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-> Check out the latest issue of Hearthside Living 3/11/2012
October 31, 2011- Happy Halloween to our fellow ghosts, ghouls, and goblins!
October 23, 2011- Fall Sale! All Enclume accessories and select copper ash buckets
November 6, 2011- Fireplace Safety- Keeping Your Fire in the Fireplace
Help, having just had a chimney cap/damper installed and the question comes up. How much ash should you allow to build up when using the fireplace regulary? One says to have some air flow under the grate and another says it’s ok to let the ash build up with no air flow?
Thanks for your question Janine! We recommend cleaning out your ashes on a regular basis. Allowing ashes to build up around the grate can deteriorate the grate, causing it to rust away prematurely. Leaving an inch or so of ash on the fireplace floor is probably harmless, just don’t let the ashes buildup near the bottom of your grate. Also, remember to store your ashes in an ash bucket, and to never leave them on or around flammable objects until they’ve been thoroughly cooled. Read more: What To Do With Your Fireplace Ashes