It takes a lot more than a regular inspection and occasional sweep to keep your fireplace and chimney in top shape. Here is a great list of tips to follow in between your yearly maintenance to prolong the life of your fireplace and improve your overall safety.
Only Burn Firewood!
You wanted a fireplace to burn firewood, not garbage! Treated wood and other burnable materials can release chemicals into your home, compromising air quality. Burn your scraps outside. You can use log starters, but remember: starters burn very hot so only use one at a time.
Burn Dry, Cured Wood
A fireplace is not the same as a campfire or bonfire and is not ideal for burning live wood. Firewood being burned inside should be chopped, stacked, and dried for 8-12 months, preferably covered to protect from weather while still allowing air flow.
While different species of wood will burn at diiferent rates, the most important factor is how dry your firewood is.
Keep Your Glass Doors Open and Damper Closed
Most fireplaces are installed to help heat your home. When actively burning firewood, keep your glass doors open as to not trap the heat in your fireplace. After finish burning your wood, close your damper to prevent warm air from escaping through your chimney.
Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors Are a Must
While a properly installed fireplace is safe, we recommend detectors being placed near the fireplace, as well as in bedrooms.
Bi-Annual Chimney Sweeps
Regular use of your fireplace can build up unsafe levels of creosote if not regularly cleaned. It is recommended to clean your chimney twice a year if you burn more than three cords of wood annually. (A cord is 4 feet high x 4 feet wide x 8 feet long, or two full-sized pickup trucks)
To Burn Safe, Build Slow
Start with only a few pieces of firewood, and allow air to be drawn in early by keeping the damper of your wood burning fireplace completely open. Burning the fire hot with an open damper will help prevent smoke from lingering in the fireplace and creosote from developing. Slowly add more firewood as your fire continues to burn.