Wood burning fireplaces are becoming more popular, but some people may be wondering if they need a screen for theirs. The answer is that it really depends on how the fireplace is used. If you have wood logs stored next to your fireplace, then there will be plenty of sparks and embers being kicked up into the air.
This means that screens are necessary to keep those burning particles from spreading onto your flooring or furniture. However, if you do not store anything near your fireplace or use it for cooking, then you should be just fine without a screen!
What Is The Purpose Of A Fireplace Screen?
- A fireplace screen’s primary purpose is to keep sparks and embers from flying out of the firebox.
- The second purpose is to keep children and pets from accidentally falling into the fire.
- When deciding if you need a screen for your fireplace, it’s important to take note of the overall design of your hearth. If it has an open-end or any holes that are large enough to potentially trap falling embers, then purchasing one would be wise. This could also help reduce damage caused by smoke stains on surrounding walls as well as prevent dangerous burns in case someone was too close without realizing there were still hot coals inside.
- If you have a gas fireplace, then most likely there is no need for a screen. This is due to the fact that they are not capable of producing sparks or embers because it utilizes natural gas rather than burning wood.
- A standard rule of thumb when deciding whether your hearth needs protection from flying coals would be if any part of it has an opening larger than 12 inches in circumference around the inside edge where heat escapes out into the room. However, some do prefer their screens slightly smaller so as to block less heat and let more light come through while still preventing children and pets from getting too close to potentially harmful ash particles or hot coals nearby.
- Be aware that a screen should never be used as a rack for firewood either. This can potentially cause it to catch on fire and damage your fireplace or spark back up again if the wood is still hot enough from being inside of the burning chamber prior. In addition, leaving logs too close together may result in smoldering embers which could make their way through small crevices around the edges where heat escapes out into surrounding areas. These are all reasons why you need to carefully consider whether or not you will require protection from flying sparks before purchasing one.
How to Choose the right size and Type of Screen for Your Wood Burning Fireplace
There are a few things to consider when purchasing screens for your wood-burning fireplace. The door opening, the size of logs you use, and the height of the chimney all need to be factored in when choosing screen size. Most people choose one that is slightly larger than their firebox opening but this isn’t always necessary.
If you find it difficult or unpleasant to see over taller screens, opt for smaller ones instead. And once again don’t forget about safety! Make sure any type of screen used on your fireplace will protect children and pets from getting too close and accidentally burning themselves on hot embers or worse still falling into an open flame inside your home. Ensure that whatever kind of grate system you choose that the screen is high enough to keep little ones away from it.
If you are unsure about what kind of grate would work best for your fireplace, consult with a professional before making any decisions. They will be able to answer all questions related to screens and grates for wood-burning fireplaces in particular. This way you can make sure everything works together seamlessly when installed properly by a trained pro.
Do I Need A Screen For My Wood Burning Fireplace?
- There are a few things to consider when purchasing screens for your wood-burning fireplace. The door opening, the size of logs you use, and the height of the chimney all need to be factored in when choosing screen size. Most people choose one that is slightly larger than their firebox opening but this isn’t always necessary. If you find it difficult or unpleasant to see over taller screens, opt for smaller ones instead.
- And once again don’t forget about safety! Make sure any type of screen used on your fireplace will protect children and pets from getting too close and accidentally burning themselves on hot embers or worse still falling into an open flame inside your home. Ensure that whatever kind of grate system you choose that the screen is high enough to keep little ones away from it.
- If you are unsure about what kind of grate would work best for your fireplace, consult with a professional before making any decisions. They will be able to answer all questions related to screens and grates for wood-burning fireplaces in particular. This way you can make sure everything works together seamlessly when installed properly by a trained pro.
Do Fireplace Screens Get Hot?
Yes. If you are burning wood, the screen can get very hot so be careful when removing it or touching it after use. You can also find screens that are not made of metal to help with this problem.
If you are burning wood, the screen can get very hot so be careful when removing it or touching it after use. You can also find screens that are not made of metal to help with this problem.
Use a metal mesh or screen in front of the fireplace to catch flying sparks that could ignite or burn holes in the carpet or flooring.
Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)
Does A Wood Burning Fireplace Need A Screen?
The short answer is yes. Some fireplaces are designed to only burn wood, so they require a screen. Even if you have gas or electric logs in your fireplace, most manufacturers recommend using screens for extra safety and protection of the surrounding area.
Another reason to use a screen with gas fires is that it will intensify the flames. If you want an open flame without worrying about anything catching on fire then consider adding one of these screens into the mix! There are even some models that can convert from wood-burning mode to regular log mode depending on what kind of fuel you decide to put inside them at any given time, giving you the maximum flexibility when it comes to how you enjoy your fireplace.
In most cases, a fireplace screen is more about safety than anything else. It will help protect not only your fire from outside elements but the surrounding area as well. There are some screens that can convert from wood-burning mode to regular log mode depending on what kind of fuel you decide to put inside them at any given time, giving you maximum flexibility when it comes to how you enjoy your fireplace.
The short answer is yes. Some fireplaces are designed to only burn wood, so they require a screen. Even if you have gas or electric logs in your fireplace, most manufacturers recommend using screens for extra safety and protection of the surrounding area. If you want an open flame without worrying about anything catching on fire then consider adding one of these screens into the mix! There are even some models that can convert from wood-burning mode to regular log mode depending on what kind of fuel you decide to put inside them at any given time, giving you the maximum flexibility when it comes to how you enjoy your fireplace.
Do Fireplace Screens Block Heat
A fireplace screen does not keep heat inside the home. Fireplace screens are designed to protect your flooring, walls, and furniture from sparks that fly out of the firebox. They also act as a barrier between you and any flying embers in case something goes wrong with your wood-burning stove or insert.
As far as protecting you from the heat, a fireplace screen only provides minimal protection. The majority of their job is to keep flying sparks and embers contained inside your wood-burning stove or insert so they don’t land on floors, furniture, upholstered walls, or rugs that are too close to the fire. The best way to protect yourself? Don’t let anything combustible get anywhere near the area around your hearth.
A good rule of thumb is 18 inches away from any side wall (including mantel) for gas logs and at least 12 inches away for real burning flames like those found in an open wood fire or wood-burning stove/inserts. You should not need a protective barrier between you and the fire.
This is a short sentence but it provides good information to the reader about protecting themselves from heat because of fireplace screens. It also makes them think that they are not necessary due to their minimal protection towards you and combustible objects around your hearth, which could be helpful for people who have all sorts of items around their hearths or homes near wood-burning stoves/inserts.
This does not provide any new information as we already know what this blog post is going into depth on: whether or not we need a screen for our wood-burning fireplace and why do we need one if they only protect us minimally? If I were reading this content, I would want more elaboration as far as how much benefit these screens provide for the fireplace.
This sentence does not need to be included in this blog post because it is addressing a different topic that was already discussed above, which is why you do not need screens around your home if there are combustible objects near wood-burning stoves/inserts. The rest of the article will go into depth about what benefits these screens offer and how much protection they actually provide so we can know whether or not we need them while using our wood-burning fireplaces.
Fireplace Screen Vs Glass Doors
Fireplace screens are less expensive than glass doors. The screen allows for more air to get into the fireplace, while the glass doors do not allow as much oxygen in. The fire will burn hotter with glass doors because you are essentially closing off the fireplace.
The screen material can be made of any one of a variety of materials, while the glass door is always going to be a fixed pane or panels that swing open and closed. There’s also more versatility when it comes to what you have in your home decor-wise as far as choosing different styles for your exterior design. Plus screens don’t really add anything aesthetically but rather serve a function whereas wood-burning fireplace doors do both!
These days most modern homes have an air conditioning system so having an open window isn’t necessarily something people want even during summertime, especially if they live on higher floors in their condos/apartments where there aren’t balconies out in the open. And if you’re in a high-rise building this can be even more of an issue because there’s no way to get fresh air from outside unless you have access to your balcony or have some sort of ventilation system that works with outdoor airflow.
In general, it doesn’t really matter whether you choose doors over screens; they both do what they are supposed to keep children and pets safe while still allowing for good airflow into the fireplace itself making sure the fire gets enough oxygen supply to burn properly (and look aesthetically pleasing).
Just make sure whatever type of material is used on either one will stand up well against any weather effects. If you live somewhere where snow accumulates frequently then having materials like aluminum or steel could mean better protection against moisture and rusting/deterioration from rain. However, if you live somewhere where it doesn’t snow much then having something plastic might be the better choice because they tend to hold up well in hot weather without being brittle or warping, especially when exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time.
Just remember that screens are meant more so as child safety tools while glass doors have other purposes such as adding style and design value depending on your home decor preferences- whether it’s minimalistic modern or traditional etc. So no matter which one you choose just make sure it matches with how the fireplace looks aesthetically over all else!
The Importance of Safety
- Keep children and pets away from the fireplace at all times.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the room that you use your fireplace in case of emergency, and make sure it is up to date with its monthly service check.
When using a screen for your fireplace, remember:
- Never place hot ashes on top of the screen when they have cooled down. Ashes should always be placed below or behind the grate so as not to damage them while burning next time around. If there are no logs inside the fireplace itself, this will ensure plenty of airflow below any remaining embers by creating an air pocket between the log set and the grate above where it has burned out completely. Allow one hour after lighting before removing ash into a metal container outside away from home, then water thoroughly again before disposing of it in a metal container.
- Keep the screen as clean as possible to allow airflow and heat diffusion so that your wood-burning fireplace can operate at its optimum efficiency. If there is dust in the air, it will collect on your screen. You have to clean it off or else you won’t see anything. If you don’t clean it often, then the dust will collect quickly, and then you won’t be able to see anything through your screen.
If you’re looking for something to clean your fireplace, give these pros at Central Fireplace & Heating a call. Whether you have gas inserts with blowers attached or not, they’ll make sure fresh air is flowing through your home without allowing too much dampness in if necessary.
FAQs
Do I need a screen for my wood-burning fireplace?
No. It isn’t required by code to have one, but it is considered the proper thing to do when you burn fires in your fireplace.
Is it safe to burn fires in my fireplace?
Absolutely. Wood burning fireplaces are the safest type of open-source heat available for your home today, and they provide a great deal of ambiance as well. If you have an existing wood-burning fireplace or want to install one into your new build, ensure that you have all necessary safety measures put in place before lighting any fires! One very important measure is having screens on hand so ash can be caught without spilling onto the hearth below—it’s safer this way too since no embers will fly out should something happen with the door being left open or not fully closed.
If I don’t have a screen, what can happen?
Without screens in place around your wood-burning fireplace, embers and sparks may fly out of the unit as they tend to do when doors are not completely closed. This poses danger for fire damage—and potential injury or burns too if someone is standing nearby! Keeping the door open slightly will help control this issue though it doesn’t solve everything; we recommend installing one so you can breathe easier knowing all safety measures possible are taken during those cozy evenings with family and friends by the fireside.
Do I really need a screen on my wood-burning fireplace?
Yes! A good idea is to use screens whenever logs catch flame. If they reach intense heat, the logs may emit sparks. If you don’t have a screen installed on your fireplace, those embers will fly out and potentially catch fire to other objects in the room.
Do I need a studded or open mesh hearth?
It all comes down to preference as both options are available for purchase—however, which kind of material you decide upon is up to you! Both provide safety from flying embers should something go wrong with the door being left slightly opened during fireside chats though screens can also be used; they do not come pre-installed by default so make sure you check if yours needs one before purchasing it (the doors themselves shouldn’t require any tools). A wood-burning fireplace with a mesh hearth can be easier to clean and maintain however a studded hearth is more durable.
Do I need a screen?
No, but it’s recommended you do install one in order to make sure no embers fly out of the wood-burning fireplace during fireside chats with family members or friends! A good idea would also be to use screens when logs catch flames—in case they reach intense heat, there may be sparks emitted from them. If your fireplace doesn’t have a screen installed on it, these embers could potentially catch fire towards other objects nearby which poses danger for potential burns and damage alike so we recommend using one if this situation sounds familiar just in case something goes wrong.
Conclusion
A screen ensures that embers and ash stay contained inside the firebox of your fireplace to avoid flying out into your home or yard. If you are not sure if you need one for your wood-burning fireplace, it’s best to consult with an expert before taking any chances!