While winter is at peak, nothing is better than the comfort of the heat coming from a crackling wood burning in a fireplace. But there are things that you should remember before lighting those fire woods up.
Inappropriate installation, operation and maintenance of this kind of fireplace might result to house fire. Embers should not be popping out and creosote build-up should be avoided, or it can be a great hazard.
Wood-burning fireplace may also affect the indoor air quality negatively. "Smoke may smell good, but it's not good for you," according to Burn Wise, a program of the US Environmental Protection Agency. If there are smokes escaping from the firebox into your room means that your fireplace is not working properly.
It is also possible for this fireplace to create negative pressure in the house since fires consume a huge volume of air as they burn. The air outside is drawn indoors, replacing the air consumed by the fire. This process may push deadly gases back into home, which is called "back drafting". This is why homes with wood-burning fireplace should have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
However, prevention is better than cure. It is important to check both the fireplace and the chimney before lighting up those fire woods.
Always examine the firebox. There should not be any gaps, crack or any signs of wear in the firebox's lining. If any of these signs or damage shows up, you have to get a professional to repair it. Otherwise, it may cause permanent damage if excessive heat built up inside the fireplace.
Smoke stains are signs of improperly working fireplace. If there are stains on your ceiling, smoke could be escaping from the firebox.
Bigger grate is not better. The metal grate should not be bigger than two-thirds of the size of the fireplace opening. Bigger grate might temp you to pile too much wood that will result to overheating.
Getting the chimney inspected is an important step you must do before using the fireplace. Annual inspection by a qualified professional is a must to avoid chimney fires.
Make sure that you have an easy access to your fire extinguisher. It should be fully charged and ready to use.
