7 Simple Tips To Totally Rocking Your Wood Burning Fireplace
Maintaining a Wood Burning Fireplace
Nothing warms a house like the crackle of a wood burning fireplace. If you have one, it's essential to keep it maintained regularly to avoid dangerous creosote build-ups.
A damper is an essential part of maintaining a good combustion. Hardwoods like oak and ash are less likely to produce creosote.
Energy Efficiency
Wood fireplaces can be an attractive amenity, creating a warm and cozy environment. They aren't energy efficient and could cause air pollution if not maintained properly. The condition and the quality of your chimney, firebox system, and installation may be a major factor in the efficiency of your entire system.
The main fuel source for a traditional wood burning stove is firewood, which can be purchased in a face cord or full cord (measured at 4'x8'x8'). The wood must be "seasoned" to reduce its water content and improve its energy density before use. If the wood is not sufficiently moist it will not be able to burn as efficiently and could cause a lot of creosote. Seasoning wood can take months or even a full year, depending on weather and the climate.
Wood burning fireplaces require a substantial investment of time and money to keep them correctly. Apart from purchasing a large amount of firewood, homeowners must regularly clean and examine their fireplace to ensure the chimney is free from obstructions and that it's working properly, and that combustible materials aren't stored in close proximity to the fireplace. Regular inspections and cleaning can reduce the risk of chimney fires as well as room fires.
The smoke that comes from a wood-burning fire place is a source of fine particles that can cause lung damage and serious health problems including heart attacks, cardiovascular diseases and lung diseases. It also releases harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, benzene and more. Wood smoke may contribute to the depletion of ozone in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases and other pollutants that could alter the climate of the earth.
Efficient EPA certified wood stoves employ a second combustion process to reduce harmful emissions during the firing. To ensure optimal performance, these stoves require a properly sized chimney, as well as the installation of a flue lining. It is essential to use wood that is well-seasoned and to avoid adding accelerants to the fire, such as lighter liquid, gasoline or butane torch. This can cause overheated fire, which can lead to a dangerous situation. To prevent termite invasion homeowners should also store their firewood in a safe location away from the home.
Cleanliness
Wood-burning fire places are a fantastic alternative to other heating methods. They also create a peaceful ambience. They can be used for primary or supplementary heat sources and may qualify for tax credits. They can be messy, and require regular cleaning to avoid soot and creosote buildup. A fireplace that is not cleaned can release toxic odors and toxins that can impact the quality of air in your home.
When burning wood in the fireplace, it is important to use only dry firewood. Kiln dried firewood can help reduce creosote accumulation and soot. Kiln dried wood is treated in an oven or kiln to get rid of all moisture. It is also a good idea to only burn clean, seasoned (burned) wood that has been sliced and placed in a stack for a couple of months prior to use.
Before lighting a fire take the ashes off the floor of the fireplace as well as the area around the smoke shelf. Make sure the ashes are completely cool prior to scooping them into an aluminum waste bin for disposal. Utilizing a dust pan or whisk broom Also, sweep and dispose of any other stray debris that has accumulated around the fireplace.
Wear gloves and an apron when cleaning a fireplace in order to protect yourself from dirt, soot and dust that are created. To protect your furniture from stains, clear the area and cover it with drop cloths. You will also want to wear a dust mask in order to keep from breathing in any ash or soot particles.
Start by filling a large bucket with one gallon of warm water. Add 3.8 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate (TSP) 1 cup of bleach, and 2 tablespoons of household ammonia. Mix well and then dip a nylon toothbrush into the solution and scrub the walls and areas of your fireplace. After scrubbing the walls as well as the areas around your fireplace, clean it off with an aqueous, damp cloth.
Repeat the scrubbing, washing and wiping until all visible stains are eliminated from your fireplace. When you are satisfied with the cleanness of your fireplace, wipe down any glass doors using a glass cleaner that is safe for stoves with wood burning.
Aesthetics
Fireplaces made of wood are stunning and cannot be compared to modern propane or gas fireplaces. Their rustic look, crackling sound of a burning flame and their warm feel create a cozy atmosphere that has stood the test of time. Many people search for this feature when purchasing a fireplace.
Wood-burning fireplaces can be ideal for heating your home, but they also emit harmful gases. These include carbon monoxide and smoke that could cause lung damage. It is essential to have an effective system that can eliminate these toxins, even if fireplaces are well ventilated. Many prefer zero clearance designs for fireplaces that burn wood, because they can reduce the amount of harmful gases that are present in their homes.
There are many different ways to design your wood fireplace to make it more unique and attractive. You can paint it to be in line with the style of your living room or use reclaimed wooden to give it a more rustic look. You can also add a stone staircase that leads up to the fireplace, which creates a fun and functional feature in your home.
You can also alter the color of your chimney. The most popular color is black, which looks stunning and matches most homes. You can also paint your fireplace white to let the space breathe and create a fresh airy feel. Gray is a different option that works well with a variety of styles and is a trendy trend. Some homeowners mix grey and beige together, also known as greige to celebrate this aesthetic and flexibility.
The best way to make a fireplace look less old fashioned or obtrusive is to paint it to match the walls around it. This can be done in a deep neutral that is on-trend, like grey, or a warm and earthy tone such as brick or terracotta red. The idea is to create a unified space that does not draw attention to itself, but rather blends in with the rest of the room. If you are unsure about which colour to go for, you can always ask a professional for advice.
Safety
If not maintained and operated in a safe manner If they are not maintained and operated properly, wood burning fireplaces could pose serious dangers to safety. They release fine particles that can enter deep into the lungs and trigger lung diseases. They also release harmful air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and benzene. Wood smoke also contributes to climate change through the release of methane and carbon dioxide.
The flue in a wood stove must be inspected and cleaned regularly to ensure it is working as it should. A clean and functional chimney flue can help stop dangerous carbon monoxide leaks and chimney fires.
If the flue liner is degrading, it should be replaced or repaired as soon as possible. Keep flammable materials like curtains, drapes and other items that are flammable, away from the wood stove. It is a good idea to set up cross-ventilation which helps move warm air throughout the home so that it doesn't rush back up the chimney.
Ashes must be removed from the fireplace on a regular basis to avoid them accumulating too deep and obstructing air flow. A lot of ash can reduce the oxygen supply for logs, which can reduce the efficiency of combustion and leading to more smoke. The ashes must be kept in a bucket made of steel or another non-combustible container.
Make sure that children are not in the area near the fireplace, particularly in the case of glass front. garage wood stove can get burns when they touch hot surfaces during and after the fire. The numerous tools employed to maintain fireplaces, such as pokers, shovels log lifers, brushes, and others can be hazardous for children to handle. To prevent children from accidentally contacting the fireplace, an "safety area" of three feet be constructed around the fireplace.
It is also a good idea to install an carbon monoxide detector as well as an alarm in your home, particularly if there is wood stove. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and may build up if the wood stove and chimney are not functioning correctly.
In addition, it is essential to check state, local and tribal regulations on wood-burning fireplaces. These rules could include odor or nuisance rules, "no-burn" days and visible emission limits or opacity limits for smoke from homeowners' chimneys. These laws are typically designed to reduce air pollution and safeguard public health.