This is my first time having a fireplace. I need to know the safest and appropiate way to light it. I have small children so I want to make sure am able to do it. Good answers please!
2006-12-08 15:12:47 · 7 answers · asked by TAS 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I'm not sure who will be chosen for best answer. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that responded. All of these answers seem good and informative. Thanks again, TAS.
2006-12-12 06:37:04 · update #1
First you will want to have the chimney and flue inspected by a chimney inspector or sweep,
When you light it in cold weather, make sure you warm the flue first by lighting a small fire (just kindling) for a minute or two before you start the main fire.
For the main fire, start slow with kindling and a small amount of wood, once the fire gets started, add more wood to it.
VERY IMPORTANT that you get the chimney and flue inspected before you start ANY fires in it, though. You could have a fully or partially blocked chimney/flue or one with cracks, or heavy creosote build up which could ignite.
2006-12-08 15:18:28 · answer #1 · answered by me 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the wood is a hard wood, oak, walnut or ash, depending on where you are at. Make sure the flue is open, always check it visually! Kindling can be a pain so personally I always prefered the little white firestarter blocks, they can smell kind of odd though. Walmart and most hardware stores carry another firestarter that is made from wood dust and parafin, it lights real easy and burns long enough and hard enough to catch any wood. Make sure you supervise the children closely around it until they get used to how the heat radiates. My kids were little when I had a fireplace and I never had problems with it......good luck, enjoy the serenity of a cozy fire!
2006-12-08 15:19:53 · answer #2 · answered by WitchTwo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So you don't get a house full of smoke, make SURE the flue is open. Use a flashlight if you have to, to look up there and see. Then crumple up some newspapers lightly and put them under the grate. Put some kindling or pieces of bark on top of the grate and one or two small pieces of log. Don't use full round ones at first, they won't burn as well as split pieces. Light 'er up and when it's going good, then you can put on some larger pieces. If you have a screen, pull it closed so sparks don't pop out onto the carpet. Please don't leave the house with a big fire burning. Don't close the windows on the fireplace, it's much more enjoyable with them open. Enjoy! I love a nice fire.
2006-12-08 15:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by whitefleur369 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when our kids were toddlers, i bought a fireplace screen that totally covered the opening. the three part hinged screens are really unsafe around kids and pets cuz they tip over all the time and theres a big gap at the top where it sticks out from the fireplace. i also attached a sliding bolt lock to the brick on either side of the screen and drilled a corresponding hole in the screen frame on each side for the bolt to slide into. we locked the screen in place every time we had a fire. we had afew close calls--once my son (aged 2) threw a cushion off the sofa into the fire, another time the cat pulled down a garland of artificial pine that we had swagged across the mantle and it started on fire on the hearth.....it was shortly after that that i put the locking screen in place and we never had any trouble after that---we had years of enjoyment around that fireplace, especially at christmas. i would strongly advise getting a solid,one-piece screen that does not have doors, and which fits flush against the face of the fireplace opening, make a mechanism to secure it in place. and please get a fireplace expert to examine your flue and chimney for blockages and creosite build-up before you use it. happy holidays--ps: if you have cats,dont hang anything tempting on the mantle!!
2006-12-08 15:55:03 · answer #4 · answered by mickey 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
actually, with small children a fireplace isn't safe and its not an effective way to heat your home. 90% of the heat goes out of the house. it also is bad for the environment when all that stuff gets pumped into the air from your chimney. a gas insert would actually heat your home and be safer for your kids and would give you the look of a beautiful fire.
2006-12-08 15:17:05 · answer #5 · answered by Eos 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
first make sure you have a fire extinguisher in hand in case of an emergency. then just place a couple of pieces of wood and light..it would be very helpful if you have the fire place tools arround.
If you have trouble strting it add paper betwen the logs.
Keep a very close eye on your kids, you know how kids love fire.
2006-12-08 15:15:28 · answer #6 · answered by Eastpack69 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you use your fire screen, and your flute is opened.
2006-12-08 15:22:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋