DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIREBOXES? WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Fireboxes are open, box-shaped areas where you light and burn fires that keep you warm and cozy and create a massive amount of comfort and beauty for your home. There are different types, sizes, and styles of fireplace boxes. Each firebox type has its pros and cons, and the choice depends on several factors like your budget, style, and heating need. In this blog post, we will learn about different types of fireboxes and which ones to choose for our home.

What is a firebox?

A firebox in the fireplace is an area behind the fireplace's opening where fire can be built and maintained. A firebox can be built with masonry material and have a hearth at the base, masonry back and sides, and an opening to the chimney at the top. The fire burns inside the fireboxes, walls, and floor must be non-combustible. Fireboxes play an important role in the chimney systems' functioning; they keep the walls and combustible wood safe from intense heat. They are connected to the flue liner, so the smoke travels safely up and out of the chimney.

Types of fireboxes

Masonry fireboxes

Masonry fireboxes are massive structures that weigh between 6 and 7 tons. They are made with bricks, stone blocks, and mortar. These fireboxes increase the value of your home and are aesthetically pleasing and durable. Masonry fireboxes require minimum care and maintenance so that you can enjoy their warmth in the cold season for a lifetime. They are built on-site and brick-by-brick so that you can design masonry fireboxes. There are a variety of brick patterns and designs within the firebox which will help you to choose the best one for your firebox. Even you can include the gas line openings on both sides of the wood-burning firebox if you change your mind down the road. You can also design masonry fireboxes for wood-burning fireplaces and convert them into gas systems. Here is another option for investing in an outdoor fireplace firebox kit for masonry. So you can easily enhance the look of your backyard by building an outdoor fireplace.

Prefabricated Firebox

Prefabricated fireboxes have 4 main types: natural gas, electric, wood burning, and propane gas.
1. Natural gas Gas fireplaces are a more convenient way to supply heat and enhance the beauty of your hearth and home. You can decorate fireboxes with fake logs, decorative modern glass chips, or stones behind a sealed glass face. You can use natural gas instead of propane as if it were unavailable.

2. Electric Electric fireboxes provide a cozy and comfortable environment by simply flipping a switch. You can create an environment of the room like realistic wood flames by using fake logs and fake flames with an electric firebox. When you plug an appliance into an electrical socket, metal coins heat up automatically and supply warmth inside an electric fireplace. Heat is pushed outward into the room with the help of a fan, also referred to as a blower motor.

3. Propane Gas We can use propane gas when natural gas is not available. Propane gas fireboxes are fueled by propane in tanks and are available in stores. Most homeowners do not want to rely on natural gas, so they choose propane gas to warm their homes. Some people may live in remote areas where they do not want to use wood-burning fireboxes, so it is a great opportunity for them to stay warm and comfortable.

4. Wood-burning Wood-burning fireboxes are more popular and give a natural look. You can enjoy the joy of timber fire by installing wood fireboxes in your home; moreover, the earthy scents and memories of a wood-burning fire are hard to compare. 

Steel firebox

Steel fireboxes are made of steel and installed in a real brick chimney instead of a firebrick firebox. It has hollow cavities and ducts that heat the metal box outside and run fire. It also contains a blower; air travels through hollow walls, and a smoke chamber comes through a brick fireplace. Steel fireboxes are a great idea to enhance the home's beauty; mostly, steel boxes are thrown or replaced due to ultimate moisture-induced rusting.

Decorative firebox

Decorative brick firebox panels are found in factory-built fireplaces. In factory-built fireplaces, a large ceramic panel is often used to simulate the look of fire brick and mortar assembly found in masonry systems. This ceramic panel is designed to maintain high temperatures and is textured to create the look of real bricks. You can install panels with metal brackets which can be easily replaced if damaged. It is important to take care while replacing panels or firebox tiles. .

Which one to choose?

Prefabricated fireboxes are the best choice because they have a dual function of gas and wood. If you choose a prefab metal firebox, use a wire mesh screen instead of the glass door. Because you may plan to burn wood, it prevents ashes from coming out on the carpet. Prefabricated metal boxes that use gas and have glass doors that can work in place of the wire mesh screen. Vents can circulate and blows warm air in and out, and you can enjoy it with your family. Moreover, prefabricated metal electric fireboxes are convenient and just a push button away. You can enjoy electric fireplace boxes with no preparation, without the tension of wood purchase and cleaning ash. So prefabricated metal fireboxes are multi-functional fireplace boxes.

Factors considered before choosing fireboxes

When choosing a firebox for fireplaces then, consider some factors:
1. Cost
Your budget plays an important role when choosing fireboxes for your home. It depends on whether you want electric, gas, or wood-burning fireboxes. Wood-burning fireboxes give a natural look but are expensive. Propane gas fireboxes are also good options, and electric ones are cost-efficient. Wood fireplace boxes are expensive to build and maintain due to the cost of skilled masonry and construction needed to install the hearth and chimney.
2. Heat
When choosing one firebox for your home, it should be high in heat efficiency to keep you warm all season. You can enjoy the warmth of a real fireplace by selecting the right one which can more efficiently heat the home, like gas fireboxes.
3. Size of the firebox
Size is the main factor when choosing a firebox. It would help if you took proper measurements of the room where you installed the firebox. Do not select smaller fireboxes because they may not provide enough heat; if you choose a larger one that may be too large to maintain the temperature in the room. So consider room size, ceiling height, and wall insulation before choosing a firebox.
4. Efficiency
Efficiency is another key factor to consider before selecting a firebox. Choose a firebox that burns fuel cleanly with less waste and saves money from bills. Select the firebox with high energy efficiency that gives you a pleasant environment.
5. Maintenance
Always select the firebox that requires low maintenance and consider factors such as ease of cleaning and the type of fuel required when making your selection.

Final words:

The fireboxes are an essential part of your chimney system. Every fireplace firebox is important because it protects the flammable material, controls heat, and transfers the smoke outside. Above in the article, we discussed the different types of fireboxes in detail and which is best to choose for your home. This article will help you to find the best one by considering the following factors: size, heat, efficiency, cost, and ease of cleaning fireboxes.