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I burn softwood in my fireplace

Can I burn softwood in my fireplace? As older homes are made tighter to improve energy efficiency and many newer homes are being built tighter for that same reason, in some cases, theres inefficient air to allow the fireplace to operate properly. Newer woodstoves, inserts, and fireplaces are much more efficient than traditional open hearth masonry fireplaces and woodstoves of old. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, stove, or insert, youre in luck. And one of the easiest ways to ensure your fireplace, woodstove, or insert is operating at peak efficiency and safety is to follow the manufacturers instructions regarding use and maintenance. During a chimney inspection, a Certified Chimney Sweep will tell you if your chimney needs to be swept or if you can go another year.

open fires chimney liners installation There should be space between the wood and each of the fireplace walls, and your firewood should never be stacked to the top of the fireplace opening. The alkaline nature of ash combined with moisture can be very destructive to both masonry fireplaces, factory-built fireplaces, woodstoves, and inserts. open fires chimney liners installation CO gas is deadly, but its a natural byproduct of combustion. Proper draft is needed to swiftly move the smoke up the chimney and out of your home, but there are some things that can negatively impact draft, like the temperature differences between the inside and outside of the chimney, leaky ducts, the tightness of the home, and the height of the chimney, to name a few. Your gas appliance may also have a remote that allows you to turn the appliance on/off, control the heat, adjust the flame, and more. Atlanta, GAAustin, TXCamarillo, CACharlotte, NCCorona, CADallas, TXHouston, TXPhoenix, AZ.

This is another question thats best answered with a chimney inspection. #3 How much wood is too much wood? Chimney dampers are typically easy to open and close, but because of where some of the handles are located, its always best to double check that your damper is opened before you light a fire in the fireplace. These bricks will stand perpendicular to the ones laid for the floor of the firebox and line the interior wall of the hearth. #1 How often should you clean the ashes from your fireplace? H 750-Watt/1500-Watt Black Electric Fireplace Insert with Overheating Protection, 30 in. Reach your manufacturers instructions. When soot is left to build up in the chimney and fireplace, it can cause staining on your homes ceilings, floors, and walls and on your furniture and belongings. There are three main components to your fireplace; thefireboxitself (Modular, Masonry or Metal), the damper /chimney systemand thefire brickliner.

So, how do you increase draft and flow in your chimney? And keep in mind, if you have a throat damper that must be closed by reaching into the fireplace, wear a protective mitt to protect you against burns. Soot can be dangerous because its a lung irritant and it can make a mess if it gets into your home, but creosote is the biggest concern. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Enjoy your fireplace and keep your home safe using by learning how to clean a fireplace, 36 in. Another perk of having one of these fireplaces, stoves, or inserts is that fuel is always affordable and plentiful. Tuck-Pointing Trowel (narrow enough to fit in the brick joints)

Pack about halfway full, then press firmly as you pull the pointing trowel (handle first) along the joint until joint is filled. If theres one thing we want you to take away from this fireplace guide, its that you should always refer to your appliances manual. So, how big should your fire be for optimal efficiency and performance? A win-win. We aim to provide you with comprehensive Homeowner Resources. 2. Apply fire cement to the area that is being repaired, using the trowel. Once the fire is lit and going strong, you should still be able to see the tips of the flames through the fireplace opening.

All you have to do is turn the appliance on or off. What makes people think either will work to clean the chimney? Gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts are by nature more efficient than open hearth masonry fireplaces.

Clean up by scraping the excess mortar off of the brick faces and then wipe immediately with a damp sponge. While a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep can evaluate your chimney and recommend any corrective action needed for proper draft and flow, there are a couple of things you can do to improve draft and flow as well: In the 1940s and again in the 1980s, masonry chimneys were tested by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) for durability, due to rising concerns about their performance and safety. vermiculite fire micalite dupre minerals 25mm effect fireplace boards reeded fluted Fire brick mortar and/or fire bricks can become damaged after years of use which can cause a fire brick to fall out or crack. How long after a fire should you wait to close the damper? Lets first talk about what you should NOT do. Detergent #1 Follow your manufacturers instructions for use. These appliances can provide a great deal of heat and comfort on cold days and nights even when you lose power and cant rely on your furnace to heat the space.

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home and check batteries in the spring and fall. If you cant find it, you may be able to find what you need on the manufacturers website so do a quick online search. Burn only dry, properly seasoned wood in your fireplace, stove, or insert. The firebrick liner creates a safer more reliable fireplace. Home Homeowner Resources The Ultimate Guide to Using Your Fireplace. The specifics here will vary from appliance to appliance, but typically, a gas fireplace, stove, or insert can be turned on/off with the simple touch of a button or flip of a switch. Carbide-Tipped Scoring Tool meant for cutting tile backer board As air is pulled in, soot from the chimney comes in with it. Youll also find great features on newer appliances like temperature control and blowers, for more evenly distributed heat throughout your space. For more information on Duraflame products and their use, check out their website or email info@duraflame.com. Bring Us to Your Turf With the CSIA Roadshow, Sponsor a Class, Make a Donation, or Advertise With Us. 5.

In general, softwoods (pine, cedar, redwood, spruce, douglas fir) are easier to split, they dry faster, and theyre easier to light and get going but theyre lighter, so youll need more soft wood than you would hardwood to get the same amount of heat. The shavings at the top should be small enough to light with a single match. If the fire is too big for your fireplace, stove, or insert, your chimney will have a hard time removing the smoke created by the fire, and youll see a decline in appliance performance. Yellow flame logs require venting (hence why theyre often called vented logs), while blue flame logs may be approved for use without a venting system. Before we wrap and move onto gas fireplaces and hearth appliances, lets cover a few more safety tips for wood burners. Wipe any excess cement from the brick. The firebrick panels compliment your fireplace by efficiently reflecting the heat into the living space, reducing the heat needed from your primary heat source. Youll want to remove all the ash in your fireplace or woodstove at the end of the heating season. 2000-2022 Home Depot. But keep in mind, if you leave a large amount of ash in your woodstove, it will reduce the volume of fuel that can be added to the firebox, resulting in smaller fires. Never leave a fire in your fireplace unattended and always supervise children and pets closely around woodstoves and fireplaces. chimney inside flue lining brick masonry inspection angeles los jamescolincampbell Burn hotter fires. How do you know if you should leave the gas and pilot light on? Advantages: If properly installed and maintained, metal chimney liners are extremely safe and durable. Chimney liners serve three main functions: There are different types of chimney liners out there.

The manufacturers instructions serve as the Bible for your appliance, telling you everything you need to know about safe and proper use and operation.

Additionally, you should never stack wood higher than your fireplace opening.

It depends on the type of gas fireplace you have. When todays tight homes need makeup air, the easiest way to get it is often through the chimney. As a native Californian, artist, journalist and published author, Laurie Brenner began writing professionally in 1975. The easiest way to figure out what you should and shouldnt do with your gas appliance is to refer to your manufacturers instructions or manual. This pulling effect is called draft, and it works the same as the pressure in a water hose. Having a qualified professional look at and maintain your chimney reduces the risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or chimney obstructions. Thats why its always best to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use.

Again, refer to your manufacturers instructions. You may be able to tell if your chimney needs cleaning by looking up inside the flue with a flashlight.

A typical firebrick lining takes a Mason five to eight hours of labor to install. Even if you grew up with a fireplace in your home, theres always more to learn about how to properly use, maintain, and enjoy your fireplace. Placing the wood with the ends at the front and back allows the air to mix well with the fuel, instead of only hitting the broad side of the wood as it would if it were placed parallel to the fireplace or stove opening.Step 3: Stack 4-5 slightly smaller levels of wood on top of the first layer. Every wood-burning fireplace, stove, and insert should be inspected on an annual basis and swept as needed. Chimney Inspections: What You Need to Know.

So, its still important to have your gas fireplace chimney inspected annually and your gas fireplace cleaned as needed. When youre done, the stack should not go above the fireplace opening.Step 5: Light your fire at the top, NOT at the bottom. Lighter fluids and the like create an uncontrollable burn, which is dangerous and can also be very damaging to your heating appliance and chimney. Step 1: Separate your firewood by size.Step 2: Start by placing the largest pieces of wood in the bottom of your fireplace or woodstove, with the ends facing the front and back. Whats the best way to build a fire? For factory built fireplaces with installed fire brick panels, contact the Fireplace Manufacturer for instructions on replacement/repair. 750/1500-Watt Black Electric Fireplace Insert with Thin Trim, Adjustable Flame, 3 Color Top Light, 33 in. Plus, this meeting of water and heat could cause the wood to dangerously pop and will create steam that could easily burn you and others close to the fireplace. Heres a quick rundown of each and their advantages and disadvantages: #1 Clay tile liners are the most common type of masonry chimney liners. When a fireplace chimney is full of hot air, it pulls air in through the firebox. Mason-lite firebrick panels not only protect your fireplace from damage or fire hazards but also reflect heat from the fireplace into the living space and add a classic look to your fireplace. Dig out the deteriorated mortar until the joint is about to inches deep and the brick surface on both sides of the joint are mortar free. Dry-Mix Refractory Mortar So, read up on your appliance and use it as it was intended to be used. Can a fire be too big for a fireplace? This method is a light it and youre done method, which means no more worrying about larger pieces of wood falling on the struggling new fire. 4. And if youre following manufacturers instructions for use, you should be getting a lot of good heat with minimal waste from your appliance. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. Here at CSIA, we recommend that you always wait to remove embers and ash until everything has had time to completely cool. That ash is completely spent, so you can remove it and move the hot coals from the rear into the space youve cleared.

How do you safely put it out?

By working as a shield to protect your fireplace unit from dangerous temperatures the firebrick panel helps preserve your fireplace from damage and prevents possible fire hazards. Here are a few tips: For more info on carbon monoxide, why its so dangerous, and how you can protect your family against the threat of CO poisoning, check out Carbon Monoxide & Your Home: What You Need to Know. Put on the work gloves to protect your hands from the firebrick's abrasive surfaces. Buying a House: Why Do You Need a Real Estate Inspection? Unlike others who make their refractory Panels from one solid piece with imprints of bricks or are painted to appear as bricks, Mason-Lite Firebrick Panels are made with real Firebrick. Metal Jointer The best way to know if your chimney is working and if its safe to use your fireplace is to schedule an annual inspection. You do not ever want to use any type of accelerant to start a fire in your fireplace or woodstove. That means less wasted wood, less smoke, and less creosote buildup. ), Dust, soot, and creosote buildup that could cause performance issues or cause a chimney fire, Missing components (like chimney caps and chase covers) and signs of a chimney leak, Rust in your firebox or down the sides of your chimney, Discoloration or vegetation growth on your chimney, Pieces of flue tile or spalling brick in your firebox, Brick deterioration or spalling on your chimneys exterior, Failing mortar on your chimneys exterior or in your firebox, Water stains near your chimney and fireplace, Cracks in your chimney crown or rust on your chase cover, Smoke pouring into your home when you light a fire in your fireplace, Changes in performance issues with your fireplace, insert, or stove, Popping, cracking, or other loud sounds coming from your chimney when in use, Difficulty getting and keeping a good fire burning in your hearth appliance, Soot or creosote falling down into your fireplace. What this means is that the flue tiles will crack and split apart in a chimney fire, allowing heat to transfer to nearby combustibles.

The same thing can happen when a big gust of wind hits the chimney. You will need to install the farthest brick first to slide it under the metal ridge and then move forward on the left interior wall. How do you get rid of soot and creosote? You can check to make sure its fully open by looking up into your fireplace with a flashlight. If the flames are going up into the chimney, youve built a fire that is too big. Many new wood stoves come with the firebricks in a separate container to make the wood stove easier to install without the added weight of the bricks.

#4 Are accelerants like lighter fluid bad for the chimney? If the ash in your fireplace is so deep that its touching the bottom of your grate, it can cause the grate to burn out prematurely. CSIA National Training Academy: Who, What, When, Where, Why?

Mason-lite Prefabricated Firebrick Panels come in two classic designs a full running bond and a split herringbone, with a new split running bond design coming soon. Is there a way to check if your chimney is working? But while soot and creosote are not really issues with gas appliances and chimneys, dust, pet hair, insects, and other debris can build up and cause performance problems in these systems.

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I burn softwood in my fireplace