Fireplace And Woodstove Maintenance

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A fireplace or woodstove conjures up the cozy charms of a bygone area. But without proper design and care either one can rob your house of heat, pollute the environment or cause a fire. To truly enjoy a fireplace or a woodstove, you need to know how it works and to commit yourself to regular inspections and maintenance that will make it more efficient and safer. Don’t assume that your existing fireplace or stove meets current building codes. For example, an old woodstove may need a catalytic converter. A traditional fireplace may benefit from an insert that is designed to burn wood more cleanly and to cut the creosote buildup in the chimney. Contact your building department to check the safety and legal compliance of an existing unit.

Starting in the 1970s, concern for clean air and fuel conservation made communities more aware of the inefficiences of many traditional fireplaces. New codes were written and manufacturers of fireplaces developed new designs.

Tomorrow we’re going to tackle the different types of fireplaces but today let’s talk about prudent fireplace practices.

• Check the flue regularly for creosote buildup, have the chimney checked and cleaned at least once a year.
• Open the damper and look up the flue before lighting a fire. If you can’t see all the way then there may be an obstruction. Never close the damper until the fire is completely out.
• Never use flammable liquids to start or rekindle a fire.
• Burn only aged wood in the fireplace. Treated wood, plastic, charcoal, leaves, trash or pine branches either contain harmful chemicals or flare up too fast.
• Use artificial logs one at a time. They can explode if stacked on one another or if they are put into a natural wood fire.
• Keep a fire extinguisher within reach of the fireplace and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house.
• Keep flammable items like furniture, rugs, pillows or curtains at least 3 feet away from the fireplace and dispose of fireplace ashes in a metal container.

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