Soot can be dangerous because its a lung irritant and it can make a mess if it gets into your home, but creosote is the biggest concern. Proper draft is needed to swiftly move the smoke up the chimney and out of your home, but there are some things that can negatively impact draft, like the temperature differences between the inside and outside of the chimney, leaky ducts, the tightness of the home, and the height of the chimney, to name a few. This pulling effect is called draft, and it works the same as the pressure in a water hose. Lets cover some of the basics. reduces the amount of smoke coming into your living space, reduces the amount of creosote settling on your flue walls, and makes it easier for the appliance to operate at peak levels. But how do you increase the efficiency of your woodstove, insert, or wood-burning fireplace? Is there a way to check if your chimney is working? Placing the wood with the ends at the front and back allows the air to mix well with the fuel, instead of only hitting the broad side of the wood as it would if it were placed parallel to the fireplace or stove opening.Step 3: Stack 4-5 slightly smaller levels of wood on top of the first layer. Sometimes these switches or buttons are located to one side of the fireplace, just outside the fireplace doors. Additionally, just like how a water hose can be kinked or plugged, the airflow in your chimney can have a restriction that slows down the smoke flowing up the chimney. We hope you found this info helpful and that it makes enjoying your gas- or wood-burning fireplace a breeze. The shavings at the top should be small enough to light with a single match. Brenner graduated from San Diego's Coleman College. Advantages: These liners are inexpensive, readily available, and perform quite well for open fireplace chimneys that are properly maintained. Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of your chimney. Keep your hearth area clear of combustible materials. You dont have to chop any wood or build a fire. If you cant, its closed. It depends on the type of gas fireplace you have. Brick Trowel What are creosote and soot and are they dangerous? Lay the first firebrick lengthwise in front of you abutted to the left wall flat on the bottom of the fire box. Water Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home and check batteries in the spring and fall. #4 Build a top-down fire and preheat the flue. If theres one thing we want you to take away from this fireplace guide, its that you should always refer to your appliances manual. chimney inside flue lining brick masonry inspection angeles los jamescolincampbell Once your ashes and embers are contained, be sure to store them somewhere away from the home never in a garage or near a deck because theres always the possibility that these could rekindle and reignite. Having a qualified professional look at and maintain your chimney reduces the risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or chimney obstructions. Shoot us an email at office@csia.org. So, read up on your appliance and use it as it was intended to be used. Well, were here to help. To see what a top-down fire looks like, check out this video. You should still schedule annual inspections and chimney cleanings when needed. These bricks will stand perpendicular to the ones laid for the floor of the firebox and line the interior wall of the hearth. If the ash in your fireplace is so deep that its touching the bottom of your grate, it can cause the grate to burn out prematurely. If you feel like youre doing all the right things, but your fireplace or stove just isnt as efficient as youd like, consider an upgrade. 1. When you purchase firewood, youll want to split it and use a moisture meter to check the moisture content inside the wood. Usually, the dirtiest part of the burn is in the beginning stages of the fire, but when you get the fire blazing as quickly as possible, you reduce the amount of unspent fuel that can cling to the interior of the flue or exit the chimney. You can find one in your local area right here. Burn only dry, properly seasoned wood in your fireplace, stove, or insert. The second disadvantage is that flue tiles liners cannot adequately contain the liquid combustion byproducts produced by modern gas appliances, and therefore, cant be used to vent newer gas stoves, fireplaces, or inserts. Can you burn creosote out of the chimney? Why & When Should You Hire a Chimney Sweep? During a chimney inspection, a chimney professional will evaluate your chimney and hearth appliance top to bottom and check for: Inspections typically take no more than an hour, and at the end of that time, youll have a comprehensive report detailing the condition of your chimney and hearth appliance. Well, when youre finished building your fire, there should still be space between the firebox walls and the wood. Plus, this meeting of water and heat could cause the wood to dangerously pop and will create steam that could easily burn you and others close to the fireplace. Once the fire is lit and going strong, you should still be able to see the tips of the flames through the fireplace opening. x 21 in. fireplace inserts insert panels tiled iron cast slip fire Hardwoods (beech, hickory, mahogany, maple, oak, teak, walnut) are denser, so youll get more heat per volume. Brush the joint. Each wood stove will have a slightly different configuration for the firebricks. Soot typically comes down through the chimney because of backdrafts and downdrafts. If you are installing bricks to fit inside a wood stove not meant for firebricks, the best you can do is install the floor area, as you will have no means without welding experience and tools for installing the firebricks on the side wall. If you dont have any baking soda handy, flour can work as well. And one of the easiest ways to ensure your fireplace, woodstove, or insert is operating at peak efficiency and safety is to follow the manufacturers instructions regarding use and maintenance. While there are products out there like chimney sweeping logs that can be used to make creosote flake and fall of your chimney walls or make creosote easier to brush off, they dont actually remove the creosote from the system altogether. We get the question Is it safe to leave a gas fireplace on all night? a lot. Properly store firewood and always season your firewood (or buy it seasoned). How do you reduce creosote and soot production and buildup? Burn hotter fires. Wipe any excess cement from the brick. The easiest way to figure out what you should and shouldnt do with your gas appliance is to refer to your manufacturers instructions or manual. Advantages: If properly installed and maintained, metal chimney liners are extremely safe and durable. #4 Are accelerants like lighter fluid bad for the chimney? The damper should be kept open until your fire has completely died out, and there are no longer any embers and glowing logs. What makes people think either will work to clean the chimney? Some gas fireplaces are designed to rely on a standing or continuous pilot light, which means the pilot light will stay on all year, even in the spring and summer when the fireplace isnt being used. Proud to be the #1 choice among architects, designers and builders since 1989. That said, if youre ever in a situation where you need to remove them before theyve cooled, do so carefully using a sturdy fireplace shovel and a non-combustible container with a sealable lid. 750-Watt/1500-Watt Electric Fireplace Insert with Overheating Protection, Black, 36 in. But while they do typically require less maintenance, there are still some things you need to know. Scourer In fact, having a dirty, plugged-up chimney cap at the end of your chimney is like having a closed nozzle at the end of a hose. Repeat this for the back wall, sliding in the bricks from the right side all the way to the far left back corner underneath the metal flange that holds the bricks in place. All you have to do is turn the appliance on or off. Own a woodstove? Should you remove ash after every fire? There are three main components to your fireplace; thefireboxitself (Modular, Masonry or Metal), the damper /chimney systemand thefire brickliner. Is it bad to burn aluminum cans or salt in your chimney? #1 Follow your manufacturers instructions for use. Common questions around chimney and fireplace use and maintenance, Tips on using and maintaining your wood-burning fireplace, stove, or insert, Tips on using and maintaining your gas-fired fireplace, stove, or insert, Signs of damage, wear and tear, and improper installation that could threaten safe use (like cracked flue tiles, pilot light issues, broken dampers, incorrect clearance from combustibles, etc. Use an old paintbrush and vacuum to sweep the joints clean. Your gas appliance may also have a remote that allows you to turn the appliance on/off, control the heat, adjust the flame, and more. chimney framing pipe triple walton cabin shows where way things For more info on handling ash, check out the video below. Keep your chimney clean and free of excessive creosote and soot buildup. Disadvantages: These liners cannot rapidly absorb and evenly distribute heat during the rapid temperature rise that occurs during a chimney fire. Well, many long, narrow stoves that burn from the front to the back will benefit from the removal of the ash just inside the door. Just total peace of mind. A flue liner in a masonry chimney is defined as a clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.. Supplies Needed: Your particular appliance may be designed for a standing or continuous pilot light, which means you will leave the gas and pilot light on all year. So, how big should your fire be for optimal efficiency and performance? Paintbrush. Thats why we put together this Ultimate Guide to Using Your Fireplace. Here at CSIA, we recommend that you always wait to remove embers and ash until everything has had time to completely cool. So, its still important to have your gas fireplace chimney inspected annually and your gas fireplace cleaned as needed. At Mason-Lite, we want our customers to be able to enjoy their fireplace for years to come. Need Help? Here are a few tips: For more info on carbon monoxide, why its so dangerous, and how you can protect your family against the threat of CO poisoning, check out Carbon Monoxide & Your Home: What You Need to Know. Carbon monoxide is deadly, so its not worth the risk. When youre done, the stack should not go above the fireplace opening.Step 5: Light your fire at the top, NOT at the bottom. When soot is left to build up in the chimney and fireplace, it can cause staining on your homes ceilings, floors, and walls and on your furniture and belongings. For more firewood tips (including how to store your firewood), check out our Ultimate Guide to Firewood. Chimney Inspections: What You Need to Know. If the bricks are all the same size, it doesnt matter which brick goes next. So, what is a chimney liner and why is it so important that you have one? 750-Watt/1500-Watt Black Electric Fireplace Insert, 36 in. If the hearth area was designed to have the wall bricks installed first, then follow the steps listed for installing the firebricks for the wall and then install the floor. But how do you boost your efficiency levels even more? Watch this quick video to learn what types of things a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep will check when they inspect your gas appliance. #7 Schedule routine inspections and cleanings. Scrape out the loose mortar. Place the brick that fits next to the one previously laid. Of course, you dont want to leave ash in your fireplace too long. An inspection is great because its affordable, its informative, and it takes the guesswork out of the equation. Many new wood stoves come with the firebricks in a separate container to make the wood stove easier to install without the added weight of the bricks. Creosote is highly flammable its basically composed of unburned wood particulates and it can easily cause a chimney fire that destroys your flue liner and spreads to other areas of your home. Buying a House: Why Do You Need a Real Estate Inspection? The easiest way to remember is to check the batteries when youre changing the clocks for Daylight Savings Time. If repairing a crack, work the cement well into the area, removing any excess. Remove the firebricks from the package and sort them by size. For factory built fireplaces with installed fire brick panels, contact the Fireplace Manufacturer for instructions on replacement/repair. Mason-lite Prefabricated Firebrick Panels come in two classic designs a full running bond and a split herringbone, with a new split running bond design coming soon. Heres a quick rundown of each and their advantages and disadvantages: #1 Clay tile liners are the most common type of masonry chimney liners. Complete this row working from right to left. Lets first talk about what you should NOT do. This form of creosote is highly flammable and needs to be removed right away. Gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts are by nature more efficient than open hearth masonry fireplaces. While a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep can evaluate your chimney and recommend any corrective action needed for proper draft and flow, there are a couple of things you can do to improve draft and flow as well: In the 1940s and again in the 1980s, masonry chimneys were tested by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) for durability, due to rising concerns about their performance and safety. Yellow flame logs require venting (hence why theyre often called vented logs), while blue flame logs may be approved for use without a venting system. Some chimneys will accumulate soot and creosote buildup faster than others, depending on how often the appliance is used, the type of wood burned, the efficiency level of the appliance, and other factors. The tests revealed that unlined chimneys were so unsafe that researchers characterized building a chimney without a liner as little less than criminal.. Atlanta, GAAustin, TXCamarillo, CACharlotte, NCCorona, CADallas, TXHouston, TXPhoenix, AZ. Its also a cleaner burning fire, which means youll get very little smoke. If you have third-degree or glazed creosote in your chimney the hard, shiny form of creosote dont wait for 1/8 buildup to schedule a sweeping. There should be space between the wood and each of the fireplace walls, and your firewood should never be stacked to the top of the fireplace opening. When you burn wood in your fireplace or stove, theres one thing you can be sure of: youll be left with ash. Electric Fireplace Insert with Overheating Protection 750-Watt/1500-Watt, Black, 22 in. The moisture content of your firewood should be somewhere between 10-25%, no more. open fires chimney liners installation If the flames are going up into the chimney, youve built a fire that is too big. Even if you grew up with a fireplace in your home, theres always more to learn about how to properly use, maintain, and enjoy your fireplace. Black Electric Fireplace Insert with Overheating Protection 750-Watt/1500-Watt. Follow the pattern to finish out the floor of the fire box, working from the front to back. If you want your fireplace, stove, or insert to provide lots of heat and little smoke, the best thing to do is burn only dry, properly seasoned wood. That said, there are some signs you can keep an eye out for that could signal your chimney is damaged or has other issues that need to be addressed. CSIA. What Is a Chimney Inspection & Why Do You Need One Every Year? #3 How much wood is too much wood? The use of real firebrick in our panels gives you a genuine masonry firebrick lining for your Mason-lite Fireplace. If you can see all the way up the flue to the top of the chimney, then the damper is open. H 750-Watt/1500-Watt Electric Fireplace Insert with Overheating Protection, Black, 43 in. Stand the remaining firebricks on end lengthwise to fit under the angled ridge to hold them in place along the interior wall. #1 What type of firewood should I use? Many have great EPA ratings and provide cleaner burns, which means more heat, less smoke, and a guilt-free fireside experience. Use your fireplace, stove, or insert as designed. Creosote is dangerous because of its flammable, corrosive properties, and if its left to accumulate in your chimney, it can cause a chimney fire and cause damage to your flue liner.