If you need assistance, please call 858-345-9040

Lighting a Fire in Your New Fireplace

Monday, January 29, 2018   /   by Sean Zanganeh

Lighting a Fire in Your New Fireplace

Lighting a Fire in Your New Fireplace

As the weather chills, snow falls and socializing moves indoors, what could be more inviting than a warm cup of cocoa in front of a bright crackling fire? If your new home has a wood fireplace, here are some basics on fireplace care.

Hire a chimney sweep

Not just characters in Mary Poppins tales, chimney sweeps are professionals trained to protect your fireplace and your home from damage, debris and hazards. Certified chimney sweeps inspect your fireplace for damage to the brickwork and mortar, cracks in the tile flue liners, blockages such as bird, raccoon or squirrel nests, a build of leaves, soot, creosote and other potential causes of house fires and smoke damage.

  • Hire a chimney sweep before you light the first fire.

  • If your certified chimney sweep suggests repairs to your fireplace or chimney, do not ignore their advice.

  • Have your chimney inspected at least once a year.

  • Make sure smoke alarms are working correctly and have fresh batteries. You should have a smoke detector on every level of your home, inside each bedroom and outside the sleeping area. All alarms should be connected so that when one alarm is triggered, they all sound.

  • Test your carbon monoxide detector. If you do not have one, get one installed.

  • Install a chimney cap to keep birds and small debris out of the chimney and fireplace.

  • Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. Not only does this keep debris from falling into your fireplace, it keeps the heat from escaping through the flue.


Property lit fires

Once you know your fireplace is safe to use, learn how to light a fire. While you may find several "sure-fire" ways to do the job, make sure to follow all safety procedures when doing so.

  • Open the damper.

  • Prime the flue. If your chimney is on the outside of the house, you'll need to warm it up before lighting the fire to avoid smoke descending into the room. If your fireplace has a gas pipe, turn on and light the gas for a few minutes until the flue warms and you feel the air drafting into and up the chimney before you add wood to the fire. If you do not have a gas starter, here are instructions for safely priming your flue.

  • Experts suggest building an "upside down" fire for a cleaner, longer lasting fire. To set up your upside down fire, stack larger fuel logs on the fire grate. Place smaller logs on top of these, and then place kindling and twigs on top of the stack. Lastly, top of your fire with balls of scrunched up newspaper or other tender. Light the fire from the top. As the paper burns, the smoke will exit the chimney while the paper lights the twigs and kindling. As the kindling forms coals, it will like the smaller logs and they in turn will light the larger logs.

  • Allow an ash bed to form under the grate. An inch or two of ash insulates your fireplace and keeps the fire burning hotter. However, don't allow too much ash to build up, since that will dampen your fire and make it harder to light the next time.


Stay safe and warm

Enjoy your new fireplace, but stay safe as well. If you need recommendations for a professional chimney sweep, let us know.

Compliments of Virtual Results
My San Diego Dream Home
Sean Zanganeh
12750 High Bluff Dr, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92130
858-345-9040
CA DRE# #01851910

This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. You should rely on this information only to decide whether or not to further investigate a particular property. BEFORE MAKING ANY OTHER DECISION, YOU SHOULD PERSONALLY INVESTIGATE THE FACTS (e.g. square footage and lot size) with the assistance of an appropriate professional. You may use this information only to identify properties you may be interested in investigating further. All uses except for personal, non-commercial use in accordance with the foregoing purpose are prohibited. Redistribution or copying of this information, any photographs or video tours is strictly prohibited. This information is derived from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) service provided by San Diego MLS. Displayed property listings may be held by a brokerage firm other than the broker and/or agent responsible for this display. The information and any photographs and video tours and the compilation from which they are derived are protected by copyright. Compilation © 2023 San Diego MLS.
This site powered by CINC: www.cincpro.com