by Nathan Hook

Created on: December 15, 2008   Last Updated: January 12, 2012

So, the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful, right? Well, not always. Many people like the "idea" of open fireplaces, and during the winter they can make a wonderful addition to the ambience of a room, producing both warmth and a pleasant lighting effect. However, poorly maintained fireplaces and user inexperience can mean that potential warm glow is more of a smoky nuisance and potentially, a health and fire hazard.

Aside from the importance of a clean flue which allows smoke to escape properly, the type of wood you use in the fire is probably the most important factor to producing a safe and hot fire. Not all woods burn equally and generally hard woods which have been seasoned for 1-3 years are the best. Seasoned wood is wood that consists of no more moisture than the air around it. Hard woods, like most oak, are better since they generate significantly more heat than soft woods such as pine. The greater the heat, the greater the warmth and the more efficiently an open fireplace can operate.

Wet or unseasoned wood will tend to smoke, generate significantly less heat and also spit and spark. It is the moisture in wood which contributes to the build up of creosote on the walls of the flue and it is inadvisable to even mix it in with dry wood. If the fire isn't hot enough, then the smoke and gases from the fire will flood the room more easily since there is insufficient heat to draft it up the chimney. Cold air sinks - you can sometimes feel it as you open the flue, flooding down the chimney - and it can act as a barrier preventing smoke and gases from escaping properly.

For safety and efficiency, the wood should always be burned on a grate of some kind that appropriately fits the size of the fireplace and raises the wood off the brick or concrete base. Not only does this allow the base of the fire to breathe more efficiently, but also prevents significant damage to the fireplace. A good grate will have a small lip which helps prevent large logs from rolling out a frightening event but the way in which you arrange the logs is also crucial. Be careful to stack the wood in a way which prevents cylindrical logs from rolling out of the fireplace in the first place. A criss-cross pattern can be quite effective, since it both increases the length of the flame and provides a stable base to carefully place additional material.

To assist in containing any errant pieces, which can spit or roll from the fireplace, a fire screen is a must. The most common will use a steel mesh which does not interfere with the heat throw from the fireplace, can catch spitting objects or sparks, and allow you to see the fire as well. A heavy weight is generally better for safety, so as to avoid children easily moving it, and stop an errant log accidentally knocking the screen down. You must ensure the screen is wide enough to fill the width of the fireplace otherwise sparks and objects ejected from the fire may still find their way onto the floor. Combine the fire screen with a good set of fireplace tools, including a long poker and a grasping tool, which will allow you to proactively set logs in place during burning. Suddenly, you'll find that maintaining a delightful fire will be a piece of cake for all in the household to enjoy.

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