A very brief history of fireplaces

A fireplace is a common feature in traditional homes that serves as both a source of heat and an aesthetic statement. The fireplace is a focal point in many houses, old and contemporary.

The basic fireplace is made up of a cement base, a hearth, a firebox, distinctive facing, ash dump and cleanout doors, a lintel and lintel bar, a breast, a damper, a smoke chamber, a throat, a flue, a chimney chase, a crown, a cover or shroud, and a spark arrestor. For decades and perhaps centuries, the fireplace's structure was incorporated into the designs of homes. For many people, a central heating system has supplanted the fireplace as a primary source of heat in their homes.

Fuel for the fireplace
Coal, wood, or peat were traditionally used to heat fireplaces. Natural gas and electricity have largely displaced these earlier fuels as the preferred means of igniting flames due to their superiority in terms of cleanliness, safety, and cost. To maintain a steady flame for an extended period of time, gas fireplaces typically use only a modest amount of fuel. A better and more cost-effective option is to use a modern fireplace.

Fireplace Types
designed with a metal firebox and double or triple walled steel tubing ascending through the wood chase, with a chase cover and a cap/spark arrestor at the top. Manufactured or Prefab Fireplaces This type of chimney rusts when it is near salt water, although it is more cost-effective than a brick chimney.

The lining of the chimney flue is protected from corrosion by the use of flue tiles in masonry fireplaces. These aren't built to withstand earthquakes!

Chimneys made of reinforced concrete were popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but are no longer in use. When heated, the flue will break due to the conflicting thermal expansion rates of the steel rebar and concrete. As the rebar inside the chimney rusts, the chimney's vertical fissures get worse.

In terms of aesthetics, fireplaces are alluring. There's something calming and soothing about a roaring fire, and mantelpieces are a popular way to display family photos. For all their imperfections, a fireplace's usefulness extends far beyond its original purpose. More than that, a fireplace is a symbol of the safety and security that comes with being in a house.