Get the best tools and accessories for the fireplace in your home.
A fireplace is an essential appliance that provides you not only with heat, but also comfort. However, like any other appliances in your home, there are some accessories and tools you need to ensure it’s always working in top shape.
While this can be something as simple as fireplace tools, it can also be gas fireplace parts, which require regular replacement to ensure optimal performance.
Read on to find out what tools are critical for every homeowner with a fireplace, and enjoy the convenience that comes with being able to operate your unit properly.
The Essential Fireplace Tools
There are various tools that every homeowner should have to operate a fireplace. The essential ones include:
- Poker: When you burn wood, you may need to move, flip, or shift the logs to ensure the flame stay consistent. A poker, which is sometimes called a stoker, is the tool used to move the firewood while it’s burning. More often than not, they’re long and made of iron, which helps keep them somewhat cool, even when directly in the flame. Most pokers come with rubber grips to keep your hands safe from the high temperatures.
- Tongs: Like the poker, tongs are used to move logs and coals around your fireplace. While a poker is used to poke and prod, tongs offer more accurate control of firewood, which can be useful in larger fireplaces. The tongs are generally long enough that you can use them without being close to the open flames.
- Shovel: Generally used for the cleaning process, a shovel lets homeowners shift and root through ash left in a fireplace. This is particularly important once the fire is close to burning out, as homeowners will be able to shift ash around to locate burning embers. Using a shovel is a great way to protect your home from the dangers of fire.
- Bellow: A bellow is a type of fanning device used to remove air and stoke flames. Instead of having to be close to the fireplace to blow into it, like in the wilderness, a bellow instead does the blowing for you. It comes with two levers and is set on the ground. In order to use it, you would open and close it like an accordion, allowing air to increase the oxygen in the open flame. This is an essential tool for stoking flames.
- Brush: The final tool every homeowner should have is a brush. When used in conjunction with the shovel, it can easily be used to sweep up ash and soot left over after a fire. Additionally, the brush can be used to clean the inside of the fireplace, which is critical for keeping the air in your home clean and toxin free.
While every fireplace may have a wide range of tools and accessories, these are the essential utensils you should always have in your set. They can accommodate any need ranging from starting a fire, to stoking it, to putting it out.
How to Tell If your Fireplace Needs Repairs
Over time, your fireplace may succumb to damage and wear and tear. If this is the case, then you will need quality fireplace parts to make the repairs. Some signs that your fireplace is in need of repairs include:
- Foul Smells: If you have a traditional fireplace, then you need proper ventilation to ensure that the smoke and soot produced during a fire are properly vented through the chimney. If you have a gas fireplace, then any foul odors are an immediate cause for concern. Because gas fireplaces use natural gas for power, any smells could be a symptom of a gas leak, which can be deadly.
- Poor Heating: As a homeowner, you rely on your fireplace for even heating throughout your home. If you find that you’re not getting enough heat, even when the fireplace is on at the highest, then chances are there may be some damage somewhere. Whether it’s the heating element, or some type of ventilation leak, repairs will be needed.
- High Energy Costs: This is specifically for gas-powered fireplaces. Because these units use natural gas, if you see that your energy bills are on the rise, then you may require an inspection. Any small leak or repair issue can waste fuel, which translates into higher bills.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, then it may be time to get repairs. Using gas fireplace parts, a repair technician will be able to make the required repairs to get your fireplace back up and running.
Always be sure to try out your fireplace well before the cold season to ensure that you avoid any emergency situations in the heart of winter.