Categories for Fireplace Services

Fireplace Safety Tips for You and Your Family

October 18, 2021 5:17 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Winter is coming, and that means you and your family will get to enjoy your fireplace. Nothing’s better than gathering around a warm fire on a cold evening with your favorite beverage and a good book. While sitting by the fireplace is typically a cozy experience, you do want to remember that there are potential hazards. Here are our safety tips when you have a fireplace—keep these in mind before you light the first logs of the season! How to maintain safety with your fireplace Before you start building your first fire of 2021, read over these tips to ensure safety: Use dry wood that’s been aged appropriately. If you use wet wood or wood that’s still green, you’re liable to create more smoke, which will add more soot buildup inside the chimney. Dry wood will burn more evenly and generate less smoke. Keep a window cracked open while the fire is going. This will prevent the buildup of smoke in your home and provide needed ventilation. Use smaller pieces of wood on a grate. These will burn faster and produce less smoke. Be sure to clean out the fireplace of the previous fire’s ashes. Levels of ashes should be... View Article

What Causes Fireplaces to Smell?

July 19, 2021 4:13 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

If you’ve been asking yourself, “Why does my fireplace smell?” you’ll find that there are several potential causes of the problem. Luckily, there are also some very effective solutions that eliminate smells and allow you to use your fireplace safely. Here’s a basic guide to help you determine why your fireplace smells as well as strategies for how to clean a smelly fireplace. Common causes Knowing why your fireplace smells is the first step in getting rid of the odor. While it’s always best to get a professional opinion from an expert, here are some of the clues that can point you toward the cause of a smelly fireplace: Animals or insects in the chimney: It’s not uncommon for animals to get stuck in a chimney and die. As you might expect, this can cause a horrible odor that can make its way into your home. Bees and other insects can make themselves at home in a chimney, too, causing your fireplace to smell and even affecting your allergies. Soot and creosote buildup: Without regular maintenance, a fireplace can start to smell simply from general use due to soot and creosote. These elements form from the smoke of a fire.... View Article

What’s the Best Fireplace for the Environment?

July 9, 2021 6:39 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

If you’re looking to improve your home while reducing your carbon footprint, consider installing a more clean-burning fireplace. There are many different options for environmentally-friendly fireplaces, including electric and gas options. Even wood-burning fireplaces don’t have to be that bad for the environment when operated correctly. Read on to learn about a few eco-friendly fireplaces and how they can improve the look and feel of your home: Ethanol fireplace: Ethanol fireplaces are not only one of the most environmentally-friendly options, but they are often inexpensive and easy to use. As their name suggests, these fireplaces use ethanol to produce heat, but no smoke or odor. These types of fireplaces are also safer and easier to relocate than most others. Ethanol fireplaces come in a variety of different sizes and designs, so it’s easy to find the perfect one for your home. You can also use them both indoors and outdoors. The main disadvantage with ethanol fireplaces is that it can be difficult to find a good spot to store the ethanol. Wood-burning fireplace: It’s no secret that wood-burning fireplaces can be bad for the environment. They create smoke that can contribute to smog and other pollution in the air. There... View Article

Best Way to Clean Your Fireplace

June 1, 2021 2:04 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Maybe you’re a pro at dusting and vacuuming, but cleaning your fireplace has you stumped. When it comes to fireplace cleaning in Seattle, WA, you’re not sure how to approach the task. Use the following simple guide to get a fresh, clean fireplace in Seattle, WA. How to clean a wood-burning fireplace For wood-burning fireplaces, follow these seven steps. Depending on frequency of use, you may want to perform this task weekly or monthly: 1.     Protect your surroundings: Before you start digging into the ashes, protect the area around the fireplace. Cover any carpeting and furniture that is nearby. Old sheets work great. Also, wear gloves and work clothes that you don’t mind staining with fireplace soot. 2.     Gather supplies: You’ll need a lined trash can and extra bags to dispose of the fireplace waste. Make sure these are handy. 3.     Clear away the debris: Consider how often you use your fireplace. If the use is infrequent, birds may have invaded the flue and built nests in this space. Start your fireplace cleaning in Seattle, WA by using a broomstick to remove any nests. You may need to do this from the rooftop. 4.     Clean the firebox: Once you’ve removed... View Article

Best Gas Fireplace Inserts

February 15, 2021 10:34 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

A gas fireplace insert can lower your heating bill and fix a cold chimney draft while dramatically transforming a room and maybe even increasing the value of your home. Here are a few key features to keep in mind when looking for faux wood and other fireplace inserts in Seattle, WA. Impressive imitation of wood flames A common reason cited for preferring wood over gas fireplaces is that there’s no substitute for real wood-burning flames, but recent technological advancements have leveled the playing field. Gas flames can be made to dance and flicker just like the real thing, so there’s no need to sacrifice beauty when choosing a gas fireplace instead of a wood one. Direct vent gas fireplaces Traditionally, open flue fireplaces rely on drawing air from inside your home. However, direct vent fireplaces draw intake air from the outside. Direct vent fireplaces are designed to prevent cold drafts from entering indoors and warmed air from leaking, so they’ll also keep the home warmer, improve indoor air quality and reduce overall heating costs. Smart gas fireplaces There truly is an app for everything. Just like the rest of your home, a gas fireplace can be controlled remotely. They can... View Article