Knowing the safety hazards and dangers associated with your fireplace is important so that you can properly maintain it and keep it clean. This allows you to enjoy your fireplace fully without having to worry about these dangers. In a previous blog, we began touching on what creosote buildup is and how it can affect your fireplace and health. In this post, we’re here to give a little bit more information to help you make sure you’re keeping your fireplace at its maximum efficiency.

To start, we should delve a little deeper into the different varieties of creosote. The varieties are separated into different degrees: first, second, and third. First degree is quite similar to basic ash from wood as it’s soft and sooty. Second has a toffee-like consistency and is soft and crumbly. Be wary of seeing this kind because it could indicate you’ve had a chimney fire. Third degree is a glazed, tar-like substance and can only be removed with special equipment. As we mentioned, creosote is specifically a problem in wood burning appliances, but you should also get your gas appliances checked to be safe.

Knowing what creosote is and what dangers it can cause will help you maintain your fireplace and keep your home and family safe. With the right set of vintage fireplace tools, you can accomplish this with ease and style. Browse our online selection of vintage fireplace tools today at AdamsFireplaceShop.com – orders can be picked up and we ship both domestically and internationally!

Cleaning your fireplace regularly, as we all know, is a very important part of your fireplace maintenance. It not only helps you maximize your fireplace’s efficiency, but also makes your fireplace much safer. Especially when cleaning wood burning appliances like stoves, inserts, and fireplaces, you must be careful because an annoying substance called creosote will build up when burning wood. But what exactly is creosote?

Creosote is a substance formed when wood is burned, especially when there’s limited airflow, and is a chemical mass of carbon. This occurs because of an incomplete combustion of the oils in the wood which results in them distributing as volatiles in the smoke. These particles then condense with water and carbon to create the black, oily residue that you may recognize building up in your fireplace or wood burning stove. This is creosote. As this substance builds up layers, it only further restricts the airflow to your chimney, making your fireplace less effective and increasing the likelihood more creosote will form. This is combustible but toxic, so if you allow this to build up in your fireplace and let it catch fire it will create fumes that are very harmful to you.

This makes it important to have the proper equipment to maintain and clean your fireplace. At AdamsFireplaceShop.com, we have a large selection of vintage fireplace tools as well as antique lighting fixtures. Our tools can help you properly maintain your fireplace and we’ll continue posting content that can help you get the most out of your fireplace and its accessories. Browse our collection today.

As September ends and October begins, you’re probably getting excited about the days when you can start using your fireplace every day. The idea of the crisp fall air and the leaves crunching outside while you are cozily lounging by the fire is a day dream we’d all love to get lost in. However, using your fireplace every day means you need to make sure you’re cleaning it frequently or else it can be a major safety hazard. While you may be worried about having the time to properly clean it, we’re here to help. Continue reading for some tips to get your fireplace clean quickly and efficiently. What you’ll need is a proper shovel and brush set, scrub brush, glass cleaner, rubber gloves, used coffee grounds, a spray bottle, dish-washing liquid and paper towels.

Make sure to start cleaning only if it’s been 24 hours since your last fire. Then, begin by removing the logs, tinder, and grate, setting aside any logs still usable. Then, to minimize the amount of ash that flies away, spread used coffee grounds on them and sweep the interior top to bottom, disposing of the ashes. Also be sure to sweep any and all screens top to bottom as well. Next up is the exterior. For brick, use water and hearth cleaner on sooty areas, and for iron just hearth cleaner. If you have stone, simply use dish washing liquid. Use the hearth cleaner again if you have glass doors, wiping down both sides. All there is left is drying and replacing anything you moved and voila – a nice, clean fireplace ready and safe for you to use all in less than a half an hour.

Keeping your fireplace clean is important not only for appearances but also for safety. Other ways to make your fireplace more attractive and cleaner is buying the right vintage fireplace tools and accessories. Browse our large variety of gorgeous vintage fireplace tools and lighting fixtures at AdamsFireplaceShop.com!