The new year is here and people are talking about their new year’s resolutions. Maybe you’ve committed to losing weight, eating healthier, or exercising more. While health and fitness goals often take the spotlight – and the gym becomes overcrowded for the next couple of months – we here at Legendary Chimney Solutions have a slightly different focus in mind.
For days when temps are a bit cooler, and people are seeking warmth and comfort indoors, it’s the perfect time to think about home maintenance – especially how to keep your chimney clean. While the winter does bring plenty of opportunities for cozy moments by the fireplace with your loved ones, the dangers of a dirty chimney shouldn’t be ignored.
In this blog, we will cover some of our best tips and tricks in burning cleaner fires and how to properly maintain your fireplace to ensure you’re getting not only maximum warmth and comfort, but also achieving that in an environmentally friendly (and safer) way.
6 Game-Changing Ways to a Better, Cleaner Fire
Thankfully, when it comes to heating your home with a fireplace or stove, it’s not rocket science. You put your wood in, light the kindling, and voila! You’ve got heat! But did you know there are better ways to build your fire, different wood types that affect efficiency, and techniques that help make sure you’re getting the most out of your heating source?
A cleaner fire means it’s producing less emissions, leaving less combustible byproduct in the form of creosote to stick to the inside of your chimney. So here are our best tips on how to produce a better, cleaner fire:
- Prime Your Flue: We don’t often get colder days here in East Central Florida, but when we do, you may need to prime your flue. When the air in your flue is cold compared to the temperature of the rest of the home, the cold, dense air can create a draft that hinders the proper venting of smoke and gases from your home. To warm your flue, simply stick a lit, rolled up newspaper at the base of the chimney to help warm up the air inside of it. This helps establish an upward draft, making it easier to start a fire (and maintain a hot one).
- Burn Only Seasoned Wood: Using seasoned wood, or wood that has been dried for at least six months, will ignite more easily and produce less smoke. Green wood or wet wood has a higher moisture content and will only create more creosote buildup in your chimney.
- Build Your Fire Upside Down: The traditional method of building a fire starts with lighting kindling below a pile of big logs. This method actually releases excessive smoke. By placing the kindling on top and allowing the fire to slowly catch on to the larger logs on the bottom is more efficient, releases less pollution, and results in a longer-lasting and more consistent heat output.
- Keep Fires Burning Hot: A hot fire isn’t just more enjoyable – it’s also cleaner and more efficient. Did you know most harmful emissions come from the start up and cool down phases of burning wood? When you keep a hot fire burning, it ensures that the combustion chamber never cools down. So keep adding more logs periodically to keep the fire burning continuously.
- Invest in Regular Fireplace Maintenance Services: Regular chimney sweeps and inspections (which should be done on a yearly basis anyway), and maintenance services are the only effective way you are going to be able to keep your chimney in the best condition possible. Unfortunately, creosote buildup, blockages, and general wear and tear on your chimney can’t be completely avoided. By investing in a trusted chimney and fireplace service company, you ensure that any issues are identified and addressed promptly.
- Replace Your Old, Inefficient Fireplace: If you’ve tried everything, and still aren’t achieving the results of a clean and efficient burn, it might be time to consider replacing your old, inefficient fireplace or stove. Upgrading to a more efficient fireplace or stove means you will spend less on fuel for the lifetime of your appliance – saving you money in the long run.
Reliable Chimney Cleaning Services in Port Orange, FL
Contact Legendary Chimney Solutions today for chimney and fireplace services you can count on. From routine chimney sweeps and inspections to maintenance services and fireplace upgrades, our years of expertise ensure that your chimney is in top-notch condition year round.
Give us a call today at 386-999-1329 or book your appointment online.
Recent Comments