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Fireplace Maintenance & Safety

September 24, 2024  |  fireplace, Fireplace Doors, fireplace maintenance, fireplace safety, franks glass, glass, pyrex, pyroceram, tempered glass
Outdoor Fireplace
Fireplace

Is your fireplace ready for use?  It is important to ensure your chimney is free of debris and you have cleaned out and inspected your fireplace.  If your glass doors have an accumulation of soot that cannot be removed or you accidentally break the glass while cleaning or it breaks from the heat of the fire, the glass can be replaced without purchasing the entire door with the frame.

 

Most fireplace glass is manufactured from tempered or PyroCeram® glass.  Tempered glass is regular glass that has been heat treated to increase strength and thermal shock resistance to prevent injury by changing the break pattern. Tempered glass is used in applications where heat, mechanical strength and safety are a factor. For example, the glass on motor vehicles is tempered to make it strong and less dangerous when it shatters or breaks. Tempered glass is also used in fireplace doors and on masonry and prefabricated fireplaces equipped with a grate to hold the burning wood.  When tempered glass breaks, it shatters into little pieces, reducing the potential of injury.  Tempered glass will generally resist temperatures from 400-500 degrees.

 

If you have a woodstove or coal burning stove, a high heat resistance glass is required.  In these applications a PyroCeram® glass should be installed.  PyroCeram® is commonly referred to as glass but it is actually a transparent ceramic.  Pyroceram is 3/16" or 5mm thick. Unlike true glass, ProCeram® withstands continuous exposure to high temperatures without fear of destruction. It is also resistant to failure due to temperature variation. This makes it the ideal solution for many wood stoves and fireplaces where glass panels are less than 6 inches from the flames.

 

Frank’s Glass can help you with all your glass needs.  If you need new fireplace glass, just bring in your doors and we will help to determine the type of glass and the proper size.  Call Frank’s Glass at 513.829.8284 with any questions.