I recently bought my first home, a beautifully restored Victorian built c. 1909, and in the formal sitting room there is a fireplace with a cast iron insert, which I believe to be original equipment. I was wondering how this sort of fireplace is used so I can enjoy a warm fire on a winter night without burning down the house!
Some details: Across the inside back it has in raised letters, "The Monarch." There is a key on the outside at the upper right that, when turned, closes a... flue? Damper? I'm not sure of the terminology here, as this is my first ever wood-burning fireplace. Below that is a lever that seems as though it should be able to be pushed in and pulled out, but it's stuck and I don't know what it controls.
There are two grates in the lower front of the fireplace that can be opened and closed (like vents, to regulate air inflow I imagine). The fireplace itself doesn't really have a solid floor; there are some bars across the bottom to hold the logs, but it opens down into the basement where, at the base of the chimney there are two cast iron doors that can be opened to, I suppose, clear out the ashes. (Maybe that lever is supposed to open and close a trap door to drop the ashes?)
If anybody can give me any details about how this all works, I would sincerely appreciate it!
Some details: Across the inside back it has in raised letters, "The Monarch." There is a key on the outside at the upper right that, when turned, closes a... flue? Damper? I'm not sure of the terminology here, as this is my first ever wood-burning fireplace. Below that is a lever that seems as though it should be able to be pushed in and pulled out, but it's stuck and I don't know what it controls.
There are two grates in the lower front of the fireplace that can be opened and closed (like vents, to regulate air inflow I imagine). The fireplace itself doesn't really have a solid floor; there are some bars across the bottom to hold the logs, but it opens down into the basement where, at the base of the chimney there are two cast iron doors that can be opened to, I suppose, clear out the ashes. (Maybe that lever is supposed to open and close a trap door to drop the ashes?)
If anybody can give me any details about how this all works, I would sincerely appreciate it!