Grate Heaters and Steel and Cast Iron, Oh My!

You mean I have options? Oh, yes indeed! Bear in mind, no matter which grate you choose, wood embers have a tendency to stay on the grate blocking air from getting to the wood. Unfortunately, this makes it harder for the wood to burn.

·        Cast Iron - This is the only grate used to burn both coal and wood. The heavier cast iron is, the stronger it is and the longer it will last. Cast iron grates will generally last longer than steel grates. The only exception to this rule is an extremely thick-barred steel grate, which last about as long as a cast iron grate.

·        Steel - These fire grates are usually used to burn wood only. Steel fire grates can’t be used to burn coal, because the bars used to cradle the kindling are spread too far apart and the coal would just fall to the floor. You can determine the strength of a steel grate by looking at its bars. As a rule of thumb, the thicker the bars, the more heavy duty the grate is. The more heavy duty the grate is, the longer it will last.

·        Grate Heaters - This type of grate is hollow and they are used to blow warm or hot air back into your house once they have been heated. Some are even controlled with a thermostat to cause it to automatically cut on and off once it hits a certain temperature. They can burn wood only and are admittedly less efficient than a fireplace inserts, but they cost much less. Grate heaters are awesome as alternative sources of heat for the economically challenged, such as me.

In addition to choosing the type of grate you want, you will need to choose its capacity to withstand how much you will be using it. If you only light fires on special occasions, you may want to consider a light weight steel or cast iron grate. If you plan to use it once a month or so, or you are planning to burn hardwoods, you should definitely look more at the mid to high grade grates. The heaviest grates should be reserved for those of us who are planning on using their fireplace, daily.