Fireplaces have been a traditional architectural feature of a house. Fireplaces originally provided heat for cooking as well as keeping the house warm. Fireplaces kept the same basic pattern for thousands of years. Within the 16th century, the idea of raising the wood on a grate improved the heating effectiveness of the fireplace. Ben Franklin implemented the next improvement in fireplace pattern. The Franklin stove, constructed out of cast iron, captured more heat from burning wood. Count Rumford modified the fireplace by creating a tall, shallow box, resulting in higher radiant efficiency. Now, fireplaces are available with advanced selections and features to meet any pattern or lifestyle need. The following five fireplaces are the most well-known:

Wood Burning Fireplaces

Wood burning fireplaces are either masonry or factory constructed inserts. Masonry fireplaces are labor intensive, and are constructed on site out of fire bricks, cinder block, clay chimney liners and brick or stone, depending on the surround. Masonry fireplaces usually include a hearth, mantel, grate, firebox, and damper.

Fireplace inserts are manufactured off-site and are simpler to install. Fireplace inserts use a double walled steel chimney that’s light and simple to install.

Gas Burning Fireplaces

Gas burning fireplaces come in a large variety of styles to meet any decorating requirement. You can find three major types of gas burning fireplaces: Direct vent, vent free, and inserts. Gas burning fireplaces may perhaps be double sided, or any unique shape to make a pattern statement for a room. Direct vent gas fireplaces use outside air for combustion. Since gas fireplaces have electronic ignition, some have remote controls or thermostats to create a comfortable room temperature.

Vent free fireplaces supply higher selections for placing fireplaces in rooms that may perhaps not have access to an outside wall or for a chimney. Vent free fireplaces are very efficient, as no heat is lost via flu gas. Even so, the room supplies the oxygen required for combustion. Some building codes need fresh air sources for vent free fireplaces electric fireplace melbourne.