Fireplace - How to use and know if its clean or not?

Question

My girlfriend and I just moved into an apartment with a fireplace. The guy renting it to us said the previous renters just recently had it cleaned. How much does it usually cost to get it cleaned? How often does it need to be cleaned - is there a way I can tell if its too dirty to use? How do I use it? Thanks so much for your help!

Answer 1

If it's an apartment, the landlord should accept the responsibility of having it ceaned. After all, it's his place that's in jeopardy.

Take a flashlight and look up (damper opened of course) and look at the flue. An inch or two of gunk isn't bad. If there is more gunk than open space, that IS BAD.

Only burn hardwood (oak, etc.) Never burn softwood (pine, fir, and especially not ever any pressure treated wood). Also, ash (the wood, not the stuff) is worthless, so don't let anyone ever sell it to you.

How to use it? Wow... first, make sure the damper is open before you do anything. Put your kindling on the grate starting with the littlest twigs, then maybe some bigger pieces, then your actual split logs... Make that a triangular pile.. two pieces on bottom with space between them, one piece on top with split side down. Some crumpled newspaper underneath the grate should be your starter.. light that, and the rest should ignite.

Since you don't sound like you've ever been a boy scout, might wanna check out 'firestarters'. They're available in stores, or 'fat-lighter' (pine tree deep roots with lots of flammable sap)

If the fireplace doesn't have glass doors, be sure there is at least a mesh screen in front of it. Embers WILL try to fly out, and your initial instinct when it lands on the carpet will be to grab it. Sounds insane, but that is what it is.

Also, remember that unless you have glass doors on it (or it's a woodstove, all closed in) that you're gonna lose more heat than you gain, so it's more of a romantic thing than an energy thing.

NEVER close the damper when you THINK the fire is out... it's not. If you're only going to use it occassionally, wait at least 15-24 hours before you close it. Check to see if it's safe by running your fingers near the ashes... any heat... DO NOT CLOSE DAMPER!

Cleaning costs: Since you say it's an apartment, are you on the first floor or the 30th floor? You're going to be liable from the roof down. (that's why I say landlord should assume responsibility).

I've only had fireplaces in single or double story homes in NC. Double story, last I checked ... ten years ago... was about $200. I've since moved to Florida and swore on the Bible that I'd NEVER tote another piece of firewood.

Answer 2

Ideally you check it from the top by removing the spark arrestor and either shine a good size flashlight down or reflect the sunlight onto the walls. You can check from underneath but you have to be able to see up the pipes.

If the fireplace is used often in a season, then clean every year--also have to factor in the wood being used. Soft woods are cooler burning than hardwoods. Hardwoods don't produce as much creosote.

Cleaning is easiest from the top with the proper size brush and long fiberglass handles that screw onto one another for length. A receiving bag is placed at the other end (remove a pipe section near the stove to allow the bag to be attached. Brush down to the bag. It's rather fun and quick...and clean.

The dirty part comes cleaning the section you removed (do this outside!!) and then clean up inside the stove and into the pipe. Usually a filtered shop vac will be enough. Very, very dirty job.

Cost varies greatly, depending on access, how steep the roof, how long the pipes, access to the apartment. Here prices start around $75 for an easy one story house with good access.

As to if your's should be cleaned..........when in doubt, do it. Chimney fires are dangerous.

Answer 3

It's wise to get it cleaned and inspected once a year, just for safety's sake. How much it costs depends on who you hire and where you are. Check with some of your neighbors and see what they paid.

If you look up inside the chimney, you'll see a lever, and when you move the lever, it will open and close a barrier inside the chimney. That's the damper - you want that OPEN whenever you have a fire going, CLOSED whenever you don't (but wait until all the embers are cold before you close it). Make sure that you have a fireproof grate or screen in front of the fire (because a cloth or wood grate is only for decoration and you don't want it catching fire) and that it completely covers the opening. This means you don't get lots of sparks and coals spilling over the safe zone in front of the fireplace and catching your floors on fire. And make sure kids and pets are kept well away from the fire!

There's a lot more info on wood fires in the link below, but those are the big ones.

Answer 4

I'd check with apartment management and ask for proof the fireplace was recently cleaned. The normal charge in my area is 100.00 for a chimney sweep. If you have less than 20 fires per season, have it cleaned every 2 years. For daily fires, it should be cleaned yearly.

Enjoy!
Issy

Answer 5

Ask to see a bill! When you burn wood, creosote (it looks like sticky black dust) builds up on the chimney walls. Because it still contains hydrocarbons, it's extremely flammable. because it's powdery, it's subject to sudden explosions. Run a long brush or old mop up there. If you wind up with blackface call a pro and ask him.

Answer 6

If you are burning good seasoned hardwood you should have it cleaned on a yearly basis, never burn pine or soft woods as they will add excess creasote to your chimney and this will cause a chimney fire.

Answer 7

Here are some helpful tips. We used to have a wood-burning stove in our basement with a chimney and we followed these tips and never had a problem.

Enjoy!!

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_tips/article/0,,HGTV_3206_1531586,00.html