What are Andirons?
Andirons are metal supports which are installed in a fireplace to hold logs as they burn. The use of andirons helps a fire burn more efficiently by ensuring even circulation of air around the log, and andirons also prevent logs from falling out of the fireplace and posing a safety risk. Many home supply stores stock andirons, and in some cases they may be built into a fireplace for extra strength and stability. If you have a fireplace, andirons are strongly recommended. The principle of some sort of support to hold logs as they burn is very old. As woodstove users are well aware, it is possible to construct a fire in such a way that the logs support each other as they burn, but it is preferable to have some sort of stand. A fireplace with andirons will burn hotter, which ensures that the fire burns more clearly and helps to warm a room more quickly. A typical andiron has short legs which lift the log just above the floor of the fireplace, along with a horizontal crosspiece to support t
