10 Tips for Wood Burning Fireplace Maintenance
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There are many different types of fireplaces electric, gas, wood burning - but Id like to talk about the wood burning type of fireplace. Before purchasing my current home, I had it inspected, including the fireplace and chimney, by a certified home inspector. Some homeowners may not be aware of the exposures associated with fireplaces and chimneys until its too late and becomes a very costly repair. A good friend of mine purchased a home a few years ago and he chose not to have the home inspected. When he lit a fire in the fireplace, he smelled a strong smoke smell in his attic and throughout his home. The brick chimney was cracked inside the attic area allowing smoke to be released inside the home something that would have likely been noticed in a home inspection.
Another exposure associated with fireplaces and chimneys is creosote build up. Creosote is the portion of chemical products obtained by the distillation of the tar that remains heavier than water and builds up as a black oily residue inside your chimney1. When wood doesnt burn completely, it produces soot and tarry smoke. Burning wood at low temperatures will cause incomplete combustion of the oils in the wood. As the smoke rises through the chimney, it cools causing water, carbon, and volatiles to condense on the interior surfaces of the chimney flue. When creosote is also present, it reduces airflow through the chimney and increases the probability that the fire is not getting enough air to burn at a high temperature. Since creosote is highly combustible, if it comes in contact with hot oxygen in the chimney, it could ignite causing a chimney fire. Chimney fires often spread to the main structure because the chimney gets so hot that it ignites any combustible material in direct contact with it, such as wood. Most residences are frame construction, which is highly combustible material.
To help you avoid the risk of a chimney fire, here are ten tips for wood-burning fireplace maintenance courtesy of DIY Network2:
- Have your wood burning fireplace inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year and more often if creosote builds up on the chimney walls rapidly. Depending on where you live, this can cost anywhere from $100 to $200.
- Between professional inspections and cleanings, monitor your wood burning fireplace for signs of buildup or other problems.
- Your chimney has a cap with open sides usually covered with mesh to keep rain, birds, squirrels, other animals, and debris from entering the chimney. The cap should be inspected regularly and replaced when necessary.
- Check the interior of your wood burning fireplaces chimney for creosote buildup.
- Also watch for soot buildup in the chimney of your wood burning fireplace. Soot is softer than creosote, flammable, and should be cleaned out of the chimney regularly.
- If possible, burn hardwoods like maple, oak, ash, and birch. The advantages of hardwoods are that they burn hot and long, have less pitch and sap, and tend to cause less creosote buildup. On the other hand, they generally are more expensive than softwoods.
- Anytime there is smoke indoors from your wood burning fireplace, troubleshoot and immediately correct any problems that you find. Possible causes of smoke are a dirty chimney with creosote or soot buildup, other debris in the chimney, a damper that isnt open or is only partly open, or wood that is not burning completely.
- To ensure wood burning fireplace safety, consider installing a stainless steel liner that will withstand even the highest temperatures and will keep the fire and its embers contained.
- To improve your wood burning fireplaces efficiency, consider installing heat-proof glass doors to protect against heat loss and a fan or blower to direct the heat into the room. Doors are also a safety feature, since they can keep live embers from escaping the fireplace into the interior of the home. Glass doors should be cleaned regularly with a paper towel and glass fireplace door cleaner.
- Clean your wood burning fireplaces interior, including its floor, regularly. Sweep out or vacuum up cold ashes. Wear a dust mask and gloves when cleaning the fireplace.
There can be many advantages to a wood burning fireplace, including saving money on heating costs and supplementing your main source of heat. At the same time, maintenance and service of your fireplace is of utmost importance. What are some steps you take to maintain the safety of your wood burning fireplace and chimney?
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creosote
2http://www.diynetwork.com/home-improvement/10-tips-for-maintaining-a-wood-burning-fireplace/index.html
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