2013 Fall Home Improvement September 25, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
Page 5
It is recommended that pine and
the “sappier” woods should not
be burned, because these pro-
duce the most creosote, which
can result in chimney fires. In
our region, red or white oak is
the recommended hardwood to
burn. It has the highest number
of BTUs due to its density and
is a cleaner, longer burning
wood.
The wood should be seasoned
-- that is, cut and split prefer-
ably for one year for optimal
performance. Your wood should
be stored off the ground and
uncovered. Many homeowners
achieve this by laying two steel
posts on top of concrete blocks
and driving a couple more steel
stakes at each end to prevent the
wood from rolling off.
Wood is oftentimes purchased
by the pickup load, but a full
measure is known as a cord. A
cord of wood measures 4 by 4
by 8 feet, and a pickup load is
usually less than a cord.
One important question to ask
when purchasing firewood is
if the price includes stacking it
properly upon delivery. Imagine
the homeowner’s surprise to
come home and find the wood
simply dumped in the driveway.
Another piece of advice from
Kneller: Some things that
should never be burned in the
fireplace are paper or plastic.
Oftentimes a chimney fire is
started by someone burning all
the wrapping paper from gifts.
The scenario usually unfolds
with someone wadding up the
gift wrap and igniting it in a
cold fireplace, resulting in a
huge fire. When creosote is
cold, it will ignite easier, and
chimney fires can reach tem-
peratures of over 2,000 degrees.
That is a situation no one wants
to find themselves in.
Other things to avoid are the
“newspaper logs” because they
emit toxic chemicals from the
printing process and are harm-
ful for the environment. Starter
logs are OK to use, but overuse
can result in a paraffin buildup.
One other tip from the U.S. Fire
Administration: Keep the fire
inside the fireplace by making
sure you have a fireplace screen
large enough to stop flying
sparks and rolling logs.
A wood-burning fireplace con-
verted to gas logs also requires
maintenance. Your professional
will inspect the gas connec-
tions for leaks and the proper
air-to-gas ratio. A gas fireplace
that is not properly adjusted
will also create a creosote issue.
And a well-adjusted gas-air mix
makes for a more appealing fire.
Some gas fireplaces are sealed
from the indoors and generate
heat for the room by radiation,
while providing an attractive,
real-looking dancing fire. Oxy-
gen for combustion is obtained
through a part of the flue system
that draws from the outdoors,
while the other component al-
lows for the extraction of gases
from the firebox.
There are a variety of options to
choose from in gas fireplaces,
and the homeowner should
consult a professional, reputable
fireplace dealership.
As a last bit of advice, if you
are considering adding a fire-
place to your home, it is recom-
mended that you visit a few
dealerships to research your
options.
Fireplaces are a wonderful
addition, and with attention to
safety, they really add to the
comfort of a home.
