Well, we know that the Game of Thrones has a lot of fireplaces, yet it’s not really going to help you win the Game of Thrones unless you have a magical fireplace.
Well….
You could.
Now that I have fired up your imagination (pun – get it) fired up.
O’well let’s move on…
Fireplace Grates
The Fireplace Grate is necessary if you are going to have a fireplace in your home, Fireplace grates are typically made of cast iron or steel.
The reason you need a fireplace great is that fire will burn most efficiently if it is fed with air.
Now increased air movement around the fire will allow the to flame burn more evenly and efficiently around the logs…
As the fire matures and takes hold of the smaller logs or kindling (which are twigs or smaller pieces of wood) you can then add progressively larger.
And large logs so that you don’t waste your time trying to get the fire to take hold of bigger logs from the start.
Logs lay on top of each other in the fireplace and can leave little space for the flames to take hold underneath without sufficient air.
The fireplace grate heater makes this problem go away and for your fire to get the necessary air it needs to help burn the logs.
Fireplace Grates Come In Different Designs
There are three main types of fireplace grates:
- steel bar used for wood
- grate heaters for wood which produce heat back into the home
- cast iron is generally used for wood or coal
Now if you are burning coal it cannot be used on the steel bar grates, this is because the bars are spread too far apart and the coal would fall through.
Now that would be an inconvenience don’t you think? So remember this little hint.
Reasons Why You Need A Fireplace Grate For Your Fireplace
Better Drafting For The Logs
When you lift the fire off the floor you do two things…
Wait for it! you actually lift the fire closer to the chimney thus allowing that needed air to move and swirl under the fire itself.
By these actions, you create a fire that you can be proud of.
Not too high and big ok, we don’t want you rushing for the fire extinguisher in a panic.
This will also help draft the smoke and fumes up out of the chimney and away instead of smoking you out of your own home.
Sorry…
I am just imagining you running out the front door spluttering away with obscenities coming out of your mouth.
Now now…
This is a clean site.
A Better Quality Burn
If the wood you are using in your fireplace is lifted off of the floor itself, thus allowing air is pulled in from underneath the wood.
That extra air will help burn your wood more efficiently with air making the fire’s heat a lot hotter and more efficient for a better burn.
The burned pieces of the wood will eventually fall to the floor of the fireplace through the spaces in the grate itself creating a bed of super-hot coals.
This will allow the wood from above to burn from the bottom up.
Where you will not need to adjust and move around (I mean play around – Don’t touch!) the wood once placed on the grate itself.
Protection Of Your fireplace Floor
The grate not only helps keep the real heat of the logs up off the floor, but it also protects your concrete from the extremities of the fire’s heat.
And will help extend the lifespan of your fireplace for a whole lot longer.
A good reason don’t you think about getting a grate.
Whether it be fancy or plain.
We will talk about that later…
Less Work With Fireplace Grates
Have you noticed how the fireplace grates have a front and back that curl upwards?
here’s a reason for this…
This is not a mistake of the blacksmith (well that’s how they were made years ago, call me old-fashioned. I know they’re mostly factory-made now.
Don’t spoil it.
It helps to cradle the firewood and keep it from moving around and also helps to force the wood to the middle of the grate as it burns.
This takes away the hassle of having to move the wood around all the time yourself.
All you do is simply add more wood when you need it.
After all, you don’t want those hot embers from flying out of the fire and burning your floor or luxury carpet. Well, you might have a luxury carpet…
Fireplace Grates And Choosing One That Is Right For You
Now that we know why we need to have a fireplace grate, you do, don’t you?
Don’t make me go through it all again!
The big question is which one should you buy.
Now it gets to my choices thing!
There are literally hundreds of different types of grates that are out there today.
They can be made of different materials, and in so many different models to choose from.
Learning which grate will meet your own personal needs is the most important thing you need to decide.
Because if you choose the wrong grate for your fireplace, you could end up putting your hand deeper in your pockets than you first thought.
It’s not hard to know that the heavier the grate, the more durable it will be.
Now, how heavy a grate you should buy should be decided by how often you plan on using your fireplace.
If you’re going to be one of those people who like to use a fireplace every now and then, the choice of a Lightweight Grate will be fine.
Now if you plan on using your fireplace frequently, let’s say more than once a month, you will need to look at a medium-grade fire grate.
If you’re a person who used your fireplace constantly.
You need to go for the thickest and strongest fire grate that you can afford.
One more thing that will be throughout the rules is if you plan on burning more of the hardwood variety of wood such as Maple or Oak for instance rather than the softwoods, you really need to consider a thicker grate.
Grate Heaters: Steel vs. Cast Iron
Steel:
Now Fireplace grates are best used for wood.
The bars of the grate itself is often spaced further apart and this means that if you decide that you now want to bur coal-burning fireplaces, the coal is just going to fall right through to the ground.
Steel bar grates have a habit of not lasting as long as their cast iron grate counterparts.
With the exception of the heaviest varieties of course – heavy Duty. I am sorry to say that they are also not as efficient as cast iron grates.
Cast Iron:
These cast-iron grates are the best when it comes to wood or coal.
They often have small gaps throughout the grate to allow all those smaller pieces of wood and coal to stay put on the grate and not on the floor.
This is an advantage, as you will have them burning even longer and more efficiently.