With the Holidays fast approaching, what better way to enjoy the season than sipping on egg nog while sitting in front of a cozy fire. While gas fireplaces have become the norm for many of today’s home, nothing compares to a real old-fashioned, do-it-yourself fire. Unfortunately, for many people the art of building a natural fire has been lost. Here are some tips that will help you become and expert…and save on the gas and electric bills.
Firewood should be dried for six months to a year to be in the best condition. If the logs are freshly cut, they will burn unevenly, produce a lot of smoke and won’t smell very good.
- If your fireplace has an adjustable damper, open it all the way. Begin by crumpling single sheets of newspaper or other tinder into grapefruit-size balls, or twist them into batons, and place one or two underneath the grate or in between the andirons on the floor of the firebox. Place strips of newspaper on top of this pile.
- Lay pieces of kindling in a crisscross pattern on top of the crumpled newspaper on the grate. Leave spaces between the sticks for air circulation.
- Place a couple od thin, split logs on top of the tinder and kindling. Remember to arrange logs and paper loosely so air can circulate.
- Light the newspaper or other tinder with a long match. Within seconds, the tinder should catch on fire, followed by the kindling. When the fire is established and the small split logs are burning steadily, add two more small logs and one larger log, leaving at least an inch between them so the flame can “breathe”. As the warm air rises up the chimney and into the room, cool air is sucked up into the spaces between the logs, fanning the flames. Don’t overfeed the fire. Placing too many logs on the fire at once can either smother the fire or cause it to blaze out of control. Flames should consume the area immediately surrounding the logs but should not burn more than a few inches above it. Fires that burn too wildly also have the potential to “pop” and emit sparks as well as send burning embers up the chimney and onto the roof.
- A fire will cease on its own provided that you are not adding fuel to it. Leave the fire alone and allow the ashes to cool completely before removing them. Keep in mind that you should never leave a fire unattended.
- Clean up the next day so you will be inspired to start again when you feel a nip in the air!