THE 20 BEST FIREPLACE ACCESSORIES YOU MUST HAVE TO UPDATE YOUR FIREPLACE

We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 accessories for your old wood-burning fireplace. They include:

We’re all aware of those wonderful woodsy aromas that snap, crackle, and pop and those fond family memories that last a lifetime. Around the fireplace, families gather, and life seems to move forward at a more subdued pace. If you’re burning wood, you can relate to this.

To make that wood-burning experience even more enjoyable, give special consideration to adding several of these accessories to your home. In no particular order, the list is broken down into two categories; “must have” and “safety and convenience” items. So, get that fire going. Sit back, relax, and consider how you might make your life a bit easier with beautiful and functional fireplace accessories. You’ll enhance the appearance of your living room, too!

MUST HAVE ITEMS FOR YOUR FIREPLACE:

1. Wood Rack. What’s better than dry wood? Convenient, dry wood! Keep a couple of days’ worth of wood next to the fireplace, stove, or insert for quick and easy fuel reloading. Log racks, hoops, or a large wooden box can keep your wood conveniently located near the appliance.
2. Log Carrier. You’re going to need some means to get the wood supply to the fireplace. Yes, the wheelbarrow works great, but she’s not going to be too keen on you driving it fully loaded through the living room to the fireplace. Leather, canvas, and heavy denim log carriers will make this task much easier.
3. Many folks make their own by slicing wood into ½” to 2” pieces. This, along with 3 or 4 wads of newspaper, works quite well. However, others have found that fatwood is a quick and easy way to get a fire going from scratch. Fatwood is from the heartwood of pine trees. The natural resins contain high concentrations of natural turpentine, which is highly flammable and a terrific fire starter. The point is to have some kindling readily available. You’re going to need it.
4. This tool will likely be your most used. Positioning and repositioning burning wood requires a well-designed and built-to-last tool. It should be the correct length for your fireplace, stove, or insert. You’ll use a poker several times every day while tending a fire. Don’t skimp on the quality.
5. Ash Rake and Shovel. Two more tools will be used daily. They must be well-made and able to withstand high temperatures. Stirring up the ashes with the rake will ensure all chunks of wood are thoroughly burned before you remove the ashes with the shovel. Again, be sure the length of these tools will easily accommodate the depth of your wood-burning appliance.
6. Ash Bucket. Proper burning practices include appropriately dealing with the ashes. The correct way to do this is to place the ashes in a metal ash bucket with a tight-fitting lid. When filled, make sure this bucket is stored outside, several feet from the house, not in your garage. Live embers can linger for a couple of days and cause dozens of fires every year.
7. Invest in a good pair; you’ll be wearing them a few times each day. Most gloves are made from specially treated leather that resists drying out after continuous heat exposure. Look for a lined glove with high cuffs. Be sure to buy the correct size for anyone who may be loading wood. Your WE LOVE FIRE® expert will have a nice selection.
8. Fire Extinguisher. Just in case . . .. it’s always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby, in the kitchen and/or living room. Take time to read the directions, learn how to use them, and keep an eye on the expiration date. Explain to others in the house how it’s used.
9. Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm. Two, three or four alarms, strategically placed in your home, is another common sense item that every home should have, especially if you’re burning wood.
10. Damper. Rather than an accessory, a damper is a required component for your fireplace. A damper is a device that opens and closes the chimney. A damper also seals up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use. It prevents warm air from the house from being pulled up the chimney. A damper resembles a small door at the top of your fireplace, near the base of the chimney. It can be made of cast iron, steel, or sometimes ceramic. Dampers are operated manually by a handle, a worm-gear type screw, or a pull chain. If a damper need replacing, a lock-top style damper can be installed. This is a spring-loaded chimney cap that opens and closes at the top, not at the base of the chimney. Lock-top cap dampers are connected by a high-strength cable to a lever mounted inside your fireplace.

SAFETY & CONVENIENCE ITEMS FOR YOUR FIREPLACE:

11. Screen. If your fireplace has a screen, make sure it’s in good repair and use it every time you have a fire. The screen is designed to prevent sparks and embers from popping forward onto the hearth or, worse yet, popping beyond the hearth to carpeting or a wood floor. Replacement screens are readily available in many sizes.

Accessories by Minuteman

11. Doors. Older, open-burning masonry fireplaces can be, and should be, evaluated for a set of doors. Zero-clearance fireplaces often have inexpensive bifold doors that are ineffective. These can be easily replaced, too. Doors will limit the amount of combustion air the fireplace uses. They will prevent large volumes of heated air from your home from being lost up the chimney. Many replacement doors have screens and air control dampers designed into the door frame to stop this air loss. Definitely worth it if your fireplace is without a set.
12. Ash Vacuum. This is a heavy-duty metal vacuum made to vacuum up ashes and the occasional hot ember. Equipped with special filters to prevent the fine ash from becoming airborne in your home, this tool can do a very thorough job of getting rid of all the ashes in your fireplace, stove, or insert.
13. Hearth Center. This is a decorative piece that will sit on a hearth and includes a combination of several of the items listed above. It may include but is not limited to, a tool set with poker, tongs, broom, and gloves, room for kindling, kindling, several pieces of wood, a log carrier, and a small wood rack.
14. Hearth Rugs. Just as the name implies, this is a small fire-retardant rug, often arch-shaped, that is designed to be positioned in front of the hearth. These rugs are not meant to replace a code-approved hearth but to enhance the appearance of your fireplace by adding some color and style.
15. If you frequently get on your hands and knees blowing on paper and kindling while attempting to start a fire, you need a pair of bellows. A couple of pumps will quickly encourage a fire to take off. Many use a pair of bellows as an attractive and functional wall decoration around the fireplace or stove.
16. If you want to occasionally clean the ashes out of the fireplace, stove, or insert, a small broom is going to come in very handy. You cannot do as thorough of a job if you use an ash vacuum, but most feel a small broom with their toolset is all that’s necessary to clean up from time to time.
17. If your fireplace is equipped with a grate, odds are it’s been replaced. There are lots of sizes and shapes. Measure the front width, the back width and the depth of the fireplace to determine the correct size you’ll need.
18. This is a biggie! Although not required by code, a mantle helps showcase the fireplace. It’s the place to displace family photos, collections, treasured collectibles, and knickknacks. Depending on code requirements and clearances, some mantles can be updated or changed. Replacing a mantle can change the entire appearance of your fireplace and family room. A professional evaluation by your WE LOVE FIRE® expert will be needed if you’re thinking of a replacement mantle.

Mantle by Dracme

11. Andirons. Around the 1500s, andirons were originally designed to prevent larger pieces of wood from rolling out of the fireplace and onto the hearth or the floor. Now, they are mostly used for decorative purposes. Andirons might be integrated into the design of a fireplace grate or might be designed to stand alone. They add to the traditional authenticity of a large, open-burning fireplace.

IN CONCLUSION:

Done correctly, the benefits of burning wood in your home can far outweigh the potential dangers. The items on this list are not required but are suggestions that will make using your fireplace a safer, easier, and more enjoyable experience. The time spent with family and friends is precious. Spend it wisely and carefully, and you’ll create generational memories.