Just when you thought you had heard it all – from another Darwin candidate – Soaking your firewood in diesel for an easy start and longer burn. This is what NOT to put in your fireplace!
You did read that right. A homeowner actually does soak their firewood in diesel before putting it in their fireplace. Now imagine not only the regular wood smoke going up the chimney but also the black diesel smoke mixing in and coating the chimney.
We recommend using small pieces of wood or kindling at the base of the firewood. These can be lit by small amounts of newspaper or a kindling starter. We never recommend pouring any type of fluid into a firewood stack for easy lighting.
We are often asked what not to put in your fireplace. Let’s go over them again.
Large amounts of newspaper beyond just starting the kindling.
ANY type of gasoline or diesel fuel.
Cardboard or other heavy paper products.
Wrapping paper or other paper made with coatings.
Garbage (enough said here)
Yard waste…really?
All of these various items can wreck havoc on your fireplace and chimney. That is why we advise folks what NOT to put in your fireplace often. The build up on the chimney plus the various burning embers can often start a chimney fire and/or tear apart the masonry inside your chimney.
What to burn in your fireplace?
So, what to put in your fireplace? Dry, clean seasoned wood. Local suppliers can deliver this type of wood. It is sold as a “cord of wood”. It is typically 4 feet by 8 feet by 4 feet when stacked. Some providers of firewood will provide more for the same price.
In conclusion, often it is not which type of wood BUT “what NOT to put in your fireplace” that will keep your family safe and your largest investment free of fire.
We always ask a homeowner “Is your chimney cap safe” during out first visit. A chimney cap extends flue life and is important in the proper functioning of a fireplace.
A chimney cap should be installed, if not already in place. It will keep animals, rainwater, leaves and debris out of the chimney. When water, leaves, and debris mix with the soot behind the damper, an acidic slurry can form, which can destroy the firebrick mortar joints. The metal cap acts as a spark arrester, helping lit embers or sparks that travel up the chimney from landing on the roof, possibly catching it on fire.
A chimney cap can also help in preventing downdrafts. If the wind is blowing in a certain direction, it can introduce a downdraft, and if you don’t have a chimney cap and you’re using a wood-burning fireplace at the time, a wind-induced downdraft has the potential of blowing smoke back into your home. The flat-shaped top of a chimney cap is designed to help prevent wind-induced downdrafts.
Be aware this can be a dangerous job. Often the fireplace cap is located high above the highest point on your roof. It very well may be 3 stories off of the ground. If you are not comfortable climbing ladders and are afraid of heights, hire a professional to be safe for your family.
Before you start a fire each year, your chimney, flue, grate and cap should be inspected. Request a chimney cleaning as soon as possible in the season. You need to be sure your chimney cap is safe before you start a fire.
Most homeowners do not know that there are various stages of a substance called “creosote” that builds up from burning wood. This substance in large quantities is HIGHLY FLAMMABLE. Here are the various stages of creosote build-up:
The first stage is a feather-light, dull gray, brown or black soot.
The second stage is a black or brown granular accumulation that can be crusty and flaky.
The third stage of creosote is a drippy, sticky, road tar-like coating which is much harder to remove.
Above all (and most deadly) stage is a shiny, hardened, glaze-like coating on the fireplace flue that is virtually impossible to remove. At this stage the creosote is highly flammable and is often the cause of chimney fires.
Therefore, stages of creosote build-up two through four are all highly combustible forms of creosote. If allowed to build up in sufficient quantities with the internal flue temperature high enough.
Creosote removal
is vital to your safety!
To keep chimney build-up at a minimum, sweep up ashes regularly, burn the proper fuel, and be sure your flue air supply isn’t restricted. In other words, hardwood firewood burns cleaner than softwood, and manufactured wood burns much cleaner than hardwood. Call a professional chimney sweep before the start of each season to inspect and repair any issues in your fireplace.
In conclusion, NEVER burn paper products (example cardboard, huge amounts of newspapers or other paper type of products) as these tend to float the ashes upward that can be lodged in the walls of the chimney and create flash fire.
