Fire is a common source of heat, and it’s also fascinating. Part of the unexplainable joy of warming by a fire in the fireplace is watching the dancing flames. To experience this pleasure in your home, a chimney is needed. Although chimneys are also mysteries to most people, they are routinely ignored by many homeowners. Oftentimes, people simply don’t recognize that annual Read more…

Many ways exist to bring (safe) fire to a backyard living space. You can go with a handsome outdoor fireplace or heating stove, both of which look amazing and can double to some degree as cooking appliances. But the simplest – and possibly most enjoyable – backyard fire appliance, for many people, is the traditional Read more…

  What do you do with your fireplace damper in the summer? Some people close it. Others leave it open. Others forget all about it, and it stays in whatever state it’s in until the next burning season. Of these three answers, the first is by far the best. Whether it’s a top-sealing damper that opens and closes at the exterior-top of the Read more…

Did you know it may cost you more than necessary to enjoy your wood-burning open masonry fireplace? If your fireplace was built or installed prior to 1992, when emission requirements changed, you can cut heating costs by switching to a new fireplace or fireplace insert. The change would also help to keep the environment cleaner. Read more…

Are you planning a move to a new home in the near future? Are you looking to buy a new home? In both cases, it will be a smart move to make sure a Level 2 real estate chimney inspection is performed. And here’s why. A home inspection doesn’t necessarily equal a chimney inspection While Read more…

If you have a masonry fireplace, it’s recommended that you close it up in spring; but you can use electric fireplaces year-around. Electric fireplaces provide the best answer to the question: How can I enjoy a fireplace but without heat? Thanks to innovation in technology and design, there is a perfect electric fireplace for everyone. Read more…

Backyard recreational fires in a fire pit or similar structure are fun for all and a great way to add some pizazz to your yard. There’s nothing like gathering around a dancing fire with friends and loved ones to cook, eat, catch up and unwind. You can purchase fire pits in a wide range of Read more…

If you’ve ever had the experience of starting to use your wood burning fireplace when cold weather arrives and then before long noticing your room – or home – is crawling with insects, your firewood may be to blame. Or, more accurately, you may be to blame for not knowing how to control firewood pests. All kinds of bugs and insects like to hang Read more…

Is your chimney showing signs of age? Are small cracks beginning to appear? Are you worried that the damage will worsen? A great solution to this problem for many homeowners is to have the chimney professionally coated with a water repellant that prevents water from entering any broken spaces. Why is water bad for chimneys? Read more…

Chimneys are designed to last for decades, but they can fail without proper maintenance. When a chimney fails, it can become a serious safety risk. Using a fireplace with a damaged chimney increases the risk of a chimney fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Even if it is not in use, it could become a structural Read more…