Keep the Home Fires Burning Without Setting the House on Fire

When cold weather hits, it's time to budget for higher electric or gas heating bills. Others will lay in a supply of coal. But many people will be using the cord of wood they bought last summer to heat their homes, either with a woodstove or fireplace or other wood-burning heating device.

If you're using a wood-burning device, there are steps you can take to ensure that your wood fires will be safe ones even if you've already begun using your woodburner for the season.

Up to Code?
The first step is to make sure that your woodburner has been installed properly in the first place. Most places have strict codes regarding the installation of wood-burning devices, and with good reason. If you're not sure whether or not your device has been inspected, contact the proper authorities in your area to make sure.

Start at the Top
Assuming installation is correct, begin each season by starting at the top. This means chimney and roof care. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are about 45,000 chimney fires each year. So many of these could be prevented with proper maintenance and cleaning of the chimney.

Look around your chimney. Are there dried leaves or pine needles on the roof? If so, time to get out the push broom and clear the roof. Are there limbs overhanging the chimney area? Prune them away.

Get a Professional Inspection
Whether you have a metal or masonry chimney, begin with a visual inspection, preferably by a professional, so that the gases and smoke from your fire will vent as they should.

On a masonry chimney, look to see that the spark screen and rain cap are nice and tight (remember, winter weather can be intense!). Make sure there are no cracks in the bricks on the chimney. If there are, make sure you repair them properly. Hiring a professional allows them to check creosote levels, for example, if your clearances are up to code, if the clean-out door is on tight, if the flue liner is not damaged, and that there are no obstructions in the chimney, such as nests that birds so often build there.

For factory-built metal chimneys, the rain cap and spark screen should be secure. The chimney braces should all be securely attached to your building. Check all fasteners. There should be no signs of corrosion. If you find some, replace the corroded portions with new materials. Is each section of the chimney secure? If not, secure them immediately. If any cracks are present, do not use your woodstove until they have been professionally repaired.

A professional will also be able to double check your clearances, that the wall pass through is installed and meets code, that the chimney is adequately supported at the bottom, and that the stovepipe is free of creosote. Creosote can become a problem if not cleaned out. It can ignite if it builds up. You can reduce your likelihood of building up too much creosote by not burning unseasoned wood and by avoiding slow smoldering, smoky fires. It can also vary based on the kind of heating unit you have, the type of chimney, and the draft. If there is more than 1/8- to 1/4-inch creosote buildup, it's time to clean. Though there are some chemical creosote cleaners on the market, they can only help in reducing the total amount of creosote. They will not replace a thorough cleaning.

Wood Burning Safety Indoors
Once sure that your heating unit is in perfect working order and clean for the upcoming season, there are other safety precautions to take around the stove or fireplace itself.

First of all, watch what you burn. Use only seasoned wood and kindling. Never use flammable liquid to start your fires, such as gasoline, lighter fluid, or kerosene. Though it may be tempting, never burn wood that has been treated, plastics, or other garbage. Not only can they emit poisonous fumes into your home and into the air outside, but they can cause corrosion in the heater, vent and chimneys. Watching what you burn can extend the life of all parts of your wood-burning system.

Make sure there is an adequate clearance of flammable materials around your stove or fireplace indoors. There must be floor protector under and all around your wood stove or fireplace. This is to ensure that hot ashes, sparks, and coals do not land on flammable flooring surfaces, such as wood, carpet, or linoleum. Not only does the floor protector keep your floors from catching fire, but they also provide a stable base for a heavy woodstove. Nonflammable materials such as stone, brick, or even prefabricated floor protectors are available in many home improvement stores, but check your local codes before installing.

Remember not to clutter the area close to your wood stove or fireplace with magazines, newspapers, dry kindling or other combustible items. Backpacks wet from the rain can quickly dry and ignite, clothing hung over fire screens can also catch fire, for instance. Even Christmas stockings and garlands have caught fire when hung on the mantel over the fireplace.

Start educating children early about staying away from and playing around the stove or fireplace. Since very young children are extremely curious, the parent is responsible for making sure the area is blocked from them via enclosures made of wrought iron or glass inserts. When visiting homes without these enclosures, supervise young children at all times.

Part of educating older children in the safe use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces is teaching them how to use fire extinguishers, and then have them around. Purchase UL-listed extinguishers that are the right type. Make sure the family knows where they are, that they are charged, and that they know how to use them.

A more recent safety device that is great for homes burning wood is a carbon monoxide detector. This measures the air inside the house and goes off if the carbon monoxide levels are too high. Use as the manufacturer recommends and at recommended intervals in your home.

Finally, an adequate number of working smoke detectors is essential. Many people test theirs every time they turn their clocks back or ahead. No home should be without them. Once your wood-burning system has been inspected, and safety concerns have been addressed and rectified, then you can look forward to a worry-free, cozy season of home-warming wood heat.