Fireplace grates are a very important fireplace accessory.  They are second only to the fireplace screen which keeps the fire contained in the firebox.  Fireplace grates are available in many shapes and sizes to accommodate all styles of fireboxes.  They are crucial to your fireplace burning at peak efficiency.

What Is A Fireplace Grate

A fireplace grate is a device used to raise logs off the firebox floor for the purpose of containing the logs and creating airflow to produce a hot fire.

The most common grate is a series of evenly spaced bars held up by four legs.  The bars are flat in the middle with the ends bent upward to hold the logs.  There is a self feeding variation of this fireplace grate.  The main difference is that the middle of the bars continue bending down creating a U shape instead of being flat.

There are also basket style fireplace grates.  Just as the name suggests, they are shaped like baskets.  The sides have evenly spaced straps of iron which allow for airflow.  This basket sits up on four legs to elevate it off the firebox floor.

Fireplace grates are generally made of cast iron or stainless steel, cast iron being the most common.  The rule of thumb is the heavier the grate the better.  

The heavier grates are more durable and stand up to continuous hot fires.  Lighter weight fireplace grates have smaller parts and sometimes hollow parts that just do not last.

Light weight grates are less expensive and will probably hold up fine if you seldom use your fireplace.  If you use your fireplace a great deal, your best bet is a heavy duty fireplace grate.  You will not regret it.

Fireplace Grate Function

The fireplace grate’s main function is to elevate the burning logs off the base of the firebox to create airflow.  This airflow greatly increases the efficiency of the fire.  

With the logs elevated, air is allowed to be drawn under the logs forcing the coals to burn hot.  The hotter they burn the more they draw.  If the logs are not elevated they basically sit on the floor and suffocate.

Another function of the fireplace grate is to contain the burning logs.  The angled sides of the grate hold the logs and force them to the center.  Otherwise, when the logs closest to the bottom burned down, the top logs would roll off.

Fireplace Grate Benefits

A hot fire is the main benefit.  The obvious benefit of a hot fire is more heat for you.  A roaring fire produces far more heat than one that just sits there and smolders.

Another benefit of a hot fire is less smoke.  Less smoke means a more complete burn causing less creosote build up in the chimney, reducing the risk of a chimney fire.  Less smoke also means less pollution for the environment and your neighbors.

For anyone who uses their fireplace, a fireplace grate is a must.  If you do not already have one, do yourself, your chimney, the environment, and your neighbors a favor by outfitting your fireplace with a fireplace grate.

The Great Fireplace Grate
Fireplaces took a major leap forward in 1678 when Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles1, raised the fireplace grate.This increased airflow greatly improving the efficiency of the burning fire.

Fireplace grates provide many benefits and a hot burning fire is one.  When the logs are elevated off the firebox floor, air is pulled from under the burning logs creating a draw.  This causes a cycle.  The draw of air burns the logs hotter and the hotter the logs burn the more it draws.  This causes the fire to burn cleaner which means less pollution and less creosote in your chimney reducing the chance of a chimney fire.  A hot fire also means more heat for you.  When the fireplace grate is positioned towards the back of the firebox,  the heat hits the slant of the fire back.  The slant of the fire back slants forward reflecting the heat out into the room.

Another benefit of fireplace grates is they securely hold the burning logs in place so they are not rolling out onto your floor.  This benefit should be obvious.  Fireplace grates will also keep the burning logs compact which makes them “feed” off one another instead of having them spread out burning independently.

Fireplace grates also make lighting the fire easy.  Simply crumple up newspaper and stuff it under the fireplace grate.  Next, put  kindling on the fireplace grate.  On top of the kindling place medium size pieces of wood and on top of that place a log or two.  Presto, a full size fire.  The importance of the fireplace grate in all of this is to keep the weight of all the wood off the paper, which would smother it, not allowing it to get hot enough to ignite the kindling.

When measuring your firebox for a fireplace grate, simply measure the back of the firebox.  This is usually the narrowest point if the colvings (sides) slant in.  Make sure the is at least 2-4 inches of clearance on each side.  The fireplace grate should have 6-8 inches clearance front to back to keep it as far back as possible away from the doors or screen.

Fireplace grates have a long history and are still as important today for many good reasons.

Sold as each. Heavy duty construction. . Manufacturer’s number: 59724. Buy Hardware Supplies SKU #: 49164. Country of origin: China. Distributed by Ace Trading – Fireplace Grates.

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Basic in design, this Cast Iron Safety Grate is exactly as it appears – it’s to support your logs, provide the necessary air flow for optimal combustion, allow the ashes to fall, & to protect the floor of your firebox from excessive heat damage. And as this is cast as one piece, there is never a fear of broken welds or loosened bolts. But please note that this is an “Economy” version so it will be rougher in appearance (some pitting, excess flash, rougher edges, etc.), but hones (more…)

This heavy duty cooking grate with adjustable height positions is designed to fit in a standard fireplace, at the campsite or even in the backyard. The sturdy steel grate adjusts to three different heights from 5 inch to 14 inch depending on your heat source needs. Grill is made from steel with a high temp food grade enamel finish. Cooking surface measures 15 inch x 19.75 inch. Vertical legs fold flat for easy storage. Made by family camping cookware specialists, Rome Indust (more…)

The heavy duty Lifetime Grate is thicker and heavier than the typical grate. Made of 1″ wide steel bars, this grate is designed to withstand the harsh environment of your fireplace. Most fireplace grates burn out in just a couple of years. Purchase the Lifetime Grate today and you won’t have to buy another grate again.The “ZC” models have shorter depths and are designed for Zero Clearance (also known as pre-fab) fireplaces or simply when a grate with shorter legs and a shallow d (more…)

27″, Black, Cast Iron Fireplace Grate, 6″ H x 27″ W x 15″ D.

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“PANACEA PRODUCTS” CAST IRON GRATE

18″
Black
Cast Iron
Fireplace Grate
4.5″ H x 18″ W x 12.5″ D.

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The heavy duty Lifetime Grate is thicker and heavier than the typical grate. Made of 1″ wide steel bars, this grate is designed to withstand the harsh environment of your fireplace. Most fireplace grates burn out in just a couple of years. Purchase the Lifetime Grate today and you won’t have to buy another grate again.The “ZC” models have shorter depths and are designed for Zero Clearance (also known as pre-fab) fireplaces or simply when a grate with shorter legs and a shallow d (more…)

SEYMOUR 30-2682924 GRATE 1PC CF

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