Fireplace Basics

Just about every traditional fireplace, regardless of construction, has a few consistent features.

The hearth generally refers to the space in front of the firebox, but the term is often used to refer to the whole fireplace.

The unseen parts of the fireplace include the throat and damper, which are the opening to the flue and the mechanism for opening or blocking that opening, respectively. Smoke and gases rise up the flue, the hollow tube that rises up to the chimney.

The flue itself is lined (with tile, masonry, or, more commonly these days, multi-layered insulated metal tubing) to prevent damage and to draw the combustion gases upward and out the chimney.