Now that the freezing season is upon us, it can be hard to keep warm during the long winter days. And, with heating costs always rising, it often pays to keep the thermostat a few degrees lower than you normally would to save some money.
One way to stay warm and make your home festive for the holidays is to light up the old fireplace.
But wait! If you’re not sure of how to use your fireplace, you should read on first. If you aren’t familiar with how your fireplace works or how to start a good fire, you can end up filling your house up with smoke.
In today’s post, I’m going to give you some tips on making the perfect fire for the holiday season to keep you, your family, and your house guests warm and toasty until sprint time.
Read on for a guide to the indoor fireplace.
1. Chimney first
A dirty chimney is more than just a nuisance. It can also start a house fire that puts you and your family in danger and can be very costly.
A buildup of a carbonaceous chemical called creosote is the cause of most chimney fires. These fires are often associated with lots of dense smoke and loud cracks when you start your fire.
If you haven’t used your fireplace in over a year, it’s recommended that you have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional before use.
2. The damper is key
Indoor chimneys use a damper system to allow smoky air to flow outward through your chimney. This hot air rises, creating a draft which pulls air from your home into the fireplace, and then out through the chimney, keeping your house smoke-free.
Keeping the damper closed when the fireplace isn’t being used is important for preserving heat in your home that would otherwise be lost through the chimney.
However, it’s important to remember to open the damper before starting a fire or you’ll quickly notice your living room filling up with smoke.
3. Let the wood do the work
Different types of wood have different burning properties. However, the main thing to remember is that your wood needs to be dried out and seasoned before it is able to properly burn.
4. Fire building skills
There are a few general rules to follow when building a fire in a fireplace. First, start off with a base of sturdy logs. Next, stack your smaller logs, kindling, and some tightly crumpled up newspaper on top of the base logs.
One common method that allows a lot of oxygen to flow through the logs and kindling is to build in a type of tent or tipi shape with crumpled newspaper in the middle.
Then, light the newspaper and watch your hard work pay off.
5. Parting advice
While a fire with well-established coals can sustain itself for some time, remember to frequently check in on your fire–not only to add logs but to ensure that it is burning in a controlled fashion and that no objects are too close and in danger of catching fire.