Maintaining a Wood Burning Fireplace
The sound of a fireplace that is wood-burning is a fantastic way to warm the interior of a house. It is crucial to keep your fireplace in good condition to avoid dangerous creosote buildup.
Airflow can be controlled with a damper, and this is a crucial element of maintaining efficient combustion. The kind of firewood used can also affect the outcome and hardwoods like oak and ash producing less creosote than softwoods.
Energy Efficiency
Wood fireplaces can be a beautiful design, generating warm and inviting atmosphere. However, they aren't energy efficient and can create polluting air if they are not properly maintained. The quality and condition of your chimney system, and installation could be a major factor in the efficiency of your entire system.
The primary fuel for a traditional wood burning stove is firewood, which is usually purchased in a face or full cord (measured at 4'x8'x8'). The wood must be "seasoned" to lower the water content and increase its energy density prior to use. If the wood is wet, it won't burn efficiently and will result in a lot of creosote. Seasoning wood can take months or even a whole year depending on the weather and the climate.
Wood burning fireplaces require a significant investment of time and money to maintain them correctly. In addition to buying a large amount of firewood, owners should regularly clean and inspect their fireplace. This is to ensure that the chimney is free of obstructions, is working correctly, and that there isn't any combustible materials near the fireplace. Regular cleanings and inspections will help reduce the risk for room and chimney fires.
Smoke from wood-burning stoves has fine particles, which can harm the lungs and cause serious health problems including lung disease, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. old wood stove releases harmful air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides as well as volatile organic compounds like benzene, and formaldehyde. Wood smoke contributes to atmospheric reductions in greenhouse gases and ozone which can affect the climate of the earth.
Effective EPA certified wood stoves employ an additional combustion process to reduce harmful emissions during firing. They also require a proper size chimney and the installation of flue liner to maximize performance. It is also crucial to buy firewood that is seasoned and avoid the temptation to add accelerants such as lighter fluid, gasoline, or butane torch to the fire as it can cause fire to become too hot and cause a risky situation. In addition homeowners should store their firewood outside of the home to prevent termite infestation.
Cleanliness
Wood-burning fire places are a great alternative to other heating methods. They also create a peaceful ambience. They can be used for primary or supplemental heating and can be eligible for tax credits. However, they can be messy and require regular cleaning to prevent soot and creosote buildup. A dirty fireplace can create unpleasant odors, toxins and can adversely affect the air quality in the home.
When burning wood in the fireplace, it is essential to use dry firewood. Kiln dried firewood can help reduce creosote accumulation and soot. Kiln dried wood is then treated by heating or kiln to get rid of all moisture. It is also a good idea to only burn clean, seasoned (burned) wood that is split and placed in a stack for a couple of months prior to use.
Before lighting a fire, remove ash from the floor of the fireplace as well as the area around the smoke shelf. Be sure to wait until the ashes have cooled completely before you dump them into an aluminum bin. Make use of a whisk or a dustpan Broom to sweep and dispose of any other debris that may have accumulated outside of the fire.
Wear gloves and an apron when cleaning a fireplace to protect yourself from the dust, soot and dirt that are created. To keep your furniture safe from stains, you should clear the area and cover it with drop cloths. It is also recommended to wear a dust mask to keep from breathing in any ash or soot particles.
Fill a large bucket with warm water. Add 3.8 teaspoons of trisodium (TSP) as well as one cup of bleach and two tablespoons of ammonia from your household. Mix well and then dip a nylon brush in the solution and scrub the walls and surrounding areas of your fireplace. After scrubbing, use clean damp cloth to clean and clean the cleaning solution.
Repeat the scrubbing and wiping process until all visible deposits are removed from your fireplace. Once you're satisfied with the cleanliness you can make use of a glass cleaner that is safe for wood-burning stoves for cleaning any glass doors.
Aesthetics
Wood fireplaces have a beauty that modern propane or gas fire places can't match. The rustic look of fireplaces made of wood, the crackling sound of a fire burning and the cozy feeling they create have stood the test of time. This is a characteristic that a lot of people seek when looking for a fireplace.
While wood-burning fireplaces are great for heating, they also emit harmful gases into your home. Smoke, carbon monoxide and other gases can cause lung damage. While fireplaces are typically well-ventilated, it's important to have an effective system in place to assist in the elimination of these harmful substances. Many people prefer zero clearance designs for wood-burning fireplaces since they lower the amount of harmful gases in their home.
There are a variety of ways to design your wood fireplace to create a unique aesthetic. You can paint it to be in line with the style of your living room or use reclaimed wooden to give it an even more rustic appearance. You can also add an outdoor stone staircase that leads to the fireplace, which creates an interesting and practical feature in your home.
You can also alter your chimney's color. The most popular color is black, which is beautiful and is a perfect match for most homes. Alternatively, you can paint your fireplace in white which lets light into the room and creates a light and airy atmosphere. Gray is a third option that works well with many different styles and is a modern trend. Some homeowners even mix gray and beige together and call it greige to celebrate this flexibility and aesthetic.
The best way to make a fireplace look less old fashioned or obtrusive is to paint it to match the walls around it. This can be done in a deep neutral that is on-trend, like grey, or a warm and earthy tone such as brick or terracotta red. The idea is to create a unified space that does not draw attention to itself, but rather blends in with the rest of the room. If you are unsure about which colour to go for, you can always ask a professional for advice.
Safety
Wood burning fireplaces can create serious safety issues if not maintained and operated properly. They release smoke, which contains fine particle pollutants that can be absorbed into the lungs and cause lung diseases and other health problems. They also release harmful air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Wood smoke is a major contributor to climate change by emitting carbon dioxide and methane.
The flue in a wood stove must be inspected and cleaned regularly to ensure it is working properly. A clean, well-functioning flue can help prevent dangerous carbon monoxide leaks and chimney fires.
If the flue liner is degrading it is recommended to replace it or repaired immediately. It is also crucial to keep all combustible items away from the wood stove, including curtains, drapes and other flammable items. It is a good idea to set up cross-ventilation, which assists in moving warm air through the home so that it doesn't get pushed back up the chimney.
Make sure to regularly clean out the ashes to keep them from becoming a block to airflow and then accumulating too deeply. As much ash can limit the flow of oxygen to the logs, and reduce the efficiency of combustion, which results in more smoke. The ashes can be kept in a container made of metal or another noncombustible container.
Children should be kept away from the area around the fireplace particularly when it has glass front. There is a risk of burns if they touch the hot surfaces while they are in the fire. In addition, the different tools employed to maintain a fireplace, like brushes, pokers, log lifers and shovels, are unsafe for children to handle. To stop children from falling into the fire, it is recommended that a "safety area" of three feet should be set up around it.
It is also a good idea to install an carbon monoxide detector and alarm in your home, especially if there is wood stove. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and can accumulate in the wood stove if the chimney are not functioning correctly.
It is also important to verify the state, local, and tribal regulations on wood-burning fireplaces. These regulations might include odor or nuisance rules, "no-burn" days and visible emissions or opacity limits on the smoke that is emitted from chimneys of homeowners. These laws are typically designed to reduce air pollution and are put in place to protect the health of the public.