Fireplace Tips

SAFETY FIRST

KEEP fire extinguisher handy.

MAKE SURE THE DAMPER IS OPEN before lighting a fire.

KEEP the DAMPER OPEN until the fire is out and the ashes are cool enough to touch.

AVOID smoking up your apartment. Check for a down draft before lighting a fire. If cold air is coming down the chimney into the fireplace you have a down draft. To REVERSE A DOWN DRAFT place a balled up piece of newspaper in the opening to the chimney. Be sure the damper is OPEN. Light the paper on fire and when it burns up into the chimney you can light the rest of your fire.

Since our fireplaces draw air from within the unit, it is always best to have a WINDOW slightly OPEN when enjoying the fireplace. Be sure to close it after to avoid frozen pipes.

Burn only SEASONED or HARD WOOD in the fireplace. This will help minimize creosote buildup in the chimney.

Burning SMALL, controlled, hot fires rather than smoldering fires will also help keep creosote under control.

NEVER use highly flammable materials such as wrapping paper or gasoline in a woodstove or fireplace. These substances can create dangerous fireballs in an instant and, just like burning too much wood at once, can cause a buildup of flammable materials in your chimney.

CLEAN out the firebox at least every week when using the fireplace regularly, but leave an inch of ash in the bottom to act as insulation. 

DO NOT use a vacuum to clean out the firebox as coals can stay hot for several days after extinguishing a fire.

BEFORE removing ash, open the damper so loose ash is drawn up the chimney rather than out into the room.

REMOVE all ash during the months the fireplace is not in use.

Where do you get your wood? Please send your recommendations to Web@chanticleercondo.net