Does it hurt your fireplace to burn christmas paper and cardboard boxes?

Question

I need to know what i am not suppose to burn in my fireplace. My daughter just moved in and she has been burning cardboard boxes and christmas wrap, also she sawed the tree in half. Is it safe?

Answer 1

The problem with burning all that stuff is it builds up sooty crud on the chimney. If you don't mind inspecting it and cleaning it often, okay, but it isn't a very good idea. The flames are too big; it cruds up the chimney . . . . sounds like a chimney fire waiting to happen.

Answer 2

Cardboard Christmas Fireplace

Answer 3

Cardboard Fireplace

Answer 4

Paper and cardboard has a tendency to burn much hotter and quicker than wood (for which you fireplace was designed). You may damage you fireplace as well as cause a chimney fire. The creosote buildup in the chimney could ignite by the higher temperature flames going up the chimney. Also, a lot of these wrappers contain plastic - a definite problem for chimneys. The plastic melts and the fumes condense on the insides of the chimney, making it a further danger (it could also clog the chimney). When I was a kid we used to throw garbage like that in our wood stove. One day the house started filling with smoke. I went up on the roof and looked in the chimney and saw that a layer of this black gunk that had built up inside the chimney had collapsed and was clogging the chimney. One other problem is that paper products, especially cardboard make a lot of "blow ash" which is often still burning. These burning embers blowing all around could ignite something outside your house. My dad told me of when he was burning papers or cardboard in their woodstove when he was a kid and a spark landed on their shake roof and caught fire. The house burned to the ground. Beyond that, many municipalities have regulations about what comes out of your chimney and you could get a stiff fine.

Your best bet is to flatten the papers and recycle them or just throw them in the garbage if you don't have recycling in your area. Burning this kind of stuff could cost you dearly.

Answer 5

We used to do this all the time when we had a real chimney. Made of stone. Huge fire. You could hear it roar up the chimney.

That is why you probably should not do it now. If you have a prefab fireplace like in most homes it will get too hot and start a fire.

Of course if you are looking to collect on your insurance then go right ahead.

Answer 6

It's not recommended to burn those things unless you burn them in small quantities along with a regular wood fire. In other words, don't just put a bunch of paper and cardboard in there and light it up. That could cause a fire and will definitely not do your flew any good as it will expand it too fast and crack it, therefore ruining your fireplace. Build a regular fire and just burn a few pieces at a time...

Answer 7

fireplaces are for burning hardwood for heat or a supply of natural or propane with gas logs.
it is not your burn pile, try doing that outside or just put it in the trash can.
u dont put oil in you auto radiator just because it is a liquid do u?
dont take chances like that or she may be looking for a new place after that one burns down.

Answer 8

Yes, most definitely, it burns to hot and fierce. Rip it up and use a little at a time otherwise it will get the liner to hot and crack it. Then you'll be ripe for home fires.

Answer 9

Nope burn bodies in mine and its crud free no just kidding but its ok to burn paper and stuff seriously

Answer 10

No it is perfectly ok! The fire will keep burning just dont put alot of alot of wood in it.