Restoring The Original Fireplace Openings In Your Old Home

Buyers of older homes are known to seek out original fireplace openings as cheap options for enjoying a fireplace. There is often a major problem, however, in that the openings are not what people think they are. There are a range of possibilities, none of which automatically provide a safe option for immediate fireplace use.

Experts in old architecture say that the sought-after fireplace openings were often built to accommodate large range cookers. The “fireplace” grate component of the ranges was quite small, however. As time passed and range cookers were no longer used, it became a trend to brick in the large openings created for the range cookers and create a smaller, more decorative fireplace.

On the other hand, many of the actual fireplaces of the day were quite large, though inefficient. Fireplaces of the past were also frequently built in Count Rumford’s design, which doesn’t meet modern expectations, either. More details follow.

Large Fireplace Openings

To sort out the history of fireplaces in older U.S. homes, it must be understood that there actually were quite large fireplaces used in the time periods in which the homes were built. In those days, people were accustomed to putting up with interior smoke from their fireplaces. The smokiness of the large fireplaces was accepted in their time, but their operation could not be tolerated today. We know too much about health issues associated with toxic combustion gases.

The dynamics of creating a strong chimney draft are now understood. To use any of the large fireplace openings in old homes as they are would be dangerous, exposing the household to deadly carbon monoxide fumes and other hazards.

Rumford Fireplaces

Count Rumford is a fake name used by Benjamin Franklin, who invented the Rumford fireplace. Like many of Ben Franklin’s inventions, the Rumford fireplace made a huge impact on society. He described dimensions of the fireplace when introducing it, and the basic design is still used today with key alterations. The beauty of the Rumford fireplace is that its design causes air to be drawn into the fireplace efficiently. The air supplies flames with sufficient oxygen to burn cleanly, and the design also reflects heat into the home.

Compared to fireplaces built today, Rumford fireplaces were shallow. They are often found in older homes, but it is much preferred to have a deeper firebox so that the risk of burning logs and hot embers entering the room and starting a home fire is greatly reduced.

Proceed With Caution!

Whether an old home has a fireplace opening that was formerly for a cook stove or whether it is one of the fireplaces built according to the original design of the Rumford fireplace, homeowners need to beware! There have been many thousands of times over the years that homeowners have lit a fire in an old fireplace, not realizing that it incapable of working as a proper fireplace. Getting a fireplace inspection should never be left out of the equation. The result can be chaos when a fire is lit without knowing the current condition of the chimney and fireplace.

Call the Experts at Dubuque Fireplace & Heating

At Dubuque Fireplace & Heating, we understand the desire to sit by a cozy fire in winter. We are the premier hearth products store and chimney service experts in the tri-state area. We encourage homeowners who live in old homes to be careful about using previously hidden fireplaces. An inspection by an expert is needed, to ensure that it is safe to use the fireplace. Annual chimney inspections are highly recommended in general by fire safety experts. Give us a call or come by our store for help with your fireplace questions. Our technicians are certified by the National Fireplace Institute (NFI). Our location and contact information follow.

Dubuque Fireplace & Patio

925 Century Drive, Dubuque, Iowa

Phone – (563) 582-5156

Chimney Specialists Inc.

869 Main Street, Highland, WI

Phone – (608) 929-4887 / Toll Free (800) 395-6660