![]() ![]() So be sure to hire a professional chimney sweep to clean and inspect your chimney and fireplace annually, or when there is a creosote buildup of 1/8 inch or more in the chimney flue. And this creosote buildup will eventually become a fire hazard while restricting airflow and preventing your fires from producing enough heat. Clean & Inspect Your Chimney At Least Once a YearĬreosote builds up in chimneys over time. Clean Your Fireplace RegularlyĬlean your fireplace frequently, and remove the ash from your fireplace whenever it reaches the bottom of the grate to ensure there is proper air circulation for efficient-burning fires. When your fireplace is in use, keep materials like furniture, drapes, and carpets far enough away from the fireplace to avoid house fires. Keep Combustible Materials Away from the Fireplace Use Smoke and Carbon Monoxide DetectorsĪnd test them regularly to ensure they are still working. Here are additional tips for enjoying a safe, clean, and efficient wood-burning fireplace. HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE Douglas fir is an example of an efficient burning firewood since it burns hot but won’t burn too quickly. Otherwise, firewood that is too green (freshly cut) will create large amounts of smoke and burn inefficiently since it has too much moisture.īut with properly seasoned firewood, the wood will produce more heat by creating a hotter burning fire. Firewood should be seasoned-in other words, dried for an entire season, six months to a year or longer, depending on how dry the conditions are. Only Burn Dried FirewoodĪlso known as seasoned firewood, dried firewood is the only type of firewood you should burn in your fireplace. These fans suck soot and smoke up and out of the chimney instead of allowing it to blow indoors. They increase a chimney’s draft by pulling air up and out of the chimney while pushing more heat into the home.Ĭhimney fans are also useful for keeping soot and smoke out of the home. Get Chimney FansĬhimney fans create powerful drafts that result in hotter burning fires. When you’re not using your fireplace, be sure to close the damper to prevent indoor heat from escaping. A wide-open damper will increase the amount of air reaching the fire and improve combustion. To create fires that produce more heat, open the damper as wide as possible when lighting a fire. The handle to open and close the damper should be above the fireplace opening. You can use a chimney damper to maximize the amount of heat produced in your fireplace and minimize the amount of heat loss when your fireplace isn’t in use.Ĭhimney dampers are often used along with glass doors to create an even stronger barrier to heat loss when the fireplace is not in use. Use a Chimney DamperĪ chimney damper acts as a doorway for air in your chimney. Glass doors are like windows for your fireplace, preventing airflow from passing through your fireplace year-round. And they also block indoor heat from escaping through the fireplace. Glass fireplace doors reduce the amount of heat loss from chimneys by heating chimneys and preventing updrafts. Tempered glass doors with tight seals will improve the energy performance of your fireplace. When shopping for inserts, look for those that are high-efficiency and EPA-approved. In some cases, a new flue liner will need to be installed as well, so it is the correct size for the insert. Your insert should be built specifically to fit your current firebox, and it should be directly connected to the flue liner. To make sure your fireplace insert is installed correctly, safely, and efficiently, have a professional install it for you. The most efficient inserts are double-wall units with built-in circulating fans that blow warm air from the fire into the room. Instead of having the typical 10% efficiency of a traditional wood-burning fireplace, an air-tight wood-burning fireplace insert provides your fireplace with 70% to 80% efficiency.Ī wood-burning fireplace insert fits inside your existing fireplace and acts as a well-insulated firebox made of steel or cast iron. ![]() Turn Up the Heat: Tips to Follow Install a Fireplace Insert And to make matters worse, the rising hot air creates what is known as an updraft, which sucks warm air out of the room as well.īut there are ways to transform your wood-burning fireplace into a more effective heating source instead of a cause of massive heat loss. Since hot air rises, much of the heat from a fireplace goes up and out of the chimney instead of into your home. Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Wood Fireplaceįeel like you’re not getting the most out of your wood-burning fireplace? There’s a reason for that. ![]()
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