With a fall snap in the night air, it`s time to cozy up to a nice blaze in the fireplace, but a few tips and precautions are in order before you do.
– Check your fireplace. If you burn wood frequently (once or twice a week) and haven`t had your fireplace and chimney examined by a professional in two years, do so. It is possible for a homeowner to examine his or her fireplace, but to do it correctly requires special equipment. And it`s a heck of a dirty job, so hire a professional.
Check the yellow pages under chimney sweeps. Inspections can go for as little as $55 for a one-story chimney to $70 for a two-story. If the inspection shows the fireplace and chimney need a cleaning, the price can range from $75 to more than $100.
– Buying firewood. Wood-burning fireplaces-whether they`re old and masonry or new and metal-come in a great range of sizes. Before shopping for wood, measure the firebox, the compartment that holds the wood. Don`t just measure the width, measure the depth as well. Some of today`s modern fireplaces are very small, so you`ll need to know what it can handle.
A cord is generally considered to be 4 feet high by 4 feet deep, by 8 feet long.
There are two groups of firewood: hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods include oak and eucalyptus. Hardwoods will burn longer and provide hotter fires. But they generally cost more. Oak, for example, is the highest-price hardwood, and it burns longest and hottest.
Ask if delivery includes stacking the wood. Some deliveries are only to the curb and you have to stack it up yourself.
Another thing to ask is whether the wood is split. Whole logs do not burn as well as split wood, which is preferred because it usually has been properly dried.
– Storing wood. It`s especially important to store it off the ground in an area that is dry, sunny and away from the side of your house. Wood that is stored against the house will attract pests, particularly termites.
It is possible to create your own wood holder or shed. Pre-made metal wood holders are available at home centers and hardware stores for $30 to $50. Storing firewood inside the house can create insect woes, so it`s best to avoid keeping it there for long periods of time.
– Starting a fire. Sounds simple, but a lot of people never get it right. First, make sure the damper is fully open. If there are already hot ashes in the firebox, push them to the back and slope them slightly in. The ashes will help keep the back of the firebox from getting too hot and help move the oxygen for the fire.
Fire departments recommend against starting a fire with newspaper because of the chance of burning paper escaping. Instead, use small pieces of wood as kindling. Lay them across the metal grid that holds the wood.
Place the logs atop the kindling, as far to the back of the firebox as possible. Leave as much space between the logs as possible to permit good airflow.
Light the kindling. If you have a gas-fed igniter, turn on the gas, wait a few seconds, then light. If you do not, consider buying a ”log lighter.”
It`s kind of a long version of a cigarette lighter. It can keep a flame going under a piece of kindling long enough for the kindling to catch.
Light the kindling in two places if possible to promote an even burn.
After the fire is going, decrease the opening of the damper to a point where more heat is emitted (instead of going up your chimney) but there is no significantly greater amount of smoke in the room. Place a screen (or slide the screen-mesh) across the firebox opening.
Make sure no flammables are close to the hearth.
If the fire doesn`t burn properly, even after taking all the above steps, there could be several reasons. First, try opening a window in the room very slightly. Often that can increase the oxygen supply to the fire.
If the fireplace hasn`t been cleaned in awhile, there could be a blockage.
Another problem sometimes found with especially small fireplaces is that the firebox is exceedingly small. If yours fits this description, the problem can sometimes be remedied by installing a high grate or high andirons. The idea is to get the wood as high off the bottom of the firebox as possible to permit better oxygen flow.
– When the fire is out. If you leave the fireplace area at any time, be sure to either close the glass enclosure doors or place a solid protective device across the opening to prevent sparks from spewing out. Even if the fire is smoldering or looks to be out, a spark can flare from it hours later.
Do not remove ashes with anything other than a metal container. Even ashes left for days can have a hidden, smoldering particle. For the same reason, do not dump them into a garbage can, especially one in which there may be flammables. Keep the ashes in the metal container for days, even adding water to make sure they`re out.
Don`t clean your firebox of ashes after every fire. A light layer of ashes on the bottom of the firebox decreases the chance of heat damage. A light, sloped layer at the back of the firebox also decreases the chance of damage and promotes a better flow of air.
– Do pay attention to the type of wood you burn and how often you burn it. Softwoods generate more creosote than hardwoods. Creosote is the unburned residue of wood that smoke leaves inside your chimney flue. It is highly flammable, and is the No. 1 cause of roof fires. Creosote also decreases the efficiency of your fireplace.
A creosote fire is one of the most deadly and frightening fires you can witness. The creosote can get the flue so hot – 600 to 700 degrees – that it seemingly explodes. All the oxygen is sucked up through the flue and fire bursts from the top of your chimney like a Roman candle.
You can tell a flue fire immediately from the tremendous, explosive sound. It will sound like a locomotive in your chimney. Immediately try to shut off the supply of oxygen to the flue. Close the fireplace doors or put the metal protective shield across it.
But don`t let it go at that. Call the fire department right away.
– Do have a good fire extinguisher as close to the fireplace as possible. – Do have smoke alarms, and don`t let the batteries run down.
