Summer
has come and gone, and Christmas is just around the corner. Have you
checked your fireplace?
Home
owners are starting to order pales of wood, and getting their
fireplaces ready for a fire. Some owners are even checking chimneys
for bird nests.
A
beautifully lit fire in the fireplace can add so much warmth to your
living area. But in order to have a safe fire, chimney maintenance is
important.
At
least once a year, you should have your chimney checked and cleaned
if necessary, by a chimney professional. If you heat with wood, or if
special circumstances of your chimney system warrant it, it may be
wise to have the chimney checked more frequently.
“The
best time to have your chimney checked is every year before the
burning season,” says Chris Sparks, sales manager of The Mad
Hatter, a chimney cleaning company.
Although
we are well into the burning season, if you haven’t maintained your
chimney, it’s a good idea not to wait. A chimney fire can easily
destroy a house.
Chimney
fires are serious. A hot, destructive chimney fire sounds like a
freight train running through the house, and it’s not uncommon to
see 30-foot flames shooting from the chimney top. If there is a
chimney fire, get everyone out of the house and call the fire
department.
You
can avoid a chimney fire by learning to operate your fireplace
correctly, and routinely cleaning your chimney. Many times what
causes the fire is creosote. Creosote deposits are created from
unburned, flammable tar vapours from wood smoke. They are often
sticky or hard, and difficult to remove from chimneys. Long, slow
burns, or the use of green or wet wood can create these dangerous
creosote deposits.
Fire
building seems simple, but it’s not like lighting a camp fire or
firing up the barbecue. Even the most skilled pyrotechnic wizard runs
the risk of a major flop by trying to light a fire in a fireplace
without knowing about the appliances and the correct way to use them.
A
good fire requires not only a functional appliance, but also a good
fuel. For the best results, use seasoned firewood – wood that has
been stored covered for the better part of a year. Season your wood
under cover, but with good airflow.
Unseasoned
or green wood has too high a moisture content, and doesn’t burn
well. Hard-woods, like oak, tend to be better than softwoods, like
pine, since hard-woods have a BTU content, and will give a longer
burn time and better performance. (A BTU is a “British Thermal
Unit,” the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one
pound of water one degree Fahrenheit).
Believe
it or not, super-dry wood – like that pile that’s been out in the
shed for decades – isn’t good firewood. This type of wood will
burn fast and furious, and it might throw a lot of sparks.
Do
not burn anything other than seasoned firewood. Burning treated
lumber, painted wood, trash, and such, releases toxic chemicals into
the atmosphere (including your home). So recycle your pizza boxes and
plastic wrap, and do yourself and our environment a favour.
Newspaper
is great for starting a fire, but it’s not a replacement for
firewood. Use just enough to start the fire, and recycle the rest.
Don’t use sections with colour print, as it contains chemicals that
are unsafe to burn. Use the plain, black-and-white parts.
Now
put down a layer of crumpled newspapers, snug, but not crammed
tightly together. You want space for air to get in, or you’ll have
a smouldering pile of papers. Put the papers under the grate.
Next,
put down a couple of handfuls of small, dry kindling: twigs and small
branches are fine, or small splits of wood. Criss-cross them in a few
layers, to allow air circulation. Don’t be stingy with the
kindling. It’s the key to a one-start fire. Then add a few larger
splits, and top it off with a couple of small logs. That’s it. Your
fire is ready. Before striking the match make sure your damper is
open. You may also need to preheat the flue.
The
purpose of a fireplace is to provide warmth, comfort and atmosphere.
Knowing how to take care of your fireplace can bring you these
desired effects, instead of those undesirables, such smoke, foul
odours and house fires. It’s all part of taking care of your home.
