Nothing compares to sitting by the fireplace with a cup of coffee to fight the winter chill. A fireplace is also a focal point for all your entertainment and gatherings with your friends and family.
Most American homeowners love to have a fireplace. However, before you get a fireplace installed, you’d want to learn about its longevity, upkeep, repair, and performance. As fireplace experts who’ve been providing masonry services in Saco for over 26 years, we’re familiar with all the myths and misconceptions that surround fireplaces, and we’re here to dispel them.
1. If You Don’t Use the Chimney, You Won’t Need Regular Inspections.
When it comes to fireplace upkeep, the first thing you should know is that creosote and soot buildup in the fuel lining over time is inevitable. Therefore, you must have your chimney inspected and cleaned. A by-product of wood smoke, creosote is a flammable deposit that accumulates on chimney walls.
However, the by-products of wood-burning aren’t the only concern when it comes to chimney inspection. You must also pay equal attention to the structural integrity of the chimney. Your chimney and ventilation system can break down if there are any cracks in the masonry or the liner, debris from nests, or moisture.
Therefore, it’s important to get your chimney inspected every year so that any issue can be taken care of at an early stage, saving you from expensive repairs.
2. Cleaning the Chimney Yourself Can Save You Money
Unless you’re a chimney cleaning expert, you should leave the task to the experts. That’s because there are several risks involved in cleaning and inspecting the chimney.
Cleaning the creosote from the chimney isn’t an easy task. It’s extremely challenging, especially if you don’t have the required knowledge and tools.
If you’re looking for a well-functioning fireplace chimney with no damage to its masonry, you should have the chimney inspected and cleaned professionally. Moreover, an expert will be able to catch any issue before it gets worse.
3. Fireplace Won’t Make Your Room Warm
This myth holds little truth, but you can easily fix the issue. Fire requires oxygen to burn that comes from the surrounding air. When the air goes in the fireplace, it’s replaced with cooler air from your home.
To fix this, you can do two things. Firstly, you can fit a fireback device on the back wall of the fireplace. This will radiate the heat into the room making your room feel warmer. You can also install fire inserts. They will make the fire burn efficiently and hotter.
4. Gas Fireplaces are Less Fuel Efficient Than Wood
As far as the cost is concerned, a wood-powered fireplace will only trump a gas fireplace if you live near a forest and you have free access to wood. Other than that, wood is a less efficient fuel than gas because it only produces 25% heat for your home as the majority of it is lost in the chimney.
Natural gas, on the other hand, can produce less heat but can be around 70% to 99% efficient as compared to wood. It’s also a cheap energy source. Moreover, most homes come with a natural gas connection that makes a gas-fired fireplace an easy addition.
5. Burning Wood like Pine will Cause a Lot of Creosote to Buildup
Softwoods like pine contain a lot of resin or sap. It’s a fact that when resin-rich wood burns, they produce a lot of creosote which accumulates in your chimney. However, this is all a myth. According to research by the University of Georgia, creosote forms when some wood is burned at low temperatures, not when resin-rich wood is burned. Therefore, as long as the softwood is seasoned sufficiently, creosote will not build up. However, you should keep in mind that while pinewood burns very hot, it produces a lot of smoke.
6. Fireplaces Have Costly Installation Processes and Aren’t Made for Every Home
Fireplaces are available in an expansive variety and range. The operations between different fireplaces – gas fireplaces, wood fireplaces, electric fireplaces, ethanol fireplaces. Every fireplace has its pros and cons. We, at Stone Solutions Maine, can install a variety of fireplaces and firepits in your home and outdoor living space. We ensure that the cost and affordability along with convenience and use of space are taken into consideration for all our clients.
Hire Professionals to Rock Your Fireplaces
You must hire professionals for the installation and inspection of your fireplace and firepits. Our trained team at Stone Solutions Maine offers outdoor landscaping services in Saco. We ensure that the landscaping is done to perfection and within time.
Our landscaping services also include stonewalls and veneers, firepit and fireplace building, patios, driveways, and more. We also offer our services in South Portland, Falmouth, and Yarmouth, ME.
Contact us today to upgrade your outdoor space.