Maintaining a Healthy and Safe Fireplace

You’ve had your fireplace inspected by a licensed chimney repair professional and everything is running smoothly. You’re warm and toasty, enjoying a nice fire with the family. What are some things you can do to make sure that your fireplace keeps running smoothly and safely?

Burn Proper Firewood

While it can be tempting to gather wood and kindling from outside, be sure to properly dry your wood before using it in your fireplace. Excess moisture in your wood will result in an abundance of smoke and creosote and soot build up, Stack your wood cut side down and keep it covered and off the ground. Soft woods like pine will need to sit for a minimum of six months while harder woods such as oak, must dry for 12 months or more.

When purchasing firewood, buy local. Transporting firewood over distances can bring unwanted pests into the area and disrupt a local eco-system. Choose harder woods over softer ones, as they burn cleaner. Soft woods like cedar and pine will produce more creosote and muck up your chimney requiring more frequent cleanings. Hard woods such as maple, oak, birch, or ash will produce a hotter and longer burn time.

Always Maintain Control

You don’t need a big pile of wood to have a nice warm fire. Overloading your fireplace can cause a number of problems and end up costing you money down the road. Overheating your chimney with a large fire can cause cracks to develop in your masonry, requiring repair. Large fires can also produce an excess of smoke and creosote. One or two six inch logs and some kindling should suffice when getting a nice fire started. Avoid using lighter fluid or other flammable liquids to start your fire as these can cause your flames to leap creating additional hazards.

Keep Your Fireplace and Mantle Clear

When arranging your furniture, be sure to keep anything flammable at a safe distance from your fireplace. Keep your mantle free of debris and any decor that could catch fire. All it takes is one ember to start a fire. A mesh or glass spark guard fireplace screen can prevent accidents and is an inexpensive way to greatly increase the safety of your hearth. When using your fireplace, make sure to have good circulation in the room to keep the oxygen flowing and the air moving. A ceiling fan, or cross breeze from cracked windows can help do the trick.

As you can see, it’s not that difficult to maintain a healthy functioning chimney once you’ve had it properly inspected and cleaned by a licensed professional chimney sweep. If you haven’t, call and make an appointment today.