During the fall and winter months, many homeowners light their fireplaces to help keep their homes warm and cozy. Plus, as countless movies have taught us, fireplaces can provide optimal ambiance for a romantic night in with a significant other.
However, unless precautions are taken, improper use of fireplaces could lead to house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. To help you enjoy a fireplace safely, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following tips:
1. Be sure the firepla...$500,000
Paved drive leads to this immaculate, two story, brick Colonial home surrounded by picture perfect landscaping. Home sits on a coveted corner lot in the North Pocono school district. Inside find tile, high end laminate and hardwood flooring as well as a completely remodeled kitchen straight out of a magazine! Open concept main level Florida Room and Living Room provide lovely country views and room for gathering. Step...In your home or in your vacation cabin, a handsome stone hearth is often the gathering place for comfy family evenings. But accumulations of dirt, soot and ash can make your fireplace less efficient and ruin the lovely patina of natural stone.
You can help maintain its beauty and safety with this once-yearly facelift routine:
Clean the firebox. At least 12 hours after extinguishing the last fire, or preferablybefore lighting the first fire of the year, lay drop cloths around the fireplace area...
If you’ve purchased a home with an existing fireplace or are interested in installing one, there are a few things you should know. There are a handful of different fireplace types—each with its own unique maintenance and operating requirements—that homeowners need to be well-versed in for safety and cosmetic purposes.
Woodburning fireplaceLooking for a traditional type of fireplace? A woodburning version may be right for you. It requires a chimney (which adds on maintenance costs) and you’ll ne...