Energy-Efficient Chimneys: Tips for Better Heating  

As the winter months approach, the chill in the air warrants additional heat. With the cost of heating your home continuing to increase, you may want to take advantage of a secondary heat source such as your fireplace. Keeping your fireplace and chimney well-maintained will allow you the comforts of an efficiently burning fireplace. To get the most efficiency from your fireplace, follow these simple tasks. 

The wood you choose will make the difference

When choosing wood to burn in your fireplace, take into consideration the following:

• First, how seasoned is the wood? Wood should be seasoned for at least six months, up to a year. Dry wood will burn hotter, helping to eliminate additional creosote from accumulating in your chimney. 
• Second, always choose the hardest wood yo u can find. Professionals suggest oak, hickory, or maple.

Get your chimney ready for the flame

Your chimney has been sitting with cold air in and up the chimney. You open the damper, light the fire, and the smoke billows into the room. The cold air pushes the hot air from the fire back down the chimney. Your chimney needs to be primed. Roll up a few sheets of newspaper and make a torch to allow your chimney to get warm before you light the fire. Allow enough time for the chimney to warm. You should see that the smoke is going up the chimney from the torch.

Let your wood come to room temperature

While sometimes you need to run out to the shed to get additional wood for the fire, try to think ahead and have wood on hand. Allow the wood to sit for a while in the house to get it to room temperature. Cold wood takes longer to start.

Keep the fire enclosed

Consider installing glass doors on the fireplace. Keeping the fire contained behind glass doors while it smolders will help retain the warmth in your home. 

Close the damper

When the fire has been put out and it cools down, close the damper. This will keep the warm air in and the cold out.

Be the first to call Burlington Fireplace to schedule your annual cleaning and inspection before the burning season. A clean, well-taken care of chimney helps with its efficiency. Obstruction from debris or small animals nesting in your chimney can cause chimney fires. Cleaning creosote from the chimney annually will also prevent chimney fires. 

Your first defense to running an efficient fireplace is by keeping a schedule for your annual cleaning.

Call Burlington Fireplace today to set up your chimney cleaning.

We are a full-fledged, family-owned, and operated fireplace and chimney company proudly serving Southeastern Wisconsin since 1995. Fireplaces are our life, and we try our best to help everyone out with simple questions, all the way to specifics of design and installation. We truly enjoy meeting and helping out each of our customers and would very much appreciate the chance to bring warmth and comfort to your home. We will be happy to meet with you.