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Fire in Fireplace |
If you enjoy convenience, you will love all the new options for
starting, burning, and monitoring the fire in your fireplace or
stove. You can now sit on the other side of your room, snuggled
on your couch, and with just the flip of a switch on your remote
control, start a romantic fire. Does it get any easier than that?
If you are using a wood burning fireplace, using the right wood
and right size wood is important. If you want a hot fire,
hardwoods such as oak or fruitwood are the best option while a
smaller, calmer fire would be great with birch or pine.
Additionally, you want each log to measure between 9 and 14 inches
long and for the best fire, they should be no more than 4 inches
in diameter.
To get your fire going if you do not have a gas starter, dry
kindling is the perfect option. You can lay small pieces, no
larger than two fingers in width, on top of the wood, which will
do the job. Keep in mind that you should always use seasoned
wood, or in other words, dry wood. Not only will you get a hotter
fire, creating more heat for your home, but you will also reduce
the buildup of creosote that causes a fire hazard. If you live
near the coast, an important thing to remember is that salt from
driftwood that has been beached eats away the cast iron and
reduces the durability of the wood.
Remember that your fireplace is intended for burning wood only.
A mistake that many people make is thinking they can toss trash
into the fire. These scraps can contain substances not meant for
burning. This can lead to unsafe buildups in your chimney or
combustion and extra sparking. When tempted to toss the paper
plate in the fire, it would be better thrown in the garbage. To
get a nice roaring fire, you do not have to load the firebox. In
fact, you never want to overload it. Using only two or three logs,
you can build a perfect fire.
Make sure that anytime you burn a fire, the screen is in place to
protect your floor from sparks. You also want to keep a thin layer
of ash on the bottom of the firebox to protect it. Most importantly,
always use good wood. Make sure it has never been treated or painted.
Finally, keep your fire at a manageable level. Too low and creosote
builds in the chimney, too high and you are setting yourself up for
a potential fire hazard.
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