Will the Fireplace Last Forever?
A man with a fire. Humanity vs the elements Some conflicts continue to be fought despite cultural and political borders or enemy occupation. The Great Frost of 1709 killed so many people in Western Europe that it was compared to an invading army. In a letter to her aunt in Germany, the Dutchess of Orleans remarked that she had never been so chilly in her life—and she was covered in furs, sitting next to a raging fireplace. A wealthy individual can freeze just as readily as a poor person. Central heating may arrive, and contemporary boilers may depart. However, no heat compares to that of an open wood burning fireplace. That is why the fireplace will never go out of style.
The chill of a damp winter breeze off the coast of Rochester can sting the skin. A terrible cold requires an equally ferocious adversary. That is why the fireplace will never go out of style.
The casual allusion to peasant farmers welcome the good natured robber into their hearth is common in Welsh and English Robin Hood stories. Their fireplace? We initially thought it was an error, because why would we welcome someone inside our hearth in our current language? And the explanation is that the fire was in the house. The joy of friends sharing a reminiscence over a fire. Heat to combat the chilly winter air and the aroma of freshly baked products all come from one spot in the home: the fireplace. This was the focal point of medieval life. But it might be more complicated than that.
Even today, while taking real estate shots, the fireplace is typically the unintentional focal point of the photographer. It has the finest connections with human tradition—the Christmas celebration. The Yuletide journal. Santa Claus has arrived. The Christ child’s birth. When family comes over for Christmas, we frequently gather around the fireplace rather than in the kitchen. The wood-burning fireplace remains the focal point of North American living. Warm or chilly regions, we want to congregate around the fireplace to represent hearth and home. Perhaps this is why the words hearth and heart are spelt so similarly. Hearth and Hearthstone Home and hearth That is why the fireplace will carry on in perpetuity.
Consider the following recent data on how we regard the fireplace today:
Heating Your Home 34% of wood or pellet stove owners believe their stove to be a primary source of heat, while 50% consider it to be a secondary source of heat. The major motive for 42 percent of consumers who placed a hearth device in their house was to save money on heating, while 19 percent sought to warm up a cold area or use as a backup heat source.
Using auxiliary hearth appliances to heat the most frequently used rooms allows a home’s thermostat to be set lower, decreasing heating expenditures. This “zone heating” can result in energy savings of 20-40%. (American Council for Energy Efficient Economy). 44 percent of gas fireplace users utilize their item as a secondary heat source.
Increasing the Temperature in a House
Fireplaces have a significant positive impact on house value: 46 percent of home purchasers are ready to pay more for the feature, which adds around $1,220 to a home’s value per fireplace (National Association of Realtors). Fifty-eight percent of fireplace owners see their fireplace, wood or pellet stove, or insert as an important design component in their house. The master bedroom is the most popular location for a second fireplace/stove (NAHB). The average gain in house value from adding a hearth appliance is estimated by consumers to be around $2,750.
If you suspect that your chimney or fireplace is having some issues, have an expert inspect it. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Arnold and other affordable services.