All About Masonry Fireplaces

• Mortar Crown - The mortar crown is the concrete like surface at the top of your chimney. Its job is to shed water away from the flue and also keep water from entering the chimney chase.

• Flue - The flue is a vertical opening through the chimney, extending from the smoke chamber to the top of the chimney. Its primary function is to create a draft for proper ventilation, and to discharge smoke.

• Smoke Chamber - The smoke chamber is the transition area in a masonry chimney that starts directly above the damper and continues to where the first flue tile is installed. Shaped like an up-side-down funnel, smoke and hot gasses are in direct contact with the tapered smoke chamber walls as you burn your fires. The smoke chamber is a hot oven where much of the creosote accumulates and many chimney fires start.

• Smoke Shelf - A horizontal surface directly behind the throat of a fireplace to prevent down drafts.

• Lintel - A horizontal, non-combustible member that spans the top of the fireplace opening.

• Damper - The damper is a mechanical device which opens and closes to regulate the draft and airflow to the firebox.  The damper also stops heat from escaping up your chimney when the fireplace is not in use.

• Firebox - The part of the masonry fireplace where fuel is combusted.

• Hearth - The fireproof area directly in front of a fireplace. The inner or outer floor of a fireplace usually made of brick, tile, or stone.

• Ash Dump - Some masonry fireplaces will have an ash dump where ashes can be collected and removed through an ash dump fireplace door.

• Foundation - The foundation of a masonry fireplace is often referred to as a "footing" in some building codes. Codes will specify that the foundation must be a certain thickness and width with proper reinforcement.

Glass Fireplace Doors: Glass fireplace doors should always be used on an open front Masonry Fireplace. A good fitting glass door will help to seal off the fireplace opening and provide a valuable benefit in reducing smoke emission. Masonry Fireplace glass doors will also stop any cold air from entering the home through the chimney as well as prevent warm air from escaping the chimney, thus keeping the home warm and making the Masonry Fireplace more efficient.

Firebacks: Firebacks are also designed to increase Masonry Fireplace efficiency. Fire backs are made of either steel or cast iron and sized in proportion of the fireplace. They can either be placed on the floor of the hearth and just leaned against the back wall of the fireplace or secured to the back wall with supporting braces to keep them from sliding. Firebacks cut down on heat loss by absorbing heat from the wood burning fire and radiating it back into the room and instead of allowing it to escaping up the chimney.

Fireplace Insert: If your home has an existing Masonry Fireplace, a fireplace insert is an easy, attractive way to breathe new life into it and transform it into an efficient, warm, entertaining fireplace. Fireplace inserts are special types of wood stove and are specifically designed to fit into the firebox of the existing fireplace where the logs would normally go. This allows the fireplace insert to use the fireplace flue to vent smoke and other by-products of combustion.