A Dummy’s Guide To Buying A Fireplace

Winters have set in and we all crave to cozy up in front of a warm, inviting fire. That’s easy, all we have to do is get a fireplace… right? Sure. But for first-timers that ‘easy’ decision can be extremely tough to make. Here are some pointers to be kept in mind before choosing a fireplace for your home.

The first question to ask yourself is “Do I really need one”? Once you’ve decided that, you should be aware of all available kinds to choose from.

There are mainly two broad categories in fireplaces- indoor and outdoor. Indoor fireplaces are basically traditional that are ideal for use in bedrooms, living rooms and dens. They’re typically made of brick, cement, ceramic or stone. Mostly these are meant to burn wood or fuel but some can even burn coal and peat. Outdoor fireplaces are ideal to be used at a terrace or your backyard. The intent of both is the same: to produce heat and make the surroundings comfortably warm.

There’s a huge variety available among indoor fireplaces including Electric, Ethanol and Gel Fuel. The electrical ones are chimney-less and can simply be plugged into an outlet. They are even available as vent-less fireplaces and require no ventilation. Ethanol fireplaces are sleek. They burn ethanol fuel mixed with gasoline without harmful additives and produce heat. Gel fuel fireplaces are completely environment friendly and use bio-gel to generate warmth and are completely vent-less and smoke-free. They can hold up to three fuel cans that burn for approximately three hours.

Outdoor fireplaces usually have two variants- Wood burning and Chimenea. Wood burning ones can be used for both warming the surroundings and cooking and are available in attractive colors and designs and lend sophistication to your terrace, backyard or pool parties. The Chimenea ones provide the most effective heating out of most models, and come with a circular drum and a small chimney on the top.

Once you’ve chosen which of the above mentioned types of fireplaces suit your needs best, you need to consider some other factors as well.

Fireplaces come in a variety of sizes. You have to see which size – big or small- would look best according to your room. While choosing one, you should compare the size of the fire area with the height.

They require a lot of maintenance and you should consider if you would be able to maintain it properly. The soot needs to be cleaned and the metal body should be coated with anti-rust elements.

Fireplaces also come with a number of accessories. These range from Chimenea covers, tools, ember or raisin tea-light fireplace logs, gas conversion kits, patio protector and fire-resistant pad. These accessories are optional and you can choose each one according to your requirements. These fireplaces come with mantles or grills made of wood, brick, marble, stone or metal that add prestige to your home.

Know more about Indoor Fireplaces
Outdoor Fireplaces

Author: Tarun K. Bhardwaj
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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