Tips to Light your Winter Fire

If you have never used a wood burning fireplace, or it has been years since you have, please follow along for some helpful tips!

Before making a fire, pull aside the screen curtains, and place the kindling, newspaper and logs inside. Next, open the damper/flue and your sliding door. The slider door needs to be open only a few inches. You can check to make sure the smoke will go up the chimney properly by lighting a match, quickly blowing it out and watching the smoke to see whether it's going up and out.  The air coming in from the door will go up the chimney preventing your room from filling up with smoke.  Do not open both your slider door and another window or your front door – this will not give the desired effect to keep your family room free of smoke.

Keep a nonflammable rug (available at fireplace supply stores) in front of the fireplace so that sparks won't melt or otherwise damage your carpeting.  Use fireplace tools to handle burning logs.  Never use your hands.  Clean the firebox (the area where the logs burn) at least once a week during the months you use it, when ash builds up. Leave about an inch of ash because it acts as insulation, allowing the coals to heat faster and retain the heat easier. Keep the firebox completely clean during the months when the fireplace is not in use.

Never leave a fire unattended when children are in the house. Adults, even if near, should not allow children to play near or with fire tools and equipment.