The Essential Fireplace Tools You Need

Everybody loves a fireplace especially on a cold winter night. If you have just purchased and installed a new fireplace, you will be sure to have plenty of cozy evenings by the warmth of a fire. In order to fully maximize your fireplace, you need to have the right accessories for a fully functional and well-maintained hearth.

The usual tools for a typical fireplace consist of a shovel, a poker, a set of big tongs and a bristle broom. These tools can be bought individually but a more practical investment would be to buy a set. When you get a set, it usually comes with a free stand used for storage. The stand is very helpful in keeping your tools in a safe and clean area. The tools can be placed or hung inside, keeping them neat and out of any one’s way.

The shovel is a necessity particularly in wood-burning fireplaces, which need regular cleaning. You use the shovel to remove chunks of ash or burnt wood left in the middle of the pit. The finer ash can be cleaned using a special vacuum designed specifically to suck in ash. Most vacuum cleaners are unable to remove ash because these are so fine and easily slip through the filter bag of the vacuum. Rather than cleaning, you even spread the ash all over the room. Ash vacuum cleaners are designed to scoop in ash both warm and cold ones. However, there are now modern fireplaces with an ash pit at the bottom. This ash pit collects all the ash and you will just remove it when you cleaned the fireplace. If your fireplace does not have this added feature, you could invest in an ashbin with a firm lid. This ashbin could hold the ash before it is more than enough to be thrown. Metal bins are preferred since they do not burn. 

After you shovel the burnt chunks, you may use a broom to gather all the fine ash. You could sweep the ash into the shovel then throw this afterwards. A hard bristled broom will remove the dust without scattering it.

The poker is also widely used for wood-burning fireplaces. It is used to arrange the logs to make a better fire. It has an upside down hook a few inches above the bottom tip, designed to move or push logs.

A pair of big tongs is also useful. It makes a better grip in raising logs to position it properly. Some tongs have three ends, which are more effective in lifting burning logs. The tree points instead of two allow for a better-balanced log and a steadier grip. It is important that you do not drop the logs and scatter sparks that could be fire hazards. Investing in a three-tipped tong may be a wiser and safer choice.

Fireplace tools come in various shapes, sizes and design. Some are not only designed for its uses but also as a decorative element to enhance a beautiful fireplace. There are tools that are affordable and some pricey, depending on its material and design. The prices of fireplace tools can be so varied as well as its quality. For an excellent design and finish, you will surely get a higher price. A machine makes most of these tools with a few hand wrought iron tools that are beautifully designed. The usual pattern includes a leaf or scroll designs with decorative grips. It is really up to you and your budget in choosing the right fireplace tools for you. Whatever its design may be, its chief purpose is to  help you maintain and clean your fireplace in a safe and convenient manner. You have invested a lot in your fireplace, it is time to enjoy it and with the right set of tools, this is easily done.