Outdoor Fireplaces

Before you go out and spend your money on an outdoor fireplace there are a number of things that you should take into consideration. The biggest consideration should be the safety of the members of your family and the safety of your property.

1  What to Burn.
One of the most popular fuels for outdoor fireplaces is hardwood. Pinon pine wood has quit a pleasant smell when it is burning. It makes for an active flame and it generates good heat. The scent can also keep insects away. Applewood and pine cones can also add a pleasant aroma.

A number of fireplaces come with an insert for natural gas and propane. Other sources of fuel are gel inserts, and manufactured fire logs.

2 Size Matters
When you start to look at fireplaces make sure you compare the size of the firebox above all other dimensions. If the firebox is too small buying and cutting wood is more difficult. Asking for wood to be specially cut to fit a small fire box will increase the cost of your fuel.

Don't bother with a fireplace that is tall and thin, try and find a large fire box. A small fire box will only cost you more money in the long run. If you have a large fireplace you do not need to have a large fire, you will use less wood on a smaller fire.

A good fireplace will burn efficiently and a lot cleaner than a fire pit, as there design has no smoke stack. The design of the fireplace allows air to be drawn into the fire and blows it out of the neck for an efficient burn. A fire pit tends to smoulder and smoke a lot more than the traditional fireplace design due to its poor airflow.

3 Check the Weight

When you compare fireplaces, check there weight. The majority of fireplaces are produced by there weight, so they are sold by weight. If you are checking the weights make sure that you take into account the material it is made from, copper against copper, cast iron against cast iron

4 Correct maintenance

Fireplaces that are made in the more commercial copper, clay or sheet steel do not have the safety or the longevity of cast iron or aluminium. At the bottom end of the scale you can find sheet metal fireplaces at bargain prices, they are pretty much a disposable fireplace as once the sheet metal starts to rust they have basically lived out there usefulness. Always check out the gauge or thickness of the metal, a metal that is too thin may melt.

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