Previously published at highschimney.com

What's the difference between Fireplaces and Fireplace Inserts?

There is a lot of confusion about these terms. After all, a "fireplace" ought to be any place you can have a fire, right? Yep, but there is a difference anyway and today I'll lay it out for everyone.

If you haven’t started storing wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove, I’d get started now. The days are already getting shorter, and before you know it summer will be over, and fall’s first chill will be in the air.

"I have a file that says 'chimney'," said Bonnie Ford, a professional organizer, who got a fast education about chimneys at her former home in Fair Lawn.

It's been quite a while since homeowners have felt it's worthwhile to put good money into their houses. Given years of declining home values, there has been little hope of getting one's money back with major remodeling projects. A new report indicates that in the months ahead, however, owners will be picking up their hammers - or at least hiring plenty of contractors and handymen - in what's expected to be a major growth period for remodeling. More

By Reuben Saltzman

After years of use, gas fireplaces often develop a cloudy white haze on the glass.  This white haze makes the flames difficult to see, ruins any potential illusion that you're looking at a real fireplace, and really kills the mood.  Ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but it is annoying. 

Possibilities

Allowing way more natural light than traditional fireplaces, and with some not even needing a vent, metal fireplaces are a major improvement

Burning Money
A fire in an open hearth is only 10 percent efficient at best, which means that 90 percent of the heat energy you’ve paid for goes up in smoke. Heated room air is drafted up the chimney as well, so your main heating system actually works harder to keep the house warm. Glass fireplace doors raise the efficiency somewhat but only to about 20 percent.

With heating oil at $4.00 a gallon many homeowners are considering to, at least partially, heat their homes with good ole Maine firewood at a fraction of the heating costs. The pay back time for investing in an EPA clean burning wood burning fireplace insert is usually less than two years. Here is how to get started. 

By KATE GALBRAITHMAY 1, 2012

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A century ago, rural homes in the United States and Europe commonly relied on wood for heating. Now wood is making a comeback, thanks largely to pellet technology.

If your fireplace firebrick is cracked or broken, you should replace the refractory brick before continuing the use the fireplace. Universal firebrick from Hargroveoffers a simple and inexpensive method of replacing the fireplace firebrick.