A fireplace, a wood stove or a chimney looks simple, but a lot is going on inside it: air, heat, smoke and fuel have to move the right way. Most of the time you only notice when the fire will not draw, the glass turns black, a smell comes down the flue or the chimney sweep says something needs attention.
Fireplaces Explained answers two questions for every part of a home heated or decorated by fire: how does it work, and why is it doing that. We explain the parts, what normally goes wrong, what an owner can safely check, and when the right move is to call a certified chimney sweep, a licensed gas or HVAC technician or an electrician.
What we cover
- Wood-burning, gas and electric fireplaces, and how they differ.
- Wood stoves, pellet stoves and fireplace inserts.
- Chimneys, flues, liners, draft and cleaning.
- Firewood, seasoning, storage and ash handling.
- Safety: carbon monoxide, chimney fires, clearances and local codes.
How we make our guides
- Diagrams, not stock photos. Our guides are built around simplified illustrations that show how a system works. Treat them as explanatory drawings rather than exact replicas of any specific brand, model or local design.
- Safety first. Carbon monoxide, chimney fires, gas leaks and hot surfaces are real hazards. When a job is not safe for an owner to do alone, we say so plainly.
- Plain language. We explain the technical terms the first time we use them.
Who runs this site
Fireplaces Explained is operated by Verano Studio, S.L., tax ID (CIF) B67263863, with registered address at c/ Sant Elies 29-35, esc. A, 1º 2ª, 08006 Barcelona, Spain.
Spotted a mistake?
We want these guides to be right. If something is wrong or out of date, please tell us and we will fix it.