Anatomy of a Fireplace
If you have a fireplace or are thinking of adding one to your home, it is good to understand the terminology.
- Outer hearth – The part of the hearth that extends into the room
- Inner hearth – Inside the opening
- Firebox – The place you build the fire on the inner hearth
- Fireback – Rear wall of the firebox
- Damper – A plate or valve that closes the flue (top of the fireplace). It should be closed when the fireplace is not in use but open before lighting the fire.
- Throat damper – A damper located just above the firebox operated by either a handle inside the firebox or a knob above the fireplace opening.
- Smoke chamber – The space above the throat of the fireplace leading to the flue
- Flue – Vertical passageway inside the chimney
- Ash dump door – In some fireplaces, it is a metal door on the inner hearth. It leads to an ash pit.
- Ash pit – A space under the firebox intended for ashes. It usually has a door to facilitate cleaning.
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