{"id":2402,"date":"2016-11-10T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.doctorflue.com\/blog\/?p=2402"},"modified":"2017-05-23T20:31:32","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T00:31:32","slug":"tips-for-fireplace-wood-stove-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doctorflue.com\/blog\/tips-for-fireplace-wood-stove-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot Tips for Fireplace & Wood Stove Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s that time of year \u2013 the time when we\u2019d love to grab a book and a beverage and cuddle up in front of a cozy fire. A fireplace or wood stove can take the chill out of the air and a few dollars off your heating bill. But what<\/em> you burn \u2013 and how<\/em> you burn it \u2013 matters, not only for your fireplace or stove, but also for your health and safety. We\u2019ve put together a few burning tips to help you safely enjoy your every glowing minute of your wood fire.<\/p>\n

To Burn or Not to Burn \u2013 Here Are the Answers<\/h2>\n

Burn only seasoned wood<\/strong> \u2013 Freshly chopped firewood has up to 50% water content and won’t burn properly in your fireplace or wood stove. Firewood must be allowed to season, which means leaving it outside after it\u2019s cut to allow the moisture to escape. Burning unseasoned (green) or even partially seasoned wood in your stove or fireplace will cause creosote build-up in your chimney<\/a>, which could lead to fire failure, a roomful of smoke, or even a chimney fire.<\/p>\n

Wood should be seasoned for at least 6 months. Store it outdoors while it seasons \u2013 off the ground, with the top covered. It will be ready to burn when it has a moisture content less than 20%. You can purchase inexpensive wood moisture meters at hardware stores and online.<\/p>\n

Buy local <\/strong>\u2013 Invasive insects, like the Emerald Ash Borer, have decimated several species of native trees. One of the reasons they have caused so much destruction in just a few years is that they\u2019ve been transported from place to place as they hid inside firewood. Buy and burn only locally cut firewood to decrease the risk of transporting invasive forest pests to your property. Learn more from the Don\u2019t Move Firewood<\/a> campaign.<\/p>\n

Start smart<\/strong> \u2013 Only use newspaper, dry kindling, and all-natural or organic fire starters. Never start a fire in a fireplace or woodstove with gasoline, kerosene, or charcoal starter.<\/p>\n

Know the ingredients<\/strong> \u2013 If you use manufactured logs, choose those made from 100% compressed sawdust. Many wax and sawdust logs are made for open hearth fireplaces only \u2013 check your wood stove or fireplace insert operating instructions before using artificial logs.<\/p>\n

Keep it hot, hot, hot!<\/strong> \u2013 Once it\u2019s started, keep your fire burning hot until you\u2019re ready to put it out. A smoldering fire is never a safe or efficient fire.<\/p>\n

Be air aware<\/strong> \u2013 Air quality, both indoors and out, is an important consideration when you\u2019re using your fireplace or wood stove. Keep the doors of your wood-burning appliance closed unless loading or stoking the fire. Otherwise, harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide can be released into your home. Also, do your part to reduce outdoor air pollution by checking the local air quality forecast before you burn. If it\u2019s a poor air-quality day, forego the burn, if you can.<\/p>\n

Ban these from the burn<\/strong> \u2013 You may think you\u2019re doing the environment a favor by burning flammable household products instead of adding them to a landfill. That\u2019s probably not the case. Many of these materials can release toxic or harmful chemicals when burned, and may damage your fireplace or wood stove:<\/p>\n