INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE FOR WOOD FIREPLACES
Wood fireplaces are the focal point of one home. Installation of an ideal wood fireplace system (appliance, chimney, and vent) gives pleasure. An ideal wood fireplace will not produce smoke on leaking cold air and odor when not used. Sometimes installation of a wood fireplace causes dissatisfaction among users due to smoke and backdraft. When installing a wood fireplace, you should get proper clearance between wood-burning appliances, venting systems, and combustible material. Then they produce more heat and reduce wood consumption. Wood-burning fireplaces need a maintenance guide to take care of work safely. If you are using a fireplace and not maintaining it, it emits carbon monoxide that causes death, or you can lose everything in a house fire. That is why we are putting some guides below that will help you maintain the wood fireplace in your home.
Installation of Wood Fireplaces
Follow the simple steps for installing wood fireplaces.
Choose The Right Location.
You should choose the right location for wood fireplaces to warm your home and give you comfort, and you can sit with family members, friends, and guests. Keep the wood fireplaces away, so they cannot harm you with fire flames. It should be away from furniture because it may catch fire. If wood fireplaces are your primary heat source, then fix them in the central location so they will warm the home.
Plan for Firewood
When installing a wood fire system, you should also plan for firewood because a lot of wood is needed to warm the home. You can fix your wood fireplace in front of your home so you can easily bring the wood from outside.
Replace the Floor
Your fireplace wants a space to sit on, and it should be hard, smooth, and made of material that would not catch fire easily. Use hardwood, concrete, brick, and fireproof material to avoid flames and sparks jumping onto the floor.
Get the Permits
While installing a wood fireplace, you need a permit from relevant authorities. A permit is required if you sell your home and they alter the structures like walls, roof, electrical work, and work with gas lines.
Create Vent Hole
Start by cutting a hole in the interior the size of the vent pipe. Install chimney pipe in the interior of the home. A vent is a great option than wires, and be sure the hole reaches the home's interior.
Install Vent
It is easy to protect walls from vent pipes by installing fire stops using screws and adhesives. You can connect the vent pipe to the firestop. The external cover should be added as the final piece to both internal and outdoor walls. To seal the minor holes cover is used.
Frame the Fireplace
You select a more everlasting and desirable look when all things are done. You should use wood for decorating the frame than concrete work. When it is done, then paint it and do other decorations.
Test Your Fireplaces
It is the main step of wood fireplaces to test whether your fireplace is working. Check in the morning whether the vent pipes are working properly.
Maintenance Guide for Wood Fireplace
You can maintain wood fireplaces by the following process.
Clean the Interior of Wood Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces provide ambiance to the home, but they produce ashes of wood that create a mess in a chimney and should be cleaned regularly. Cleaning wood fireplace looks clean and produces more heat. Sprinkle the wood ashes on plants; it will be beneficial for them and use a dust mask during cleaning.
Install Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms
Wood fireplaces provide comfort and coziness to homeowners, but on the other hand, they emit smoke and poisonous gases that harm health. A clogged chimney and vent system can create carbon monoxide issues. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless; that's why it can't be detected. It's better to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure the safety of you and your family members. Sometimes, when a lot of dirt accumulates and blocks the chimney system, smoke can enter the home and create hazardous effects.
Remove Soot and Creosote Buildup
Wood-burning fireplaces create the creosote after burning wood or if the wood is not properly dried and stored. These residues of wood create chimney obstruction and fire. On the other side, soot is a harmful byproduct and is softer than creosote. Wood-burning residues create fireplace issues, so it is better to remove them professionally.
Use Right Wood
The wood fireplace is the main step to using the right wood for the fireplace. It would help if you bought seasonal hardwood like oak, maple, birch, and steer clear wood from cedar and pine. Use seasoned wood because they are 20% less in moisture. Cut the large wood logs into small pieces. Hardwood gives you more heat and burns longer, but they are costly and produce less creosote than softwood.
Install a Blower and Heat Proof Glass Door
Adding a glass door blower to your wood-burning fireplaces makes them safer, more efficient, and easy to use. Glass doors protect you from sparks of flame from falling in the room, but they can protect your child or pet from being close to the heat. It's not difficult to clean and maintain the heatproof glass door; you have to take damp newspaper, dip it into the ashes, and wipe it with the dirt of the glass. Also, installing a blower will produce more heat and cover a large space.
Hire Professional Chimney Cleanup
Even when you burn seasoned wood fireplaces that are dry and have less moisture, creosote will accumulate in the chimney and the chance of fire increases. You should hire a professional chimney cleaner at the end of the year to prevent creosote buildup. It is a difficult task if you can do it yourself; chimney profession lists can do it better.
Safety precautions
When installing a fireplace, ensuring safety is part of the responsibility.
Keep the furniture and inflammable carpets away from the hearth.
Use proper tools for cleaning the wood fireplaces.
Never leave the fire unattended when you are going outside or sleeping.
Always hire a professional chimney sweep once a year..
Conclusion
Installing and maintaining wood fireplaces is not easy. It can be easy for you to make the right decision at the start. Everyone wants a warm and cozy home during winter, but it's not easy to set up. You must follow the installation and maintenance guidelines before setting up wood fireplaces. Guidelines like choosing the location, vent system, best wood quality, getting the permits, and managing space to store the wood are kept in mind. Also, always follow the maintenance guide for wood fireplaces, like yearly cleanup of the chimney, and don't use wet wood; it creates smoke that is hazardous to health. Wet wood creates soot and creosote buildup in the chimney that blockage the way of smoke and enters the room. The above article provides guidance on maintenance and installing wood fireplaces that would help you maintain your wood fireplaces in your home.