While being confined in our homes, we are more aware of our surroundings and the things in it that work, need repairs or just need a good cleaning. It is a good time for home projects, organizing a closet or tackling the basement, attic or garage. It is also a good time to find places in our home that offer comfort, joy and relaxation.
It has been an unusually chilly spring. The comfort of a well-maintained fireplace can provide the peace and tranquility we all need during times like these. There’s something comforting about sitting closely in front of a warm glowing fire that takes away the chill, while physically and mentally relaxing our minds.
A fireplace is very therapeutic, whether it burns wood, gas or electric, and can be used through three seasons of the year. It’s a source of heat when temperatures during the day are relatively comfortable, but at night drop down into the 40s or 50s. It provides supplemental heating without changing the heat-scape of your entire home. A fireplace does not have to be just a winter time pleasure.
A fireplace can offer comfort in knowing that you have an independent heating source should your heating system break down, or you experience a power outage from a storm or a breakdown in the power grid.
Today, most gas and electric fireplaces come with thermostatic controls with even heat regulation that makes it more consistently comfortable. With a remote control, there is very little to do except enjoy your fireplace. With routine maintenance your fireplace can offer its service for decades.
While the installation of a new fireplace requires a little planning, and in some cases filing with the Department of Buildings, it’s a great way to add warmth to any room in your home. As a new project or for a renovated new look, start the process by doing your research. Contemporary models are more energy efficient and customizable, allowing you to choose the right insert to fit your lifestyle and complement you home. You can install a wall-mounted or zero-clearance fireplace in a smaller home, or transform a drafty traditional fireplace into a powerful zone heater with the right fireplace insert.
The best way to find the right hearth product is to visit a showroom or have an in-home personal consultation with a hearth expert. Try a virtual consultation to start the conversation with a specialist who may be able to provide direction and resources to identify the right fireplace for your home decor. Fireplaces come in all shapes and sizes, so finding the right one for your home may not be as difficult as you would imagine.
You may not be able to change what is going on in the world but you can control what is going on inside your immediate environment that gives you peace and tranquility. The hearth is a mainstay of human existence and perhaps the reason a glowing fire makes our hearts feel warm.
Daniel Ragusa, President – Firebird Sweep Inc.
(718) 356-1747 www.firebirdsweep.com
