Don't Fire Up that Fireplace Too Soon!

Just because the calendar says it is Fall, doesn't mean that homeowners should light up their wood stove or fireplace. Each year, many people light a fire without considering the consequences of doing so.

And this year due to the pandemic many people are staying at home and look for some form of entertainment. A nice crackling fire would set the mood just right - but don't do so until a few things have been addressed. 

- Did you open the damper?  This is the first thing people forget to do when lighting a fire. The house will fill up with smoke quickly. Open the damper fully before starting a fire in a fireplace, and if you forget, open it and do NOT turn on the attic fan or the problem will get much worse. Open a door instead.

- Did you have the chimney inspected and swept after the last wood burning season?  If not, don't start a fire yet. Call a professional chimney sweep to service the chimney first. And next year, do this in the spring. 

- Do you have a cover on the flue to keep birds and animals out?  If not, birds and squirrels may have built flammable nests in the chimney. A chimney sweeping will usually take care of it, then have a proper stainless steel cover installed. Don't buy a cheap cover that will rust - get stainless steel.

- Are you prepared with dry seasoned cordwood?  This should be purchased or cut and split at least six months in advance of the season so it is properly dried out to 20% or less moisture content. Buy a moisture meter online or from your chimney sweep. Wet wood takes longer to burn and creates more creosote and Carbon Monoxide so don't use it. 

- Do you have the right type of wood? Use almost any type of hardwood (Oak is a favorite) or softwood, but don't ever use soft pine which burns too hot and too fast and is a fire hazard. Also, keep the use of Hedge down to one piece of wood to two pieces of another type. Hedge also sparks and burns very hot and can be a chimney fire hazard.   

 - Don't start a fire unless it is 40 degrees F or less. Yes, you read that correctly. There needs to be enough of a temperature differential between the outdoors and indoors for the chimney to function correctly and draft smoke and flue gasses out of the house. If you simply must have a fire in warmer weather put some candles in the fireplace. 

- Warm the flue up with a very tiny fire before lighting a big fire. This gets draft going. For wood-burning stoves and inserts a Draw Collar can prevent smoking backup at start up and cool down. Ask your chimney sweep about this product. 

- Constant annoying smoking or smoke smell? This could be a sign that the house is under negative pressure, which is extremely common. There are several possible solutions based on your particular house layout. This should be discussed with a professional chimney sweep or venting specialist. One solution which often works well is a Whole House Ventilator. 

-------------------------------------------------------

Marge Padgitt is the owner and President of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. She is an author, publisher, and educator. www.chimkc.com

 

Spring preparation tips for wood burners

As difficult as it is to think about cold weather during the nice spring and summer months when the trees are green and the flowers are in full bloom, wood burners need to start prepping for fall now.

Since wood needs to be cut, split and stacked months in advance so that it dries out properly, now is the time to get that project completed, and get some exercise to boot. There are several types of log-splitters available that can make the job much easier. Prices range from $150 for a hand-operated splitter, to $3,000 for a professional gas splitter.

Fotolia.com 

Wood should be stacked off the ground, away from the house, with a covering over the top but not on the sides-- so wind can blow through and dry the wood out. For the serious wood-burner, a wood shed with a permanent roof will offer years of protection from the elements. Wood should be kept away from the house because creepy crawlies like brown recluses like to hide in between the logs. Check wood with an inexpensive moisture meter to be sure it contains less than 20% moisture content before burning.

Any dry wood will do- but hardwood will burn for a longer time since it is denser than softwood. By using hardwood less time is involved in loading up the wood stove or fireplace insert, but softwoods will burn nicely. Stay away from dry pine and hedge, however, because they burn so hot and fast there is a greater risk of a chimney fire or damaging a wood stove or fireplace.

Another maintenance task that should be completed in the spring is chimney sweeping. The Midwest Chimney Safety Council suggests that a professional CSIA Certified chimney sweep do the job. Professional sweeps are trained to check things that the layperson may not be aware of such as proper chimney and connecting pipe installation, clearances to combustibles, wall and floor protection. If used for primary heating purposes, wood-burning stoves and insert flues or chimneys should be swept at least twice during the wood-burning season and once after to be sure that flammable creosote is removed.

Chimney sweep at work. HearthMasters, Inc. 

All wood creates creosote- even dry hardwood, and removal is critical to avoid chimney fires. Chimney fires can not only damage chimneys and connecting pipes, but may escape into the home and cause a house fire.

Check exterior masonry chimneys in the spring for damaged, missing, or spalling bricks (brick faces popping off due to moisture penetration), missing or deteriorated mortar joints, bad flashing or gaps in the flashing, cracked or deteriorated cement crown, and missing or improper chimney covers. Apply masonry water repellant sealer on a dry, calm day to help slow down the deterioration process.

For a prefabricated chimney check the wood chase for wood rot, holes from woodpeckers or squirrels, rusted metal chase tops, and damaged chimney covers.

All of these chimney maintenance items are best addressed in the spring and summer before cold weather sets in and makes work more difficult and expensive.

Get the fireplace ready for Fall and Winter

Get the fireplace ready for Fall and Winter

Cool Fall weather approaches, and soon a cozy fire in the fireplace will be enjoyed by many. Fireplaces need annual maintenance, and while Spring is the best time for sweeping chimneys to remove smelly creosote, most homeowners wait until cool weather hits to have the chimney inspected. Chimney sweeps call Fall the “insane season” for this reason.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection by a professional chimney sweep and sweeping as necessary to remove flammable creosote. Creosote is the natural by-product of combustion and occurs even when dry hardwoods are used. It needs to be removed on a regular basis in order to avoid chimney fires, which can cause thousands of dollars in damages.

A chimney sweep should do a visual and internal camera inspection of the flue and smoke chamber, and all components of the fireplace and chimney, and provide a written report of his/her findings. If repair is necessary, the sweep should explain the problem and offer repair solutions. If he does not do repair work he should refer the homeowner to a qualified chimney contractor.

Many chimneys have been affected by the summer drought conditions. Dry ground retracts from chimney footings, and can cause the structure to lean. If a chimney leans far enough, the only solution is to have it torn down and rebuilt. This should be checked by a specialty chimney contractor, rather than a chimney sweep who only sweeps chimneys.

Wood stoves should be swept and inspected at least twice during the burning season. Creosote accumulates on the interior of small chimney pipe and can cause drafting and performance problems.

If sudden smoking occurs while burning a fire, this can be a sign that a chimney fire has occurred. During a chimney fire, creosote expands outward and may cut off draft, which can cause smoking. If a chimney fire is suspected, the homeowner should call a professional CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to inspect it before using the fireplace or wood stove again.

Check list for Fall fireplace preparation:

• Be sure that glass doors or a screen is installed to keep sparks at bay. Rusted screens can be replaced. A good set of glass doors with a seal help to keep cold drafts out of the house when the fireplace is not in use.
• A top-sealing damper provides better protection from drafts and keeps insects and bats out of the flue since it creates an almost air-tight seal at the top of the flue.
• Be sure to have a good quality heavy duty stainless steel chimney cover installed on all flues to keep damaging birds, animals, and rain out of the flues.
• Obtain a good set of fireplace tools that will last for years.
• Keep combustible materials and wood at least 36” away from the fireplace opening.
• Have the chimney and fireplace inspected and swept by a professional chimney sweep. If in doubt, don't use the fireplace until it is inspected. Make sure the sweep uses an internal camera system for the inspection. He/she will advise you whether the chimney is in suitable working condition or not. 
  
  
  
• Have masonry repairs made before cold weather sets in. Cracks or missing mortar joints on exterior chimneys or in cement crowns allow damaging rain to enter the interior chimney.
• If the flue, smoke chamber, or fireplace is damaged and needs to be relined, do not use it until this work is completed. 
  
  
  
  
    ####
  
  
  Marge Padgitt is the author of the Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book.  She is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and NFI Woodburning Specialist.  Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, Missouri, which has been in business since 1982.  Marge travels the country to lecture at seminars and meetings.  Contact her at margepadgitt@comcast.net or 816-461-3665.