10 Top Tips for Maintaining a Wood Burning Fireplace 

A wood burning fireplace is just a perfect addition to any home, adding warmth and style to any space. To save lots of your money and time, it is imperative to keep your fireplace maintained and in tip top condition. Having a maintained fireplace will add tremendous value to your home and excite your guests. Today we bring you ten tips for maintaining a wood burning fireplace.

1. Clean the inner

Often we forget that burning wood can cause buildup of a number of dirt, ash, dust and creosote inside of the fireplace. Be sure that you clean the inner regularly. Not only will it look more presentable, the fireplace will burn more efficiently whenever you keep it clean. Also worth noting is that the buildup of creosote and other materials can be considered a security hazard wood watches. Many of the fine particles could be transmitted through the air and can cause medical issues over a longer amount of time. Cleaning may also help prevent the material from catching fire whenever you don't want it to. We recommend using a dust mask when cleaning to avoid inhalation of any dust particles.

2. Install a stainless liner

Consider installing a liner for the fireplace to keep the embers and some other materials within a secure manner. We could help you will find the right liner for almost any size of fireplace, and even help with the install! A good liner will have a way to withstand the high temperatures of a wood burning fireplace with ease.

3. Install Heat Proof Glass and Blower or Fan

Heat Proof Glass can help with safety and the efficiency of your fireplace. Glass doors can help with containing any burning material such as embers or dust particles. Safety of your guests and family is likewise strengthened by adding another layer of protection. A supporter or blower can increase the efficiency of heating your property by distributing the warmth over a more substantial area. The glass doors ought to be cleaned regularly to avoid buildup of material and to keep your fireplace looking presentable. For any buildup of material, you can use a light sandpaper to lightly sand off any tougher buildups.

4. Watch For Smoke

An adequately vented and maintained wood burning fireplace shouldn't send smoke into your room. If you see any smoke entering your room from the fireplace, be sure you immediately take notice as this is actually a warning sign that something needs to be cleaned or maintained. You will find several causes such as a dirty chimney with too much soot or creosote buildup, debris in the chimney blocking the venting of smoke, a damper might not be open or is only partly open, or the wood itself could not be burning properly. It is definitely important to play it safe whenever you see smoke, always pay attention.

5. Burn the Right Wood

Wood burning is a skill, and a science. You need to always know what sort of wood you're burning in your fireplace. It also pays to learn what sort of wood you're burning, different types of wood may be cheaper but burn lousy, causing you stress and increased cleaning duties. One type of wood is hardwood which includes maple, oak, ash and birch. A few benefits of hardwood are they burn hotter and longer, they've less pitch and sap making them cleaner to take care of, and they cause less creosote buildup. Softwoods on the other hand are a cheaper alternative, but have a trade off in being much more difficult to manage with regards to mess and clean up. Fir is the best, and other softwoods include pine, balsam, spruce, tamarack, alder and poplar. Don't burn green wood, it won't produce enough heat and will create a large amount of smoke and creosote.

6. Look for Soot

Soot is another byproduct of burning wood and is an issue if not properly handled. Soot is generally softer than creosote and can be disturbed easily, causing a mess in a more substantial area which may be difficult to clean up. Soot also can catch fire if in a large enough volume. We recommend cleaning the soot deposits regularly and to watch out for when it gets larger than 1/8 inch deep.

7. Remove Creosote

Creosote is just a flammable substance that is hard, dark, and crust-like. Creosote will be after incomplete combustion of burning wood. Wood that is wet by improper storage will create a larger amount of creosote than wood that has been dried and properly stored. A buildup of too much creosote can cause chimney fires as creosote is highly flammable. A hotter fire will produce less creosote, and a greater airflow can help with maintaining a suitable burn. We recommend using a chimney brush to eliminate any building in the stove pipe. Ensure you inspect the stove pipe regularly with a flashlight to guarantee you have cleaned it thoroughly.

8. Check the Cap

Your chimney likely has a cap on top or sides to keep unwanted materials and animals from entering. Cleaning the cap and removing debris regularly will enhance airflow and allow smoke to successfully escape. If there is a blockage, you run the risk of having creosote build up in the chimney, adding a fire risk. We always recommend that you consult an expert chimney sweep if you are noticing any major issues along with your chimney. Following these regular inspection tips enables you to truly save money as keepin constantly your chimney unobstructed will result in less calls to the chimney sweep professionals.

9. Inspect Your Chimney

Depending on whether you have a steel or masonry chimney, there are certainly a few factors to watch out for. With a masonry chimney examine the outer mortar between bricks or stone to make sure it is intact. Any cracks is actually a sign that there surely is a more substantial problem or could function as the start of one. Any crumbling mortar ought to be replaced, and any cracked tile liners or missing bricks ought to be noted and immediately replaced. A metal chimney ought to be inspected for dust, dents, and rust. Look for any missing screws or dents and rust at the joints as they are the most frequent areas that report the initial signs of weakness.