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Unfortunately, the reality is that fireplaces have little to recommend them beyond their good looks. They're an extremely inefficient way to heat a home, they create significant pollution, and they're a real threat to both health and safety. Still, if you've got a fireplace in your home, you don't necessarily need to brick it up. Here are some tips on how to enjoy an occasional fire without feeling too guilty (or burning down your house). Make sure that your fireplace has been regularly inspected and cleaned. If you've been burning unseasoned wood or artificial logs in the fireplace, you may have creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire. Check out http://www.csia.org to locate a certified chimney sweep to inspect your fireplace. Having an open chimney in your house is about as energy efficient as drilling a large hole in your refrigerator to make it easier to grab a soda. To reduce heat loss from the chimney when your fireplace is not in use, keep the damper closed. But be sure to wait until a fire is completely out before you close the damper. Don't even think of trying to use a conventional fireplace for home heating. If you want an alternative to oil or gas, consider a forced-air wood-burning or corn pellet stove. An iron wood-burning stove with controlled air intake can work well, too, if your neighbors don't mind the smoke. The smoke from a wood-burning fireplace is full of dangerous particulates that pose a health hazard for you (and your neighbors). Children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with lung or heart problems are at the greatest risk. This alone is reason enough not to make fires a regular practice -- save them for special occasions. Because smoke and emissions from fires are a health hazard, the more you can prevent them from entering the room the better. All fireplaces should have some kind of protective screen. Even better is if you can install tight-fitting glass doors that reduce both the likelihood that toxic gasses will leak into your house and the amount of heated house air that the fireplace exhausts up the chimney. One way to reduce smoke emissions is to be very picky about the wood you burn. Well-seasoned hard wood with very little moisture content will burn best. One way to be sure the wood is well-seasoned is to buy it a year in advance and store it in a dry place with good air circulation before using it. Don't burn newspaper, garbage, trash, cardboard, plastic, plywood, driftwood or wood that is treated, painted or pressure-treated in a fireplace. All of these may contain toxic chemicals that will be released into the atmosphere. Don't assume that dead wood you find in the wild is suitable for burning. Dead trees and fallen timber provide vital habitat for a diverse range of fauna and also play an essential role in maintaining forest and woodland nutrient cycles Photo courtesy FreeFoto.com. Up to Top |
Americans love fireplaces. Homebuilders have trouble selling houses that don't have them. The cheerful fire is an appealing warm and romantic image that reminds us of simpler times.