June 13, 2022 12:00 am
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While it certainly is delightful to move into your new house where a cozy fireplace sits in the den, you must also be wondering how often should you have your fireplace serviced. This is actually one of the things you should not forget to deal with, otherwise, you’ll be left wondering how you can even use it. After all, it does take a lot of work, and you definitely would need to call in a professional for it. If this is your first time dealing with a fireplace, here are some tips you can check out, especially if you want to be ahead of the preparations for winter. A Question of When According to professionals, the question “how often should fireplace be serviced” is a very practical and important one. Ideally, you should get it serviced and cleaned once every year. Even if you don’t frequently use it, you still need to keep it well-maintained to prevent build-up within, which can become a fire hazard. Some wait a while longer, until it reaches the three-year mark, before getting it cleaned again. This is probably more likely if your fireplace is roomier, and so it wouldn’t fill up with debris and buildup... View Article
May 23, 2022 12:00 am
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Many people assume that the ashes from their wood stove or fireplace are waste and have no use anymore; thus, they dispose of them. However, this is not true. Ashes contain nutrients that were present in the original wood, like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These nutrients can significantly benefit the plants in your farm or garden. This is why you should consider adding your ashes to your compost. Additionally, wood ash has zero nitrogen and will not burn your plants. Are Fireplace Ashes Good for Compost? Adding fireplace ashes to compost is an excellent way of counterbalancing the green nitrogen-producing components in the compost, such as grass clippings. The ashes will provide the compost with a brown carbon-producing component. The dominance of nitrogen-producing components in compost can make it somewhat acidic. Wood ash counterbalances this acidity thanks to its alkaline nature. As a result, the compost will be better positioned to maintain a neutral condition. Can Ashes Be Composted? Yes, ashes can be composted, but there are some considerations that you have to take into account. First, add wood ash to your compost in moderation. Additionally, only use ashes of 100% natural wood for your compost. This is because the chemicals... View Article
May 9, 2022 12:00 am
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The increasing emissions have become an enormous threat to the planet’s well-being by contributing significantly to global warming. Although fireplaces are an excellent way to keep warm, they also contribute to the increasing emissions and growing climate concerns. The most common fireplace options are wood-burning fireplaces, pellet stoves, natural gas fireplaces, and electric fireplaces. If you want to keep warm, you should consider an eco-friendly fireplace. Here is a breakdown of which fireplace is best for the environment. Wood-Burning Fireplaces Wood-burning fireplaces are the least eco-friendly fireplaces since they do the most harm to the environment. However, some advancements have been implemented in wood-burning fireplaces to make them more environmentally friendly. These advancements include: Using sustainably-harvested wood as fuel for the fireplaces. This reduces the environmental impact that unsustainable logging for firewood has on the planet. Purchasing locally sourced firewood reduces the carbon footprint associated with shipping imported firewood. Using innovative EPA-certified wood-burning fireplaces that utilize less firewood and are clean burning. Pellet Stoves A pellet stove is likely one of the most eco-friendly fireplaces that you can install in your space. This innovative alternative to the traditional wood-burning stove utilizes materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill... View Article
April 22, 2022 12:00 am
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It’s easy to forget the outside of your home during the cleaning, regardless of how attentive you are. However, parts of the house, such as the fireplace and the chimney, might not get as much attention. A fireplace is a luxury in many households and a feature that can increase the value of your home. However, if you ignore the cleanliness of your chimney, your home and family might be at risk. A significant number of house fires result from creosote accumulation inside the chimney. Creosote (a carbonaceous chemical) is a highly flammable matter which accumulates in the chimney when you burn wood. A small accumulation of creosote glazing can create the possibility of a chimney fire. Factors Influencing Creosote Accumulation in Your Chimney If you’re not careful about your burning practices or your burning appliance isn’t working well, the creosote production rate can be higher. Some wood types also produce more creosote than others when burned. Other factors that influence the volume of creosote that builds up on your chimney walls include insufficient airflow volume into the chimney and burning inappropriately seasoned wood. A significant buildup of soot and creosote can be sufficient to start a chimney fire which might damage your chimney and extend to... View Article
April 8, 2022 12:00 am
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Fire pits are great, but odds are you have not done much cleaning of your pit during the months of use in the winter. If that is the case, there are some tips you can use to get your fire pit looking great this spring and ready for memory-making with family and friends. Here are some tips to make cleaning your fire pit a breeze this season. How to Maintain Your Fire Pit The first thing to do is to remove ashes from the fire pit. When cleaning fire pits, one of the biggest issues is going to be ashes that have accumulated over the time you have used your pit. Too many ashes in the basin can make it hard to start a new fire. After removing the ashes, you can dispose of them and move on to cleaning the fire pit. A great cleaning solution is one part muriatic acid mixed with nine parts water. This will remove any dirt and grime that has built up on the stone of your masonry fire pit. Wearing rubber gloves, use a scrub brush to scrub the brick and other masonry. This solution is going to help remove build-up and creosote... View Article
