Young Brunette Girl Posing At Home In Front Of The Fireplace

Many homes no longer have open fireplaces, they are often replaced by what is considered to be more efficient ways of heating, such as central heating, or electric heaters. The social function of the fireplace is often substituted by the home entertainment center. Some fireplaces have been closed off not allowing them to be used. Some have been made unable to be used by feeding a telephone, television antenna, cable TV or satellite TV wire down them. For homeowners that want the ambiance of a fireplace without the fire, there are several alternatives. One is to install a 'fake fire' or gas fireplace, which offers the fireplace effect. For people with existing fireplaces, the alternative to simply closing them up is to install a gas, wood or biomass fireplace insert. Some governments have a partial ban on solid fuel burning fireplaces due to air pollution. Ventless fireplaces have received attention recently: they are free standing, requiring no chimney and no hearth. Prefabricated fireplaces are popular because of their lower construction cost and some considered them to be safer and more reliable. Brick or stone fireplaces can be designed to meet exact specifications for opening size, depth, and facing material. The open brick or stone fireplaces can cost more to build and usually require regular cleaning or maintenance.
Accessories
A wide range of accessories are used with fireplaces, which vary between countries and regions, and historical periods. For the interior, common in recent Western cultures are grates, fireguards, logboxes, andirons, pellet baskets, and fire dogs, all of which cradle fuel and accelerate burning. Heavy metal firebacks are sometimes used to capture and reradiate heat, to protect the back of the fireplace, and as decoration.