Types of Fireplaces
Fireplaces are simply places to have fires. Fireplaces can be indoors or outdoors. Some common materials used to create fireplaces are brick, concrete, stone and metal. Most wood-burning fireplaces include a pit where the wood is burned and a chute or chimney where smoke rises and dissipates into the atmosphere. Gas fireplaces are fueled by gas; they may or may not have chimneys. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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Fireplace varieties include ones made by masonry, ones made out of concrete and those that are prefabricated. Some burn wood and others have gas jets inside them. Gas fireplaces are also known as vented fireplaces. They are fueled by gas and function to produce heat or be used just for decorative purposes. There are three types of gas fireplaces: direct vent, top vent and vent-free. Direct vent types use two pipes, one that brings gas in and one that takes gas out. Top vent gas fireplaces are installed into existing fireplaces using the existing chimney as an exhaust. Vent-free gas fireplaces use no vent; they have a sensor that detects when oxygen levels are getting low in an environment and shut off accordingly.
Function
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Most fireplaces burn wood. Controlled fireplace fires are used to provide light and warmth. Gas fireplaces are hooked up to gas lines and are used for mostly decorative purposes. However, many gas fireplaces give off enough heat to be used to provide house-heating warmth. Since it can be costly and inefficient to run gas pipes to remote areas, gas fireplaces are usually used in urban settings.
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Benefits
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There are several advantages and disadvantages to each type of fireplace. Masonry and concrete fireplaces are very durable and capable of lasting over a century if maintained properly. The only downfall to masonry or concrete fireplaces is that they are prone to cracking at extreme temperatures. Fabricated fireplaces are relatively inexpensive to produce and can be custom made to fit in an existing location. The materials used to create manufactured fireplaces are also much lighter and easier to manipulate than stone and brick fireplaces. Despite the fact that gas fireplace use natural gases to produce a flame, they can create a fire that gives off tremendous amounts of heat.
Warnings
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Any type of fireplace has to be properly maintained to function safely and properly. Wood fireplaces require inspection. Chimneys should be swept and cleaned regularly to avoid the possibility of unwanted fires sparking up inside. The size of a fire in a wood fireplace should always be controlled to avoid the risk of emergencies. Gas lines in a gas fireplace system should be inspected regularly for leaks.
History
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People have been using fireplaces for hundreds of years. In the 21st century, many people are enjoying fireplaces simply for their aesthetic beauty. They do provide heat but fireplaces are not necessarily needed to provide heat because many people live in temperature-controlled environments.
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