showcases the fireplace and adds style. Depending on code requirements, a new mantel can transform your fireplace’s look.
    9. Andirons: Andirons hold logs in place and add a touch of elegance to your fireplace setup while improving airflow around the logs.

    Empower Your Kids: Top 15 Life-Saving Fire Safety Tips & Skills

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    Fire safety tips for kids and families should start with education and awareness. Both are critical factors when discussing emergency and life-saving measures. Here are 15 life-saving fire safety tips and skills to teach kids, help your family in an emergency, and keep everyone safe.

    But first, it’s essential to understand that a fire can start in or around your home in many ways.

    THE TOP CAUSES OF HOUSE FIRES:

    • Unattended cooking in the kitchen
    • Heating appliances, including fireplaces
    • Electrical fires from faulty wiring
    • Careless smoking
    • Unattended candles
    • Poorly managed outdoor fires
    • Incorrectly stored flammable liquids
    • Christmas trees and decorations

    Knowing how your kids will respond, with or without supervision, to these fire emergencies will save lives and property. If you haven’t considered it, NOW is the time to enlighten your family members with life-saving fire safety tips!

    This advice and these drills can be broken into three categories. The first has to do with:

    EQUIPMENT AND PLANNING:

    1. Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
    2. Discuss a family’s “Fire Escape Plan”
    3. Practice fire drills
    4. Fire extinguisher training
    5. Memorize emergency numbers

    Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Teach your children what the smoke alarms sound like. Get in the habit of testing your smoke alarms and changing the batteries twice a year. Do it when you turn your clocks from standard to daylight savings time and vice versa. Or, do it on the first of the year and the 1st of July. Or, maybe change them out on the summer and winter solstice. The point is to do it regularly.

    Escape plan: When developing a fire escape plan, make sure to have the whole family involved. Here are some points you can cover as a suggestion:

    • Have a family meeting spot.
    • Discuss escape routes using different scenarios.
    • How would you get out of the house in the morning? At mealtime? How about in the middle of the night?
    • What if Mom and Dad were not home? Or if you were alone.

    Practice Fire Drills: Involving the whole family can make it a ‘fun’ experience for the kids. For example, you could review the family escape plan when you change the smoke detector batteries twice a year. Practice your escape plan with your family members and help them understand how serious a house fire can be.

    If yours is a two or three-story house and the stairway is blocked, is there an emergency rope ladder that could be hung from a window? The National Fire Protection Association and other safety associations strongly recommend that each occupied room above the main floor have an escape ladder. They are compact and easy to store. Are your older kids able to assist and help supervise the younger ones?

    Fire Extinguisher Training: Teach your older, more responsible kids how to use a fire extinguisher. This includes using the P.A.S.S procedure, which shows how to pull the safety pin, where to point an extinguisher, and how long it will last. Please ensure it’s easily located, charged, and ready to use.

    CHILDREN’S DO’S AND DON’T IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT:

    • Don’t hide, seek help
    • Get out, stay out & stay alive
    • Leave belongings behind
    • Stay low in smoke
    • Do not open hot closed doors

    Scared and younger children may tend to hide during a fire. Emphasize, especially to the youngest, to “get out and stay out” of a burning house.

    Parents Notes: Do not return to retrieve any prized belongings. The important papers, those memorable photos, that expensive artwork on the wall, or a little one’s favorite stuffed animal isn’t worth the risk. “Stuff” can be replaced, but lives cannot.

    Also, remember there’s less smoke near the floor. So, crawl if you have to. If a door feels hot, do not open it. It’s essential to quickly and efficiently account for all family members.

    When you’re safely out of a burning building, stay out. Have an assigned meeting place outside. Only trained firefighters should enter a home that’s on fire.

    OUTDOOR FIRE HAZARDS CHILDREN TRAINING:

    • Outdoor fire safety awareness
    • Campfire cooking classes
    • Stop, drop & roll
    • Survival skills practice
    • Fire pit construction

    With backyard campfires so popular today, it’s a good idea to review safety precautions with all family members, not just the kids. If you’re planning s’mores or maybe something a bit more advanced, develop some fun cooking classes that everyone could participate in.

    This could be part of a fun, family-orientated, ongoing survival skills exercise that could include many activities, including how to safely position, build, and use an outdoor fire pit. Start by learning how to safely make a fire, build a thick bed of coals for Dutch oven cooking, or cook on a grill over an open flame. Get creative with exciting recipes!

    A most essential drill to teach youngsters is the STOP/DROP & ROLL technique if their clothes catch fire. Pray it never happens, but it’s always best to be prepared.

    AVOID FIRE TRAGEDIES:

    According to the US Fire Administration, the most recent 10-year average of house fires includes these startling statistics:

    • 374,300 fires
    • 2,720 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries
    • $9 billion in property damage

    Sadly, fire departments respond to a fire somewhere in the US nearly every 30 seconds!

    Meanwhile, in Canada, there are roughly 30 residential fires daily and approximately 200 fire deaths yearly.

    Most of these tragic stories could have been prevented in Canada and the United States with the proper precautions and a safety plan. As parents, this knowledge comforts us, knowing that we can take steps to prevent such tragedies.

    EMPOWER YOUR KIDS WITH THESE FIRE SAFETY RULES:

    You can do many things to increase your child’s knowledge of fire safety. It starts with awareness and education. Please, at supper tonight, involve the entire family in a serious conversation about life-saving fire safety tips.

    Discuss the importance of:

    • Never play with lighters or matches.
    • Have an escape plan and practice it with the whole family.
    • Stop/Drop & Roll if your clothes catch fire.
    • Knowing there’s less smoke near the floor. So, crawl to escape a fire.
    • Getting outside fast and go to the meeting spot. It’s scary when there’s a fire, but DO NOT hide.
    • Having your kids help remind you to test the smoke alarms routinely.

    Protect your family with expert advice. Contact your local WE LOVE FIRE® dealer today for a free fire safety consultation and learn how to choose the safest appliances for your home.

    Hearth Pads for Wood-Burning Stoves

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    Hearth Pads for Wood-Burning Stoves

    A hearth pad is “heat protection for your floor”. It’s a specific, dedicated, non-combustible surface that’s installed under and around all four sides of a wood-burning stove. Its purpose is two-fold. First, any hot sparks or burning embers that may pop out the appliance will fall harmlessly on the hearth pad and burn out. And secondly, a hearth pad can protect the wood subfloor from excessive heat.A hearth pad can be an interesting feature in your living room décor. It can blend with the color and style of your stove and will accent your appliance, but it must be made from something that cannot burn. Most popular materials are tile, slate, natural stone or brick.

    Today’s EPA certified stoves burn cleaner than ever. Based on individual stove models, safety standards and building codes require the hearth pad to provide sufficient thermal protection. Because of the extremely high temperatures, a homemade hearth pad might not adequately protect the subfloor beneath your stove.

    There are two types or levels of protection, based on the stove manufacturer’s requirements. A Type 1 hearth pad requires only protection from burning embers. Any non-combustible material will comply. It would probably look quite tacky, but even a large piece of thick sheet metal will fulfill this requirement!

    Ember protection will not stop heat from burning the floor beneath the stove. The heat coming off the bottom and the sides of the stove can actually pass through a Type 1 pad and overheat the subfloor. A Type 2 hearth pad will prevent that heat from reaching the subfloor.

    Type 2 hearth pads need a minimum protection of an R-value of 1.0 or more. Pads built with a material such as a micore mineral fiber board can provide a specific R-value to the hearth. Raising a Type 1 pad off the floor with a pedestal base built from metal studs is another way to get a higher R-value. The dead air space between the pedestal and the floor will offer an effective R-value. If you’re interested, the UL Standard for this information is UL 1618.

    Wood Stove S Series by Napoleon

    Final Considerations

    It is critical to check the hearth or flooring requirements in the owner’s manual of your stove to ensure the proper protection is in place. The stove’s manual will state the type of floor protection that’s necessary. The manual will also specify the minimum size of the hearth pad and the minimum clearance requirements for the stove.

    Remember that “more is always better” when it comes to clearance requirements and the size of the hearth underneath your stove. And, if you have “more” hearth, you’ll have plenty of room for a tool set, a wood rack, gloves and kindling. A larger hearth will protect more floor space and will make clean-up much easier, too.

    To make things much easier and to take the work out of all of this, your WE LOVE FIRE® dealers offer various sizes of Type 1 and Type 2 hearth protection pads. There are loads of colors to suit your decorating scheme and still comply with the requirements from the stove manufacturer.

    What about the space in front of your fireplace, does that need floor protection, too? Yes, they do and Type 2 hearth extensions for fireplace applications are readily available.

    Most pellet stoves require a Type 1 hearth. Details for the size of the hearth for your model will be spelled out in the owner’s manual.

    Since we’re on the subject, it’s also worth mentioning that many of today’s gas stoves do not require a hearth pad. It’s perfectly safe for them to be installed on a hardwood or laminate floor. But again, always check the owner’s manual for the requirements for your specific model.

    Electric Fireplace: How To?

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    How to Start an Electric Fireplace?

    Starting an electric fireplace is done one of three ways. All are super simple! The fireplace can be operated by a touch panel or switch, usually located on the top or side of the unit. One tab will turn it on/off and other buttons will turn the heat on/off and adjust the liveliness of the flames.

    Another way to start your electric fireplace is with a remote control. Make sure there’s fresh batteries in the remote and the power to the fireplace is on. Most fireplaces will require the main power switch be in a certain position when using a remote.

    The remote will control: the unit being turned on/off, the heater being turn on/off and high/low, the temperature function and can adjust the lighting effects on the equipment.

    Remotes usually use a line of site to operate, so it’s important to make sure you point the remote to the center of the fireplace each time you press the button. You’ll hear a beep and there may be a slight delay for the receiver to respond to the transmitter.

    The third way to start your electric fireplace is with a wall thermostat. This operates the same way the thermostat for your furnace works. Wiring is run from the back of the fireplace to the thermostat in the wall. Simply set the desired temperature and when the thermostat starts calling for heat, the fireplace cycles on. When the thermostat is satisfied, it turns the heat off.

    Of these three ways to start an electric fireplace, the remote control option is certainly the most popular.

    3D rendering of cozy living room on cold winter night in the mountains, evening interior of chalet decorated with candles, fireplace fills the room with warmth.

    Electric Fireplace by Ambiance

    WHEN TO USE AN ELECTRIC FIREPLACE?

    Anytime and/or all the time is the answer to this question! That’s because leaving the flame and lighting effects on for several hours a day, costs just pennies! Much has been said about the spectacular effects of today’s electric fireplaces, so why not enjoy them every day? The colors, media options and the inexpensive costs to enjoy the light show are reasons enough to keep your fireplace on all the time!

    If you’re looking for ambiance and atmosphere, the fireplace can be on day and night. Use the heating feature on the fireplace only when you’re looking for supplemental heat for a brief period of time. Continuous electric heating can be quite expensive.

    HOW LONG SHOULD I RUN AN ELECTRIC FIREPLACE?

    Leaving an electric fireplace on all the time is not going to cause any damage to the equipment. However, with the heating element on, the damage is going to be felt in the balance of your checking account! Unless your home is specifically designed for electric heat, heating with electricity is an expensive way to go. If you’re looking for heat from your electric fireplace, it’s best to think of it as supplemental heat, not your main heat source.

    Some folks use electric fireplaces as subdued, night lighting that’s left on overnight for the kids or elderly. Others use the fire and ice effects as a subliminal cooling effect in the summertime! Many consider an electric fireplace as “moving wall art”! We’re guessing that anyone who operates the remote will have their favorite colors and effects! The flames and light show on your electric fireplace cost pennies a day. So, keep it turned on and enjoy it!

    ELECTRIC FIREPLACE MAINTENANCE

    Electric fireplace equipment does not need a lot of regular routine maintenance. Keeping the batteries fresh in the remote probably tops the list. Most require AAA’s.

    Cleaning the kids’ fingerprints from the glass can be done with a common household glass cleaner using a non-abrasive cloth. Let the glass thoroughly cool before cleaning.

    And, if you have dogs or cats in the house, make sure the fireplace is kept free of pet hair and dust bunnies. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to gently remove any dirt, dust, lint or other debris from the vent openings and control areas of the fireplace.