Make your own firewood?

If you think you can save a buck by pruning your own trees and burning it, think again. Tree prunings are too green and wet to burn. What about that old painted chair that’s sitting out back? The paint on that old chair is liable to catch like wild fire and flame out the front of your fireplace causing serious damage and smoke.

How should I store my wood?

Store wood outside with a rack to keep it off the ground and keep it from rotting. There is usually no problem with wood stored up to a year. A woodshed with an open front to let the air circulate is also a good idea. Storing outside will also avoid insects from getting into your home.

What is a cord?

A cord is a measurement of neatly stacked and rowed wood that equals 128 cubic feet. The stack measures four-feet tall by four-feet wide by eight-feet long. You can usually purchase wood in increments from an eighth of a cord and up. Be careful about buying wood off some guy’s truck. There is no such thing as a face-cord.

Should I use firewood as an alternative source of heat?

Even with the increase in oil prices, many people balk at the prospect of lighting a fire first thing in the morning before rushing off to work.

What about creosote buildup?

Slow fires occur when not enough oxygen reaches the burning area to create intense flames. Nevertheless, it’s hot. Because a long, slow fire exposes the chimney to intense heat for longer periods than an explosive conflagration, the results can be more dangerous.

The culprit is creosote – a black or brown residue of combustion that collects on the inner surfaces of a flue liner. Creosote is highly flammable. If allowed to build up, it can catch fire, reaching temperatures of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. These high temperatures can crack “fireproof” brick, stone or clay flue liners, allowing heat to reach nearby wood framing and other combustible materials.

Make sure your flue is free of creosote by inspecting your chimney once a year, preferably in late spring or early summer when the heating season is over. That way, you’ll have enough time to complete any repairs before the heating season begins in the fall.

If I inspect the chimney myself, what should I look for?

• Check the firebox for damaged brick and mortar that is crumbling or missing.
• Open the damper completely. It should move freely and fit snugly against the smoke shelf. Use a flashlight to check the damper for cracks, pitting or rusted out sections. Broken or corroded dampers should be replaced by a professional. Look for any debris that may restrict air flow and remove it.
• Check for broken or damaged bricks or flue liners. Vertical cracking in the liner is a sure sign of a previous flue fire and should be considered a serious problem.
• Consult a professional who is familiar with repairs.
• Finally, inspect for creosote deposits. It it has built up to a thickness greater that 1/8 inch, remove it. If you can’t see the entire flue from below, you’ll have to get up on the roof and inspect the flue from above. Don’t get up on the roof unless you are completely confident of your abilities. You may attach ridge hooks to the end of a section of ladder to make a safety ladder that lays flat and secure against the roof surface.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that some 23,600 residential fires were related to solid fuel appliances and equipment in 1996. An additional 5,500 fires were attributed to chimneys and chimney connectors serving heating systems burning liquid and other fuels. As a result of these fires, 130 people died, 230 people were injured, and total property losses were set at more than $184.4 million.