7 Simple Tips For Rocking Your Wood Burning Fireplace
Maintaining a Wood Burning Fireplace
The crackle of a fireplace that is wood-burning is a great method to warm up the interior of a house. If you have one, it's vital to maintain it regularly to prevent the risk of creosote accumulating in dangerous amounts.
Airflow can be controlled using a damper and is an essential element in keeping the combustion efficient. Hardwoods like oak and ash produce less creosote.
Energy Efficiency
Wood fireplaces are a beautiful design that creates a cozy ambience and also heat. However, they are not energy efficient and can create harmful air pollution if they aren't properly maintained. The condition and quality of your chimney, firebox system, and installation may significantly affect the overall efficiency.
The main fuel used in a traditional wood burning stove is firewood, which is usually bought in a face cord or a full cord (measured at 4'x8'x8'). Firewood must be "seasoned" to reduce its water content and increase its energy density before use. If the wood is not sufficiently moist, it will not burn effectively and may cause many creosote. The process of preparing wood for seasoning can take anywhere from months to a year or more, based on the weather and the climate.
A fireplace with wood-burning capability requires a substantial investment both in time and money to maintain it properly. In addition to buying an enormous amount of firewood, owners must regularly check and clean their fireplace. This is to ensure that the chimney is clear of obstructions, operates properly, and that there is no combustible material near the unit. Regular inspections and cleanings will help reduce the risk for room and chimney fires.
The smoke from a wood-burning fireplace has fine particles that could cause lung damage and serious health issues including heart attacks, cardiovascular diseases, and lung disease. It also releases carbon monoxide and other toxic air pollutants like volatile organic compounds nitrogen oxides, benzene and formaldehyde. Wood smoke contributes to the atmospheric reductions in greenhouse gases and ozone, which can affect the climate of the earth.
Effective EPA certified wood stoves utilize a second combustion process to reduce harmful emissions during the firing. To optimize performance, these stoves require the proper size chimney as well as the installation of a flue lining. It is crucial to use seasoned wood and to avoid adding accelerants to the flame such as lighter liquid, gasoline or butane torch. This can cause overheated fire, which can lead to a dangerous situation. To avoid termite infestation, homeowners should also store their firewood in a safe location away from their home.
Cleanliness
Wood-burning fire places are a fantastic alternative to other heating methods. They also provide a tranquil atmosphere. They can be used as primary or supplemental heating and could qualify for tax credits. However, they can be messy and require regular cleaning to avoid creosote and soot accumulation. A fireplace that is not cleaned can release toxins and unpleasant odors which can negatively impact the quality of air in your home.
The most important thing to remember when using in a wood fireplace is to always use dry firewood. Utilizing kiln dried firewood will help reduce creosote and soot buildup. Kiln dried firewood is processed in a heated oven, or kiln, to eliminate all moisture content. It is recommended to only burn clean and seasoned (burned) wood that has been sliced and stored for a few months prior to use.
Before starting a fire, sweep up ash from the floor of the fireplace and around the smoke shelf and grate. Make sure the ashes are cool before taking them out of an aluminum waste bin for disposal. Make use of a brush or a brush to sweep away any other materials that have accumulated outside the flame.
When cleaning a fireplace, make sure to wear gloves and an apron to shield yourself from the dirt and soot produced. To keep your furniture safe from stains, clean the area and cover it with drop cloths. Wear a mask to ensure that you don't breathe in soot or ash particles.
Begin by filling up an enormous 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 the mixture well, then use a nylon brush scrub the fireplace's walls and the surrounding areas. After scrubbing the walls as well as surrounding areas of your fireplace, clean it off with a damp, clean cloth.
Repeat the scrubbing and wiping procedure until all visible deposits are removed from your fireplace. Once you're satisfied with your cleanness you can use the glass cleaner that's safe for wood-burning stoves for cleaning any glass doors.
Aesthetics
Wood fireplaces have a beauty that modern propane or gas fireplaces cannot match. Their rustic look, crackling sounds of a burning flame and their cozy ambience provide a warm and inviting atmosphere that has long stood the test of time. This is a feature that many people look for when they are looking for a fireplace.
While wood-burning fireplaces are great for heat, they also emit harmful gases into your home. These include carbon monoxide as well as smoke that could cause lung damage. Although fireplaces are generally well-ventilated, it's important to have an effective system in place to aid in eliminating these toxins. This is why many people prefer a zero clearance wood burning fireplace design to reduce the amount of harmful gases in your home.
There are several ways to make your fireplace more attractive and distinctive. You can paint it to fit the interior decor of your living space or use reclaimed wooden to give it an even more rustic appearance. You can also install a stone staircase that leads up to the fireplace, which is a fun and functional feature in your home.
You can also alter your chimney's color. The most popular color is black, which looks beautiful and is a perfect match for most homes. Alternatively, you can paint your fireplace white which lets light into the space and creates bright and airy environment. Gray is another option that can be paired with a variety of styles and is a trendy trend. Some homeowners mix beige and grey together, which is also known as greige, to show 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
Wood burning fireplaces can create serious safety concerns if they're not properly maintained and operated. They release fine particles that can get into the lungs, causing lung disease. They also release dangerous air pollutants like carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and benzene. Wood smoke contributes to climate changes by emitting carbon dioxide and methane.
The flue of a wood stove should be regularly inspected and cleaned to ensure that it is working as it should. A clean, functioning flue helps stop dangerous carbon monoxide leaks and chimney fires.
If the flue's lining is deteriorating it should be repaired or replaced immediately. Be sure to keep flammable objects like curtains, drapes, and other flammable objects away from the wood stove. Cross-ventilation is a fantastic method to circulate warm air around the house to ensure that it doesn't end up back up the chimney.
Make sure to regularly clean out the ashes to prevent them from blocking airflow and building up too much. Too much ash will reduce the oxygen supply to logs, which can reduce the efficiency of combustion and resulting in more smoke. The ashes should be stored in a bucket made of metal or any other non-combustible container.
Be sure to keep children away from the area near the fireplace, particularly if there is a glass front. If they touch hot surfaces, both during and after the fire, they may get burned. The various tools employed to maintain fireplaces including shovels, pokers log lifers, brushes, and others, can also be dangerous for children to handle. To ensure that children do not getting into the fireplace accidentally, it is recommended that a "safety area" of three feet be set up around the fireplace.
Installing a carbon monoxide alarm and detector in the house is a good idea too especially if you have a wood stove. Carbon monoxide is a hazard when the chimney and wood stove are not working properly, and is poisonous to breathe.
Finally, it is important to verify the state, local, and tribal regulations for wood-burning fireplaces. These rules could include odor or nuisance rules, "no-burn" days and visible emissions/opacity limits for smoke coming from chimneys of homeowners. These laws are often designed to reduce air pollution and protect public health.