SPECIAL NOTE - Professional installation is recommended for any type of heating equipment, including fireplace accessories. If your fireplace is a factory-built or "prefab" unit, be sure to use only products approved or recommended by the manufacturer of the fireplace. Using non-approved products can have a serious effect on the safety of your fireplace.
Glass doors - Glass doors perform several functions. Primarily, a glass door improves the appearance of your fireplace. A glass door also helps reduce heat loss from your home, both during and after the fire. Most glass doors have a mesh screen built in that will prevent sparks and embers from popping out of the fireplace. If you don't have a blower, you will want to leave the doors open to get the greatest possible amount of heat out of the fireplace. After you are through enjoying the fire, separate the logs so they will burn out quickly and then close the doors. This will stop heat loss from the home while the ashes are cooling down.
Blowers - There are many types of blower units that can be added to most fireplaces. The use of a blower can improve the overall efficiency of your fireplace and supplement your home's heating system. If your fireplace has a blower system, you can generally operate the fireplace with the doors closed. In this manner the glass doors will prevent room air from escaping up the chimney while the blower pushes the heated air out of the fireplace. Note: Do not burn the fireplace with the doors closed unless the manufacturer of the door recommends this. Some glass doors may not withstand the high temperatures produced.
Grates - A grate should not really be considered an accessory because every fireplace needs a grate to burn properly. Be sure to select the proper size grate for your fireplace. Most people tend to purchase the largest grate that will fit into the fireplace, but this is not recommended. Select a grate that is approximately two-thirds the width of your fireplace and half the depth.
Dampers - Like grates, a damper is really a "must item" for a fireplace. Without the damper a great deal of heat will be lost up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use. The normal alternative to a damper would be a set of tight fitting glass doors. A damper can also be used to control the flow of smoke and heat up the chimney. By careful experimentation you can find the minimum damper opening for various fire conditions. Always have the damper in the fully open position when starting your fire. Once the fire is established you can gradually decrease the damper opening. Make these adjustments slowly and allow the fire time to stabilize between adjustments. If any smoke or odors escape into the room, the damper is not open enough. Pay close attention to the damper setting as varying fire conditions will require different damper settings. For example, as the fire dies down, more smoke will be generated and a greater damper opening will be required. Damper opening requirements will also vary according to outside temperature and other atmospheric conditions. With all of that said, probably the safest thing to do is to leave the damper open completely whenever using the fireplace.
While most dampers are located in the throat of the fireplace, there are dampers that mount at the top of the chimney. Top mounted dampers are operated by a control mounted in the firebox and connected to the chimney top damper by a cable or chain. Chimney top dampers are often an economical alternative to replacing a throat damper. Top mounted dampers will also keep rain and animals out of your chimney when in the closed position.
Screens - Another "must item" for a fireplace is a screen. If you do not have a spark screen for your fireplace, get one before you have your next fire. A spark screen prevents sparks and embers from jumping out of the fireplace. Many home fires have been started by sparks jumping out of a fireplace that has no screen. The screen may be a freestanding screen or one incorporated into a glass fireplace door.
Woodstoves - For those wishing to supplement their existing heat with woodburning, we recommend the purchase of a woodstove. For additional information see the section devoted to woodstoves.
Quality - We feel it is worth saying a word about quality here. Most fireplace accessories are available in a wide range of style and quality. For example, glass doors are available with different glass thickness, different metals (plated brass vs. solid brass) and varying levels of quality. Fireplace grates can be made of thin steels that will burn out in a year or two, or they can be made from materials that will last a lifetime. Just like most other products, you get what you pay for! A few extra dollars will usually be well spent to get a product of higher quality. Shop carefully and compare prices and features.
