I have to say that there’s a great deal of satisfaction to be had from spending a cold autumn morning in the garden with a big axe, chopping firewood!
Definitely get some sort of guard or (as already mentioned) a fireproof hearth rug; otherwise you’ll get burnt holes in your carpet (yes, speaking from experience!)
I’ve used a fire with a lower air vent; it makes it so much easier to start when you’ve got air coming into the fire at the base; of coure, bellows would work too.
Enjoy!
The “trap door” in the floor of my fireplace is just a dump for ashes, instead of pulling all of the ashes out of the front of the fireplace through your living room.
Makes regular fireplace clean-up a breeze. There should be an access door in the basement/lower level directly below the fireplace; mine is in my workroom. Once every year or two I open it up and pull out a couple of bags worth of ash.
The “worst” thing about fireplaces is, with the exception of a very few high tech versions, they result in a net loss of household heat up and out of your chimney. If you run your fireplace in one room, you may be amazed at how cool it gets in more distant areas of your house. Some folks recommend cracking the window nearest to the fireplace.
Because of this, the last couple of years we have placed a bunch of big candles in our fireplace, instead of burning fires very often. Gives a nice flickering glow, without causing the furnace to crank overtime.
Not if you have a fresh air intake at the bottom of the FP. Then, it’s just neutral.
Thanks again for all the great tips. I really thought I could just get some wood, matches, and a quick start log and I would be set. Now I see there is a little more to it.
SSG Schwartz
Be very careful when disposing of ashes. I know someone who set their house on fire by disposing of ashes from a wood-burning stove too soon after the stove had been running, and the ashes were still hot. They had something like $100,000 in damage to their house.
If you don’t want to deal with all of this, you can convert a wood-burning fireplace to a gas-log fireplace (my dad did this in my parents’ house). You get the romance of a fireplace without all the maintenance.
I’m moving into a house with two gas-log fireplaces next month, and I’m looking forward to it. I had an apartment with a wood-burning fireplace once, but I never used it because it was too much hassle.
Get a fireguard. You need something to prevent sparks and cinders spitting out of the hearth and setting the place on fire when you’re not in attendance (for instance when you go to bed).
We used to have a coal fire every evening in the winter, and it’s amazing how warming it is, and how much everyone in the room responds to it (it makes for a very pleasant atmosphere).
Oh, order your wood now. It gets more expensive as the weather gets colder.
Don’t overbuy. For a fireplace, you’ll probably end up using it less than you think. Probably 1/4 cord will last you quite a while.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy in case a log comes rolling out.
By the way, the woodpile:
Keep two days worth indoors.
Keep the rest at least ten feet away from the house. (If you are going to put out food for termites, at least make the suckers walk to your house later.) Get those parking lot curbs, and clear away all the grass, etc from under. Then buy too much wood the first year. That way, next year it will actually be “aged hardwood” and you can add a small stack for next year. Summer prices, as mentioned are far better, and if you are ready to take it straight from a guy cutting down a tree, it will be even cheaper. A cheap tarp to shed rain. Holes in the tarp are not important.
“The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer.” ~ Victor Borge ~
As others have said in this thread, consider buying the wood soon so you can let it age a little.
I think the little starter logs are perfect, they are usually sold in 24 or 36 to the box.
My preference for wood is oak, but people have their own opinion on this, never use pine.
Also don’t skimp on the tools! I made that mistake on my first set. It sounds like you like the idea of a fireplace more for the ambiance and mood setting than any real heating, this is smart. As someone else said, it maybe will come out even.
somewhat off topic : I really believe that the love for a good fire, in a fireplace or a bonfire outdoors, and is nearly universal in humans, is a strong indicator of evolution. I’m not sure if I have met anyone who dislikes one.
Enjoy your fireplace! The extra work is worth it.
Your dog will lay in front teaching you how hot a doggy belly can get. Real hot. Don’t forget to gather kindling. The tree branches that fall down and annoy you will now have a use.
Oak logs will warm you well
If they’re old and dry;
Larch logs of pinewoods smell
But the sparks will fly.
Beech logs for Christmas time,
Yew logs heat well!
“Scotch” logs it were a crime
For anyone to sell.
Birch logs will burn too fast
Chestnut scarce at all;
Hawthorn logs are good to last
If cut in the fall.
Holly logs will burn like wax -
You should burn them green -
Elm logs like smouldering flax:
No flame to be seen.
Pear logs and apple logs,
They will scent the room;
Cherry logs across the dogs
Smell like flowers in bloom;
But ash logs all smooth and grey,
Burn them green or old;
Buy up all that come your way -
They’re worth their weight in gold.