Although a fireplace grate may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to your fireplace, it is an important piece to having a warm, satisfying fire. Since not all fireplace grates are the same, let's take a look at the differences and discover which grate may be your best choice.

While it's true that a grate helps your wood burn better in your fireplace, it can also help in improving the amount of heat that is cycled out into your home. In fact, the amount can be as high as 20%.

You can find a wide variety of grates for fireplaces. There are literally hundreds of various sizes, styles and designs to choose from.

With energy costs soaring, many homeowners are frantically searching for ways to keep the cost down this next winter. One of the best ways to do this is to plug up one of the largest holes in your home—your fireplace—by installing fireplace glass doors. Not only will a set of glass doors prevent heat from escaping up the chimney, their addition will greatly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, thereby increasing its value.

The gas carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, tasteless and poisonous. Nearly 1,800 people die each year from carbon monoxide exposure and about 10,000 more seek medical attention for it. Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, but infants, children, senior citizens and people with carbon monoxide coronary or respiratory problems stand the greatest risk.

Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous?
The great danger of carbon monoxide is its attraction to hemoglobin in the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide is breathed in through the lungs and bonds with hemoglobin in the blood, displacing the oxygen cells need to function. When carbon monoxide is present in the air, it rapidly accumulates in the blood, forming a toxic compound knows as caroxyhemoglobin (COHb).