How Ember Wool Makes Your Fireplace Complete

BY Collin Champagne Feb 19, 2023

If you haven't heard of ember wool, you may have heard of this cotton-like product by other names such as glowing embers, ceramic embers or.... wait for it.... just plain ole' embers. Ember wool is an important but often overlooked product for the fireplace. Ember wool is tightly wound ceramic fibers that glow when heated and often cover empty space along the burner pan or tube.

These ceramic fibers display a wide range of colors when heated and can glow a deep reddish-orange or white-hot. Some appliances include a mixture of both colors while many lean towards the reddish-orange color similar to the standard flame.

Set up can be a bit tricky and is often dictated by the manufacturer. The embers are designed to sit over the top of holes along the burner tube or pan so they are in direct contact with flames that emit from the appliance. Tearing them in dime-sized pieces and placing them in position before you set the logs in place will ensure you get a uniform spread and even result.

: ember wool

Once they are in place, the embers will dazzle with a beautiful glowing effect from beneath your logs and complete the overall look of your fireplace. Technically, you can operate your fireplace without the use of ember wool. Though, the aesthetics of a fireplace are often as important as the heat. So, don't skip this step if you want your fireplace to be as radiant and bright as it can possibly be!

Lastly, it's important to pay attention to the placement of your ember wool. Packing them too tightly or placing them over the primary burner and intake ports can delay flame ignition and eventually restrict the flame from igniting at all. Thankfully, you won't have to figure that out all on your own, as many manufacturers include placement instructions and provide extra embers in case one... goes up in flames.

: ember wool placement

At the end of the day, ember wool is a great tool to increase the beauty of your fireplace and bring a warm glow to your room. If you have any other questions, please call our NFI certified techs at 800.203.1642.

About the Author

Collin Champagne

With over 13 years in the industry, Collin is a National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certified technician and managed content for the eFireplacestore and eCanopy brands. He has achieved the highest NFI certification possible as a Master Hearth Professional and is certified in all three hearth appliance fields: wood, gas, and pellet. With experience with sales and in-field installations, his expertise shines through his technical knowledge and way with words.