What are some tips for burning real wood in my fireplace?
First, make sure your fireplace damper is fully open. If the damper is not fully open, smoke and carbon monoxide from the fire will vent into your home. Also, it is important that you not “over-fire” your fireplace. The first fires in your new woodburning fireplace should be small. If your fireplace has a gas starter, preheat the flue before arranging the logs on the grate. To do this, light a long match or lighter and set it just above the holes in the gas starter. Next, turn on the gas valve (located on the wall on either side of your fireplace). The gas should ignite in a few seconds. If your match or lighter goes out before the gas ignites, turn off the gas, wait a few minutes and start the procedure over. Once the fire ignites in the fireplace, let it burn for about 10 to 15 minutes to preheat your flue. After the flue is preheated, turn off your gas and arrange your logs on the fireplace grate–leaving sufficient space between them for combustion air to flow properly. Once your l
