Comments on: Any suggestions how to start my fireplace that is neither gas or electric?

By: seamstress

seamstress — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:00:59 +0000

First, your fire place should be inspected prior to lighting any fires. The flue should be cleaned of all creosote and to be sure no critters have nested in the flue if there was no chimney cap atop the chimney. Inspection is very important to protect the house from catching fire. After you are certain the chimney is safe, do a draft test. Open the damper. Roll up a newspaper, not too tightly. Light the paper on fire and hold in the firebox like a torch. This should cause an upward draft and show you that the chimney properly vents up the flue. Now you are ready for a real log fire.

After the inspection and draft test is complete, you are ready to begin. First, make sure there is a metal grate in the firebox. This is a raised metal grate which keeps the logs off of the floor of the firebox. On the metal grate, place a generous layer of crumpled up newspaper. On top of that, cris cross about small 8 to 10 branches (kindling). Then, add a layer of small logs. Light the fire by catching the paper on fire. The kindling will begin to burn. Without disturbing the fire too much, gently place larger logs on the burning kindling by allowing some air space between the logs for the flames to come up and lick the logs to catch them on fire. Then add more logs going in the other direction. Or, you can cheat and get a fire log at the grocery store for about $4.00. All you do is place the fake log, still in the wrapper on the grate inside the fire box and light the corners of the outer wrapper and you have an instant fire for three hours. Do not touch the log because it will fall apart and not burn as long as it should.

I sometimes save an empty paper milk carton to use as a fire starter because those cartons have a layer of wax on them and they burn really hot and make a great addition to starting a speedy fire.

Always have a fire place poker so you can move the burning logs as you add more logs to the fire.
You always have to think of safety first. Never begin a fire unless you have a fire extinguisher in the house. Move stored logs away from the fire. Do not have a rug up against the hearth. Use common sense. Have a fireplace screen so it catches hot embers from poping logs.

If you can find pine cones that have been dipped in copper sulfate, they make a fire turn really pretty shades of blue and orange.

I am not a pyro, but I have been using wood stoves and a fireplaces for more years than I care to admit here.
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By: M.Fitzey

M.Fitzey — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:21:59 +0000

u need to make the fire with broukets newspaper and logs and/ or wood and then put 2 or 3 lit matches in it also make sure the chimney is clean / clear b4 lightning the fire!
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By: mswnana

mswnana — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:55:59 +0000

Get some kindling wood (little, small pieces of wood) and put underneath the larger firewood, get that burning and it will catch the larger wood on fire. You can buy long matches to use for fireplaces. I lived in Southern California for two years near the beach and they always said it was always warm, but that breeze was always cool to me.
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By: «ѕαŋ∂єєק»

«ѕαŋ∂єєק» — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:37:59 +0000

place some firewood in it and light it
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By: Pilgrim

Pilgrim — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:09:59 +0000

You’ve got it. It’s not rocket science. Put the wood on the rack, open the flu and light the fire.

If you want the heat, you’ll want a cinder screen. If you just want the ambiance, you can close the glass doors.

Close the flu when you’re done to keep cold air from coming into the house through the chimney.

We have a fireplace but can’t use it. We live in the People’s Republic of California where burning wood in the fireplace is against the politburo’s rules.
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