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FireplacesWelcome to FireplaceGuide.co.uk - the website containing everything you need to know about planning, buying and installing a new fireplace in your home or business. Considerations when Purchasing a FireplaceBefore purchasing any fireplace, you need to consider a few aspects beforehand that could affect what kind of fireplace you will be installing. If you are buying a fireplace for a new home or a currently under construction home, this will be much easier to consider as your plans should have already included a location and design for your fireplace. If you are adding a fireplace to an existing home, then things can be a bit more complicated as you will need to accommodate and adapt to the design of the home you have. Your first questions should concern the chimney, such as do you have one? Is the chimney in good repair? If there is no chimney you can consider utilising a wall where the fireplace can vent directly outside or perhaps even a vent free fireplace. If you are indeed considering a vent free fireplace because you have no chimney for a vented fireplace you need to be careful about how you use it. A vent free fireplace can be an inviting option for those who do not want the hassle of chimney upkeep or do not have an outside wall to use. However, a vent free fireplace comes with certain additional operational procedures that need to be adhered to. You should only use these fireplaces for less than 4 hours at a time; they are not to be used in any small and confined space and also should not be the only source of heat. It is also highly discouraged for anyone who is pregnant (or trying), anaemic, has respiratory problems, has a heart condition or even diabetic. You should also be aware that vent free fireplaces produce excess moisture so moisture traps will be a necessity to upkeep the house. If you do have a chimney or direct venting wall there are a multitude of different fireplaces you can consider instead. Wood fireplaces are a very popular choice for people looking for atmosphere and traditionalism. You will need to make sure your chimney is in good working order before hand for this type of fireplace and you need to ensure it is cleaned properly as well. This will avoid chimney fires and ensure no nesting birds are present. Gas fireplaces are the most common type of fireplace used for many homes because they minimise the work required to maintain them. This common choice is now being quickly replaced however, with electric fireplaces. For people that do not want the hassle of a wood burning stove but still like the atmosphere it brings, electric fireplaces can emulate the traditional fireplace quite effectively. Electric fireplaces are meant to be used to take the chill from the room and not as a sole source of heat. As an additional bonus, electric fireplaces are relatively inexpensive to operate and have almost no maintenance requirements. It’s literally a case of plugging it in and turning it on. This makes it an ideal solution for the elderly as well who can no longer put up with the hassle of real wood burning fireplaces but like the presence they offer to the room still. More Home Improvement and DIY Portals
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