Fire·place:
1: a framed opening made in a chimney to hold an open fire
2: an outdoor structure of brick, stone or metal for an open fire

The definition seems simple, but there’s so much more to a fireplace than a framed opening or outdoor structure. Fires have been providing heat and a means for cooking since the days of Stone Age man. And once man learned to control fire, modern civilization began.

History of Fireplaces

From caves to castles, an open fire was the earliest method of providing interior heating. In fact, up until the 19th century, open fires were often the only source of heat for the average home. Fires were started by striking pieces of flint over tinder, usually small dry twigs or leaves. Most of the time, just an open fire or open hearth was placed in the middle of the floor. Families gathered around to keep warm.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the first fireplaces were developed when medieval houses and castles were equipped with chimneys to carry away smoke. An open hearth in the middle of a room only heated the immediate area; the other rooms of the castle were not heated at all. According to Marvin Hull of castles-of-britain.com, the open hearths were later placed against a wall, an arch and back were added and the true fire-place appeared.

Fireplace backs most often were made of stone and had a herringbone pattern to reduce the effects of heat. The chimney rose for a couple of floors, then to the outside. Hull’s research found that later
fireplace development included highly decorative arches with fine paintings or motifs of heraldry.

To help heat other areas of the castle, some fireplaces developed into massive structures, protruding more and more prominently and proudly from the wall. Even with the development of hoods (a projection that surrounds the opening of a fireplace and directs smoke up to the chimney flue), areas of the castle still remained unheated.

Most of the time, just an open fire of open hearth was placed in the middle of the floor. Families gathered around to keep warm.

Heavy tapestries were hung on the walls to help absorb the heat from the fireplaces and keep out the cold air, and portable heaters called braziers were often carried from room to room.

It was during the Victorian era that fireplaces became popular. Count Rumford (1753-1814), a Massachusetts man who left the States in 1776 because he was a loyalist, is credited for improving fireplace technology. He made fireplaces smaller and shallower so they would reflect more heat, and streamlined the throats to carry away the smoke with little loss of heated room air. He wrote two essays detailing his improvements on fireplaces in 1796 and 1798, and almost immediately the “Rumford fireplace” became state-of-the-art worldwide. According to researcher and author Jim Buckley, Jefferson had them built at Monticello, and Thoreau listed them among the modern conveniences that everyone took for granted.

Sources of Heat

Fireplaces are not the most dependable form of heat. If you want to increase the temperature, you add wood and move closer – and do the opposite if you want to decrease the amount of heat. Today, many fireplaces are not used for their efficiency, but for aesthetic purposes. A wood fireplace is considered a centerpiece of a room because of the warmth and coziness it adds. And this translates into a higher appraisal value: Industry data shows that each fireplace increases the value of the average home by about $12,000.

Sean Meagher, owner of Hearthside Heating Products in Grantham, N.H., finds that many builders are still putting in wood fireplaces. “In this area, there are quite a few second homes. People coming here from the city are looking to get away and relax, and a wood fire gives the home a warm, cozy, comfortable feeling,” he says.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports that nearly 60 percent of the 1.8 million new homes built in 2003 featured at least one fireplace. A recent survey by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) found that more than half of fireplace owners view the appliance as a design feature. “It adds charm to a room,” says Meagher. In many homes, second fireplaces are being considered for master bedrooms and outdoor living areas.

Today, fireplaces aren’t just for wood anymore. The HPBA says that 2.6 million hearth appliances were shipped last year (1.8 million of them gas fueled.) Hearthside Heating has seen the switch from wood to gas firsthand. “Gas fireplaces are convenient and controllable – you hit a remote control or turn a thermostat for instant heat,” says Meagher. “If you want to go out to dinner, you don’t have to wait for the fire to go out; you just turn the fireplace off. We’re finding that many people are so busy that they don’t have time to actually tend a fire.”

And, according to the HPBA, the increasing popularity of fireplaces is not just indoors: sales of outdoor hearth appliances – chimineas, weatherproof fireplaces and portable fire pits – reached a record 600,000 in 2003, and the climb will continue as outdoor rooms gain in popularity.

“Advances in hearth product design and technology give fireplaces and freestanding stoves an enhanced role in consumer lifestyles. There is now a type, size and style of fireplace to fit literally any room of area in a home. The ‘heat’ does go on: Hearth appliance shipments in the U.S. nearly tripled since 1993,” says Tony Miller, HPBA spokesperson.

Cleaning a Fireplace

All heating appliances – whether they burn gas, oil, wood or coal – rely on the chimney to safely carry toxic gases produced by the heating system of the house. And all chimneys need a periodic examination and cleaning to maintain efficiency and reduce the chance of fire. According to the United States Fire Administration, 35 percent of household fires are the result of indoor fireplaces.

According to Allstate Insurance Company, stovepipes and chimneys should be checked regularly for creosote deposits, which look like shiny black paint. Creosote is flammable and can easily fuel a chimney fire – this highly combustible material can reach temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

PageWise, an online collection of articles on hundreds of different topics, recommends that fireplaces used at least four times a year should be checked and cleaned every year. HouseGenius suggests an inspection after every three cords of wood are burned. Typically the best time for a chimney cleaning is when you’re not using the fireplace – perhaps late spring or early fall.

If you want to clean your chimney, the Internet is filled with how-to sites. eHow.com offers this advice:

• Buy a set of chimney rods and brushes at the hardware store. First, measure the chimney carefully to determine size of brush. An over-size brush could become lodged, and an under-size brush will not provide pressure on walls for proper cleaning.
  
• Clean when chimney is completely cold. Extinguish fire and remove hot ashes.
  
• Change into old clothes, wear safety goggles and a dust mask. Lay out a clean tarp in front of the fireplace. Cover the fireplace opening with a plastic tarp held on with duct tape and, just in case, cover all furniture in the immediate area.
  
• Check the fittings and tighten if necessary.
  
• Open the damper. Remove if possible.
  
• Climb up on the roof, taking rods and brushes with you.
  
• Remove chimney cap and check it for weather damage. It is important to keep the cap in good condition, as it prevents sparks from escaping your chimney and keeps out rain, small animals and debris.
  
• Assemble chimney rods and brushes according to directions.
  
• Run the brush down the chimney using a short up and down plunging motion. Some brushes are designed to twist as well.
  
• Go back inside the house and use a short chimney brush to clean the flue, which is the pipe that runs between the fireplace and the chimney.
  
• Brush the floor and walls of the fireplace with a stiff, dry scrub brush. Don’t use water to clean the brick or cement – it could affect heat retention.
  
• Clean the damper with the brush, then reach through the damper with a vacuum hose and clean the creosote out of the smoke shelf (a cavity behind the fireplace) and any elbow or “T” connections.
  
• Vacuum up all dust and debris. Use a powerful flashlight to look into the chimney to be sure you have cleaned it completely.
  
• Rinse the chimney brush in a strong cleaning solution and store away in a dry place for the next time.

When in doubt, hire out. Chimney sweeps are trained to look for cracks, loose brick or mortar and other possible dangers. If you see anything like this, immediately get your chimney inspected by a professional.

“Consider hiring a chimney sweep to be the same as hiring a mechanic to work on your vehicle. You have to ask yourself if you have tools and technical knowledge to safely perform the service,” says Melissa Heeke, director of communications at Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a nonprofit institution dedicated to public and chimney professional education.