Buy where you burn

Transporting firewood outside the area where you burn could spread devastating non-native invasive species according to the Nature Conservancy and the National Forest Service.

When firewood is moved pests that go along with it may include the European gypsy moth, the Asian long-horned beetle, the Emerald Ash Borer, and pathogens such as beech bark disease, sudden oak death pathogen, and several others.

Campers and travelers are urged to purchase or cut their firewood locally and to leave any excess wood at the site to avoid the spread of these infestations.

Some states and counties don’t allow you to transport firewood across their borders.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a very small insect that originated in China and was transported in solid wood packing material used in cargo shipment. The larvae feed under the bark of Ash trees, leaving S shaped marks.  They can wipe out an entire neighborhood within a few years.                       

Free and easy way to keep stove or fireplace doors clean

One of the best things about having a cozy warm fire is watching the flames dance around, but if the glass doors are not clean it takes away from the experience. An old tried and true method that my grandfather used can solve the problem, allowing homeowners to once again enjoy their fire.

Hearthstone wood-burning stove

The newer wood-burning stoves have an air-wash system over the glass to help keep it clean. This helps but does not keep the glass perfectly clear at all times. Keep wood pushed back away from the doors for cleaner glass Older model wood-burning stoves do not have the air-wash system and the glass gets dirty very quickly. Glass doors on fireplaces also get blackened with soot, and need to be cleaned periodically.

There are stove glass cleaners on the market that work well, but if you want to save some money and a trip to the hearth store left over wood ashes work fine.

To clean glass doors with ashes:

• Wait until the glass is cool before cleaning
• Get a damp paper towel or soft cloth
• Dip the cloth into cold fireplace ashes and scrub the cold glass thoroughly
• Wipe with a clean damp cloth

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Marge Padgitt is the president of HearthMasters, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri.  She is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and NFI Wood-burning Specialist, and writes articles for national magazines and blogs.