What is the knob on the front of my fireplace?

Some chimneys have a knob that rotates a rod to adjust the damper. These knobs are generally found on the exterior of the fireplace, usually centered above the fireplace opening, but sometimes off to the side. If the chain or handle isn't firmly secured in the bracket, the damper is open.

What is the knob next to my gas fireplace?

It's usually located near the fireplace, usually to the immediate left, right or on the floor. You will control the gas flow with a fireplace key (sometimes called a hex key) as you light the fireplace. Place a long lighter next to the burner and pull the fuel trigger. (You can also use a lit match.)

What is the lever on the front of my fireplace?

Also, some wood burning fireplaces have a lever to open or close the outside air vent to the fireplace. If your fireplace has this lever (usually located on the left inside panel) make sure the outside air vent is in the open (or up) position. The outside air kit is designed to provide additional air for combustion.

What is the thing in front of a fireplace called?

Hearth. The hearth refers to the horizontal floor area of stone directly in front of the firebox opening. A hearth is usually as wide as the firebox and the legs combined. Its depth is strictly circumscribed anywhere from 18 inches to 24 inches.

What is the switch for on my fireplace?

The wall switch of a gas fireplace works protects the gas valve from accidentally turning on. It is a safety measure associated with a pilot flame and a thermopile.

What is the switch next to my wood fireplace?

A fireplace blower is a fan mounted on the exterior of the fireplace or inside the unit but outside the firebox itself. It is used to circulate air around the unit's hot exterior before pushing it back into the room. Fireplace fans help to circulate warm air and increase heat penetration into the room.

Why won't my fireplace turn on when I flip the switch?

What can happen over the years, is that the connections inside the switch can get dirty, corroded, or broken, causing a loss of this voltage at the switch. So by the time the small amount of voltage gets sent back to the fireplace, it is not enough to signal the fireplace to turn on.

What is the hearth on a fireplace?

A fireplace hearth is the floor area within a fireplace. It is made from noncombustible materials, such as brick or stone. The hearth extension is the noncombustible material in front of and at the sides of a fireplace opening.

What are the parts of a fireplace called?

At the base of the firebox is the hearth, and at the top of the firebox is the throat of the chimney, where a damper can be found in some fireplaces. The front of the firebox is called the fireplace opening, where glass doors can sometimes be found, or where a fireplace screen would be located.

What is a fireplace lintel?

The fireplace lintel or lintel bar is a horizontal beam that runs across the length of the fireplace and supports the chimney. It typically extends into each side of the wall by about 4 inches.

What is the little door on the bottom of my fireplace?

An ash pit is a hole in your firebox in which old ashes can be placed. Its convenient location allows you to sweep in any ashes and embers, then seal them in by closing a small door. Ash pits are designed to withstand the heat from your fireplace while being easily accessible for the homeowner.

What is the knob on the side of my wood stove?

The handle looks like coiled wire. This is a flue vent to control how much air passes over the fire and up the stove.

What is at the bottom of my fireplace?

The ash dump is the space directly below the ash dump door and is where the ash falls anytime the ash dump door is opened. Underneath the ash dump is the ash pit, which is the place where dumped ash collects. The ash pit should be emptied frequently. This helps to prevent hazardous accumulation of flammable byproducts.

What is the valve on a gas fireplace?

The gas valve knob is the junction between the main gas pipe and the gas fireplace. When closed, the gas valve knob acts as a gate to prevent gas from flowing to the fireplace. When opened, gas will flow. The valve can be opened partially or in full.

How do I turn on my gas fireplace knob?

Press the control knob down and hit the ignition switch.

To ignite the pilot light, press your finger into the center of the control knob and hold it in place. Then, hit the fireplace's ignition switch, which is typically a red button located near the control knob. Tap the switch until the pilot light ignites.

What are the sides of a fireplace called?

Jamb—The side of a fireplace opening. Smoke shelf—A shelf below the smoke chamber and behind the damper.

What goes in front of a fireplace on the floor?

Laminate Flooring

It makes an ideal choice in front of a fireplace because laminate flooring can withstand the heat given off by the fireplace. The hearth protects the laminate from absorbing too much of that heat, so the flooring maintains its shape.

What is the purpose of a hearth?

Hearths serve a very important purpose as well as visually draw attention to the fireplace one of the key focal points in the room setting. Hearths essentially were created to serve a purpose rather than strictly as decoration. They make the fireplace area a safe place and also prevent fire hazards.

Is a hearth necessary?

A hearth is not required for electric fireplaces but can be used to enhance the aesthetics of owning an electric fireplace that looks like other types of fireplaces, such as wood burning stoves. Gas fireplaces don't typically require a hearth, but gas fireplaces with glass fronts require a hearth.

What is hearth used for?

A hearth (/hɑːrθ/) is the place in a home where a fire is or was traditionally kept for home heating and for cooking, usually constituted by at least a horizontal hearthstone and often enclosed to varying degrees by any combination of reredos, fireplace, oven, smoke hood, or chimney.

Why does fireplace pilot go out?

Some of the possible serious reasons for pilot lights to go out include loose or broken gas valves, thermocouples or heat exchangers, faulty venting, low gas pressure, or high winds. If you believe there is a serious problem, don't hesitate to contact a professional.

Does my fireplace have a blower?

To know if your gas fireplace has a blower, you can check the manual of the gas fireplace or ask the service technician during installation. If the gas fireplace has already been installed and you are not sure if it has a blower, you can listen to the sound of the fireplace while it is on.

Why is my fireplace not working?

The thermocouple is a temperature sensor between the gas valve and the pilot light, and it will generate the electricity to ignite the gas when necessary. If the thermocouple is not screwed in properly, the fireplace won't work. Check to make sure it is screwed in properly and placed correctly.

Do I close the glass doors on my fireplace?

The doors should always be fully open or fully closed. Glass doors should be fully open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning strongly. The glass doors should be closed as the fire dies down to minimize the amount of room air going up the fireplace chimney.

What is a fireplace heat exchanger?

Heat exchangers are an efficient way to deliver greater warmth to your home. They are designed to draw in cool air from the home, heat it up, and then disperse this warmed air into your living space. There are many different styles available that can help maximize your masonry fireplace.