When the season arrives for firing up your indoor or outdoor fireplace, stove or fire pit, it can be tempting to burn things in them other than the appropriate fuel.
You may reason that anything that can be burned outside can also be thrown in a fireplace, but the truth is there are several reasons why certain fuels are suggested for particular fireplaces and stoves; burning things other than approved fuels can result in health concerns for your and your family or guests, or damage to your chimney.
Burning trash, such as painted or treated wood, or paper with colored ink, can result in toxic fumes being released, posing danger to those in your household and possibly causing corrosion in your chimney. (Even if paper doesn’t contain colored ink or bleach, it also carries a risk of sending flying embers out into the room, posing a fire hazard.)
Using accelerants to get the fire going is not a short cut you want to take; kerosene, lighter fluid or starters for grills have the potential to cause unsafe flares in the fire. They can also cause the fire to heat to extremely high levels, which can increase fire risk and also cause damage to your fireplace. Likewise, if you’ve used dryer lint to start fires in the past...it’s a habit you should break. It might seem like a practical way to use it up, but remember that lint is made up of a number of materials...not all of which are suitable for burning.
Never burn plastics in your fireplace; they can release toxic chemicals like hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, dioxins, and heavy metals into the air. These can pose a danger to your and your family, and can also be harmful to the environment.
Cardboard and manufactured wood, like particle board, or plywood, also contain chemicals that you don’t want to burn and release into the air.
Finally, even if you understand that your wood-burning fireplace or stove should only be used to burn wood, remember that all wood isn’t created equal. Wet or unseasoned wood has a high concentration of water, which means that it won’t produce as much heat for your home. What will it produce? Excess smoke. Not only is that not pleasant for you, it will result in more creosote build up in your chimney.
Using the correct fuel for your fireplace, whether that’s properly seasoned wood or pellets (for a pellet burning stove) is the best way to get the most out of your fireplace, keep your family and guests safe, and keep your chimney in the best shape possible.
Tired of figuring out ways to get and season wood? Convert your wood burning fireplace to gas, and trade in the hassle of stocking wood for the ease of a cozy fire at the flip of a switch. Call us today at (405) 447-4200 if you need guidance about what to burn in your fireplace for optimal performance and safety, or if you’d like to update your existing fireplace.
