Fireplace accessories, chimney caps, fireplace candelabra, fireplace screens and tools, and everything for your fireplace and chimney.

Home
Andirons
Article Library
Bellows
Candelabra
Chimney Caps
Chimney Repair
Chimney Surrounds
Cricket Ash Vac
Dampers
Fire Starters
Firebacks
Fireplace Screens
Fireplace Sets
Fireplace Tools
Grates
Hearth Décor-Gifts
Kettles, Steamers
Log Holders, Racks
Outdoor Fireplaces
Safety Products
Trivets
Wood Splitters
Returns/Policies
OurLinks
Reach Us
Site Map
How to Make a Good Fire in Your Fireplace

FireplaceMall.com

Your Fireplace Accessories and
 Chimney Caps Headquarters

View/Edit Shopping Cart

How to Make a Good Fire in Your Fireplace
© 2004, 2005 PennVentures LLC

You don't have to be an Eagle Scout to make a good fire in your fireplace. You just have to use a tried and trusted method.

Let us assume (Ahem!) that you've had your chimney inspected and cleaned so that there's no build-up of flammable creosote to worry about. You've taken the old ashes to your compost pile, or you have cleaned them out the easy way with a Cricket Ash Vac.

Then, look up your chimney to make sure the damper is open. A 'throat damper' is located at the bottom of the chimney and will open with a lever or with chain-pulls. If you have a 'top damper,' it's located at the top of the chimney and you open it by pulling a cable.
 

You've cleared the hearth of anything flammable. Now crumple 2-3 sheets of paper and put them in your fireplace grate. The fireplace grate enables your fire to pull in the air it needs to keep a good Fatwood fire starterdraft going up the chimney. Put a good handful of kindling strips, ˝ inch by 10 inch pieces of pine wood on top of the paper. Better yet, use some fatwood for the kindling. Fatwood is a natural, chemical-free part of pine trees, cut into easy to use sticks, that creates a one-match, enduring flame for fire starting. [To learn more about fatwood, check out our article about Fatwood: Nature's One-Match Fire Starter.] On top of the kindling, criss-cross 8 or 10 dry pieces of hardwood, say 1 inch square by 1 foot long.

Crumple two sheets of paper and light them, holding them up inside the fireplace to warm the flue and establish an upward flow of air.

Light the paper in your fireplace grate from each end. When the paper lights the kindling, and the kindling lights the hardwood, it's time to add 2 or 3 pieces of split firewood. Place the firewood toward the rear of the fireplace so it will reflect heat into the room as it burns. As the fire gets established, you can add more firewood. Place your fireplace screen or spark arrestor in front of your fire to protect your family and home from stray sparks.

With practice, you will use just enough firewood so that the fire burns down to glowing embers by bedtime, when you are through with it for the day. That's the time to make sure a fireplace screen is standing guard over your fireplace!

A few tips

  • Use just enough softwood for kindling to get the fire going. Burning pine for firewood quickly builds up creosote in your chimney, setting up conditions for a chimney fire. Fatwood and commercial fire starters can take the place of kindling.

 

  • For firewood, use dry hardwood (oak, maple, cherry, hickory) split into pieces about 4 inches on each side. The ideal firewood has dried for about one year. (See our article on choosing firewood.)

 

  • Don't burn plastics or paper with color printing, such as the Sunday comics or magazine pages or gift wrap, because they may give off toxins. Never, never use flammable liquids in your fireplace. 

FireplaceMall Article Library Index
 

Chimney Cap Articles

How to Select Your Chimney Cap: Everything You Need to Know!
 

Quick and Easy Selection Guide for Chimney Caps
for ROUND Flues

 

How to Install Your Chimney Cap
 

Checking Your Chimney Caps: How to Assess Their Condition
 

Chimney Caps with 3/4 Inch Mesh or
Chimney Caps with 5/8 Inch Mesh: 
What's the Difference?

 

How Tall Should Chimney Caps Be?
 

Damper Articles

Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency with a
Fireplace Damper

 

Fire Articles

How to Make a Good Fire in Your Fireplace
 

Fatwood: Nature's One-Match Kindling
 

Fireback Articles

Firebacks: Which Type is Better for My Fireplace?
 

Increase Your Fireplace's Energy Efficiency with a Fireback
 

Fireplace Accessories Articles

Are Silver or Chrome Fireplace Accessories
Right for Your Heath?

 

A Quick Guide to New and Traditional Fireplace Screen Shapes
 

Fireplace Candelabra Articles

Decorating Secrets for Making the Most of Your
Fireplace Candelabra

 

Candle Tips for Fireplace Candelabra
 

Fireplace Candelabra Serve Outdoor Needs, Too
 

Fireplace Problems

How to Clean Your Fireplace
 

Smoky Fireplace? Here's How to Fix It
 

Firewood Articles

How Much Firewood Do I Need?
 

5 Reasons Early Spring is the Time
to Buy or Gather Firewood for Your Fireplace or Woodstove

 

Learn the Experts' Tricks for Selecting and Storing
the Perfect Firewood

 

Mantel Articles

Decorating Your Fireplace Mantel
with the "Three Plus One" Trick

 

Fireplace Mantel Mirrors:
Five Mirror Decorating Tricks for over Your Fireplace

 

Decorating a Fireplace Mantel: 
Candlesticks and Fireplace Accessories

 

Bring the Beach to Your Fireplace Mantel
 

Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, and Fire Bowls

How to Select Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, and Fire Bowls
 

Safety and Use Tips for Outdoor Fireplaces,
Fire Pits, and Fire Bowls

 

Seasonal and Holiday Fireplace Articles

Halloween Hearth: Treat Your Fireplace to These
Fireplace and Mantel
Halloween Decorating Tricks

 

Thanksgiving Day Fireplace Tradition
 

Before You Hang Your Stockings by the Chimney with Care,
Be Sure Your Fireplace is Santa-Ready

 

Christmas Fireplace Safety
 

Decorating Your Fireplace Mantel
for Christmas: Holiday Photos

 

Decorating Your Fireplace for New Year's Eve and Day
 

Five New Year's Resolutions for Your Fireplace and Chimney
 

A Sweetheart of a Fireplace Candelabra:
A Special Valentine's Gift

 

Decorating Your Fireplace for Springtime and Easter

 

 

 

More Fireplace Accessories Articles and Chimney Cap Articles

FireplaceMall Article Library: Information to help you enjoy and care for your chimney, chimney caps, fireplace, and fireplace accessories

 

More Fireplace Accessories Articles and Chimney Cap Articles

View/Edit Shopping Cart

Home    Article Library    Chimney Caps    OurLinks    Reach Us    Site Map

We accept Discover, MasterCard, VISA, and American Express Credit Cards

Contact Information:
fireplacemall@earthlink.net
Toll Free Phone:
888-8 FIREPL
888-834-7375

We Ship
UPS
Ground

 

© PennVentures Inc.  2001-2008