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Smoking

The emission of smoke from a fireplace opening can be due to a number of reasons, but basically it is due to the fact that the flue, for some reason or another, is unable to naturally exhaust the products of combustion.

Modern building regulations will normally ensure adequate height, flue diameter and ventilation to ensure the safe working of your fireplace and reference to Section J of the Building Regulations is recommended. However, in existing fireplaces modifications to fireplace openings, the lining of the flue, double glazing or an air extraction device in the kitchen may adversely affect the pulling capacity of a flue.

The fitting of Glass Fireplace Doors reduces the size of the fireplace opening, thereby increasing the capacity of the flue, which in most cases is sufficient to overcome these problems. The doors are designed to be used with the glass panels closed, except in the case of gas (see Gas Fires) although in many cases the doors can be left open once up-draught has been established.

Draughts

Downdraught is normally due to the incorrect height of the chimney terminal in relation to the roof or nearby trees and buildings.

Glass Fireplace Doors can be used to stop the emission of cold air from unlit fireplaces.

Similarly, Glass Fireplace Doors are regularly fitted to avoid the loss of house heat up unlit flues, which can suck more than 5.5 cubic metres (200 cubic feet) of warm air up the chimney per minute. In heating terms this represents 3 to 4 kilowatts of heat, for which you have paid, being lost up the flue all the time.

Soot falls

Soot falls can be caused by excessive rain or hail storms, or contrarily during dry spells or when an adjacent flue, even next door, is suddenly put into use.

Soot falls onto marble can cause staining, by etching into the polished surface. Soot brought down by wet or cold spells can end up on your carpets.

The fly ash from wood fires is frequently the cause of that miasma of dust on furniture and window cills

Thermo-Rite Glass Fireplace Doors have achieved tremendous popularity for these reasons alone, in America, by protecting light coloured furniture and decorations, in addition to the carpets.

In this country the benefits of Thermo-Rite Glass Fireplace Doors have centred around their attractive appearance and the fact that they have prevented soot and ashes from spilling over onto the hearth.

Sparks and safety

With some types of wood it is impossible to avoid sparks. Woods from pine trees may burn well but the resin in such logs can explode and you will be wise to check the quality of logs you purchase for this reason. The other problem with burning wood is that large knots in any timber can crack open in the heat, even when the fire appears to be out. The provision of spark curtains retains all but the smallest sparks behind the curtain and anything smaller that gets through the mesh will die before touching your carpets. The 100% safety solution is a glass fireplace door, but our mesh spark curtains are more suitable for large inglenooks, round hoods and canopies etc.

Spark Curtains are available as an extra with our glass doors where you wish to enjoy the fire to the full with the doors open.

Modernising

The style in fireplaces changes quickly and many fireplaces which were fashionable in the 1920s or 1950s may now look out of place with contemporary furnishings. In particular semi-circular or arched fireplaces can spoil the look of your room and yet the cost of replacing them can be extremely high. For this type of fireplace we can provide modern streamlined or minimalist framed glass doors which will convert your old fashioned fireplace into a modern attractive addition to your home.