Our Company Blog

The Benefits of Glass Doors on Fireplaces

Your fireplace is the focal point of any room, both beautiful and functional. Whether gas or the more traditional wood, it adds value to your home and can be customized based on your preferences and lifestyle. Adding glass doors to your fireplace will not only heighten the allure and ambience of the area, but provide several other benefits as well:

Safety:

An open fire is a hazard for pets and children as they are attracted to the glow and are curious and exploring creatures. Even oblivious adults can hurt themselves if sitting too close or not being careful around the flame. Doors that separate the fire from the rest of the room give you peace of mind, and protect the innocent and unaware. Glass doors will keep any sparks or flying embers from hurting your loved ones, or damaging your flooring. Your home furnishings, and therefore your home, will be protected.

Lower Costs:

Installing glass doors in your home aren’t only safe, though that alone is reason enough, they are also very cost efficient. The warm air that is in your house, as a result of your fire, actually stays in your house! Glass doors seal off air from escaping up the chimney, so your house stays at a warmer temperature, and you don’t have to pay extra money for another heat source. Dampers just don’t do the job: actual doors are the only way to keep your fireplace sealed off.

Efficiency:

Not only do glass doors keep your fireplace sealed off, they also transfer heat extremely well. The doors radiate the heat emitted from a fireplace much more evenly around the room. Since they are located so close to the fire itself, they are also able to transfer a larger percentage of heat emitted by the flames, as opposed to what we could feel without getting burned. Because the fire is enclosed, the logs produce a higher temperature flame, which is then released evenly into the room via the glass doors.

Beauty and Style:

Getting glass doors is a simple step towards creating a more relaxed, classier environment. They come in a variety of shapes and styles that you can choose depending on the décor and look you desire. Though we encourage an annual chimney and fireplace inspection and sweep, if you do have an unsightly fireplace, glass doors will conceal it. Ashes and blackened logs don’t have to ruin the ambiance you worked so hard to create.

There are so many reasons to install glass doors. If you have any questions about how to add extra allure to your home, or are curious about other services we provide, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call us.

Fire Safety for Fireplace Owners

A fireplace can add impressive beauty and comfort to a home, particularly during the chilly winter months. Few can resist the allure of the crackling flames and soothing warmth, which makes fireplaces such popular additions to home. However, they come with their own set of risks, just like all other household appliances. Keeping safety in mind this season can help ensure a warm, happy winter for everyone.

First of all, fireplaces are built to contain live flames that can burn upward of hundreds of degrees depending on the type of fuel being burned. In just a moment of contact with flames, skin can suffer severe burns and flammable materials can ignite violently. One good measure to take to help avoid this type of damage is to maintain a safe distance of at least three feet from the fireplace. This concerns both people and combustible items in the home, such as furniture and decorations. To help maintain this distance, the fire should remain supervised at all times, especially with children or pets around.

Children and pets are at the highest risk around the fireplace. In addition to close supervision, another way to keep them safe is to have heat resistant glass doors installed on the face of the fireplace. Designed to separate the home from the fire, the newer models of glass doors even stay cool to the touch while the fire burns, making them an ideal safety feature. For older children, teach them about fire safety, including the risk of burns and the danger of putting foreign objects into the fire.

Another crucial step to take to keep the fireplace safe is to have it serviced regularly. Fire code requires the chimney be swept at least once per year. This practice removes built up soot or creosote, which can block the proper ventilation of fumes from the home or even cause a devastating chimney fire. Additionally, an inspection must be performed annually to detect any potential safety threats like an obstruction, a damaged flue lining, or a malfunctioning damper, all of which can flood the house with poisonous carbon monoxide gas.

One final measure, which should be present in a house whether or not it has a fireplace, is the proper placement of functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors should be placed on each floor, outside the sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be on each floor and outside the sleeping area. Each detector should be replaced every five to ten years, depending on the manufacturer’s requirements, and the batteries must be tested every month and replaced if necessary.

For more tips on being safe with your fireplace this winter, contact the professionals at Beach Stove and Fireplace.

Fire Up the Fire Pit

After the origin of controlled fire, you have to believe that the creation of fire pits followed shortly thereafter.  And now here you sit with an empty backyard, with the exception of a grill and/or some outdoor furniture on your patio.  Now is as good a time as any to add that fire pit you’ve been thinking about since last summer.  Fire pits have become increasingly popular in recent years—they’re the #1 requested backyard design feature according to the American Society of Landscape Architects—and the trend shows no signs of losing steam.

Setting the Tone in your Backyard

Make sure all family members know basic fire safety, particularly children.

Keep in mind that fire pits don’t take up a lot of space, and combined with their functionality, can be featured almost anywhere in unlimited shapes and sizes.  The warmth and joy that radiates from the open fire can make parties, intimate gatherings, and simple marshmallow roasts the most sought-after and enjoyable activities of the spring, summer, and autumn months.  However, fire pits are wrought with dangers, and to ensure everyone’s safety, there are important safety tips every fire pit owner should know.

Fire Pit Safety Basics

As with any situation involving fire, there are many safety measures homeowners can take to ensure that you and yours remain safe.  The following safety protocols are a good jumping off point:

• Always keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Keep a first aid kit on hand for any accidental burns.
• Don’t light a fire in windy conditions.  One stray spark can cause a large fire in no time.
• Don’t light a fire if a fire warning has been issued in your area.
• Don’t allow children to light or play near the fire.  Closely supervise children at all times around your fire pit.
• Always use seasoned wood and kindling to light your fire.  Avoid using soft woods (e.g., pine or cedar) because they can pop and throw sparks.  Do NOT use accelerants (e.g., gasoline, lighter fluid, or alcohol) or trash to light a fire.
• Put out the fire completely before leaving the pit unattended or before going inside for the evening.  Even the smallest fire can become a large fire quickly; as such, embers should be completely extinguished.
• Safely dispose of all ashes.

Fire Pit Positioning

You should set up your fire pit in an area that is well away (at least 10 feet) from adjacent walls or building overhangs.  You’ll also want to make sure the area is free of combustible materials and on a noncombustible surface.  Move all outdoor furniture at least 3 feet away from the fire pit as well.  Keep an eye out for low-hanging branches and drooping power lines overhead, and place the pit well clear of them.

Fire pits are very popular, but you need to keep fire pit safety in mind when using one.  The tips listed in this blog will help you get the most out of your enjoyable outdoor addition and reduce the likelihood of injury and/or damage to your property.  The professionals at Beach Stove & Fireplace are ever ready to meet and exceed your expectations.  Give us a call (631-998-0780) or contact us via our website to see how we can assist you with all of your outdoor living projects.

Fire Safety Infographic

Having the knowledge on fire safety can lessen the risks of untoward accidents due to fires. Make sure you are well-prepared for a house fire. Even better, know how to prevent them!

Knowing the basics to fire safety can give you assurance and peace of mind.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America

The C.S.I.A. Trains Chimney Sweeps

Anyone who has a chimney in their home should be familiar with the Chimney Safety Institute of America. This important organization has resources not only for professionals, but also homeowners. Even those who are familiar with the CSIA may not realize how many services and resources they actually provide. Becoming familiar with them may help prevent many chimney problems for homeowners. We are proud to say our technicians are CSIA certified.

One important thing to know about The Chimney Safety Institute of America is that they do not only deal with chimneys. In addition, they provide resources for people who are concerned with dryer vents. The two may seem unrelated but they actually create many similar concerns for homeowners. Both need to be properly maintained and inspected each year in order to avoid putting the home at risk for a fire. Many homeowners do not realize how much care their dryer vents require, but the CSIA helps to educate them.

Any reliable chimney sweep or dryer vent technician should be familiar with The Chimney Safety Institute of America because they provide many important training opportunities. Most importantly, they provide the training necessary to be come a certified technician. Even after they have become certified, professionals can brush up their skills and participate in online review programs. This helps to ensure that they have the most up to date information and can provide the best possible service to their clients.

In addition to providing online training, certification and review programs, the CSIA actually runs a training school. The program at the school is a six-day intensive program that covers every aspect of chimney repair and maintenance. Participants learn about the practical elements of chimney care as well as the chemistry that is involved with safely burning a fire. When the program is over, they are fully prepared to handle any chimney related issue that may arise.

The CISA provides resources for homeowners who have questions about their chimneys. In fact, they have a mobile app as well as a blog on their website to provide easy access to this information. They have articles that cover everything from hiring the right chimney sweep to safely burning wood in the fireplace.

Since they train chimney sweeps and dryer vent technicians, the Chimney Institute of America can make the best recommendations to homeowners when they need work done. Their website features a very easy to use tool that finds professionals in the area. Homeowners can find peace of mind in knowing that they have hired someone who was properly trained and has the CSIA seal of approval.

The chimney and dryer vents are two of the most important things in the home when it comes to proper maintenance and inspection. If they are not properly cared for, the entire household may be at risk for a fire or even, in some cases, illness. The Chimney Association of American trains professionals so that they can provide the best possible care to these vital elements of the home. They also offer resources that help homeowners understand these elements and to find the right professionals to care for them. Their easy to use website and mobile app make it possible for everyone to get the information they need.

Cooking Outdoors Safely

Outdoor Kitchen Means Fun

As the summer winds down people across America get ready for that magical time of year that brings families together to celebrate the greatest of American traditions. A time when all people come together regardless of their differences to celebrate a common bond. A time when all the cares of the year to date melt away and the focus is turned on something greater than the petty concerns of everyday life. I am referring of course to football season.

Nothing signifies the change of seasons more so than the first football game in September and even the most casual fan (and a handful of internet memes) will tell you, “One does not simply watch football”. There is a strict protocol that goes into your perennial pigskin preparation and while it may end on the gridiron it starts on the grill. No football gathering is complete without burgers, brats, or BBQ and there’s no better way to prepare them than a fully stocked outdoor kitchen.

Back in the days before face masks and free agents a simple charcoal grill may have done the trick but this isn’t your granddaddy’s NFL and your granddaddy’s grill won’t do either. But before you find yourself in a DIY nightmare there are some things to consider. There are 4 materials commonly used to construct frames (concrete, brick, wood, and steel) and all have different pros and cons. Concrete has the advantage of being molded into virtually any desired shape provided you have the equipment and the know-how to put it all together which makes it one of the more versatile materials to use. It also is very sturdy and durable and will not require much in the way of weather proofing. The downside to concrete is that most people do not want the concrete blocks to show and thus it requires additional decorative masonry which can be a time-consuming task. Brick is a nice alternative to concrete in that it offers similar durability and versatility without the additional decorative work assuming that a brick surface is what you want. Steel offers the most durability but can limit the customization a bit. Finally we have wood which can provide a beautiful natural look to your outdoor kitchen but requires weather treatment and fire-proofing (pressure-treated pine is always a good choice). Regardless of the material you use a stainless steel sleeve should always be used to properly encase your grill. Proper ventilation is extremely important to prevent your backyard barbecue from turning into a fall bonfire! Another step that goes a long way in preventing a very dangerous disaster is to make sure that you have immediate access to gas shut off valves in case of an emergency.

If this seems like too much to have to think about when trying to build this yourself that’s because it is! Building an outdoor kitchen is a complicated and potentially dangerous venture which is why you should always have a qualified specialized builder construct your garden galley. It is too easy to find stories of full-blown house fires caused by shoddy construction and careless contractors that have little to no experience with this type of work.

So this upcoming football season as you get ready to enjoy (or lament) your regular Sunday traditions always remember your basic culinary safety tips (never leave cooking food unattended, always double check that your heat supply is completely turned off after the cooking is complete) and make sure you call your local outdoor kitchen supplier to install your patio masterpiece and you’ll be well on your way to becoming the gridiron gourmet you’ve always dreamed of being!

Chimney Maintenance — What You Need to Know

Whether you are purchasing a home with a working chimney or wanting to use your current fireplace when the weather gets cooler, there are some basic maintenance tips for ensuring safety and efficiency.

• Your chimney should be inspected and cleaned annually. This ensures that the chimney is structurally intact and ready to use safely.
• When scheduling your chimney cleaning and inspection, only use NCSG (National Chimney Sweep Guild) certified chimney sweeps.
• Regardless of how often your chimney and fireplace have been used, the fireplace and chimney still need a thorough cleaning prior to the new season. Some prefer to have them cleaned in the spring (stating the benefit of having the creosote buildup removed and avoiding any musty smells over a hot summer), while others recommend an early autumn cleaning (this will ensure that any birds or debris that may have gotten into the chimney during the spring and summer will be removed before the fireplace and chimney get going).
• Never use the chimney unless the damper is fully open.
• Creosote is a substance created by flue gas residue and unburned wood particles. It is highly combustible and any buildup that isn’t removed makes your chimney and home at risk for a chimney fire.
• Never burn trash or plastics in your chimney. This can also add to the buildup in your chimney.
• A chimney cap can prevent water, debris, and animals from getting into your chimney. If you do not have one installed, consult with a certified sweep to determine the best cap for you chimney. This is a preventative measure designed to help keep your chimney free of contaminants.
• Chimney Swifts are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty. If a swift makes its home in your chimney, it cannot be removed until the birds migrate south for the winter. Consult a professional sweep about dealing with Chimney Swifts.
• You should use some type of fireplace screen when your fireplace is in use. This can prevent embers from inadvertently escaping the fireplace as well as prevent children and animals from reaching into the fire.
• Your chimney has a protective liner inside of it. These lines can be made from a variety of materials, such as stainless steel and clay. The liner should be checked periodically to ensure structural integrity. The liner protects the inside of the chimney from intense heat which can damage the chimney.

Responsibly using a chimney means not skipping annual check-ups. Your fireplace will heat more proficiently and you can feel more secure when you build your first fire of the season.