With the prices of heating fuel and electricity ever increasing, more homeowners are resorting to burning wood as a way to allay heating expenses. But many people do not know how to burn wood efficiently in this day and time. Building a fire seems to be a lost art in some parts of the country as we have gotten used to having instant heat when we desire it. We simply turn up the thermostat a little if we are chilled and stand closer to the nearest heating vent. How spoiled we are!

But there are those among us who look forward to the time when we can build a fire in the fireplace or stove, to be able to stare into the flames and feel the warmth and ambience of this age old ritual. Nothing else will cheer up a room better than a crackling fire with the flames reflecting from every shiny object. If you are such a person, you may like to know more about seasoning wood and building a proper and safe fire.

One of the most important aspects of building a proper fire concerns the wood being used.  Using well seasoned wood is vital to achieve a good efficient fire which will warm your home and soul.  If you purchase your firewood from a public wood lot you may be satisfied with the way it is seasoned.  But in my experience it is a gamble whether the wood is dry enough to burn.  If the wood feels unusually heavy, it is probably too green to burn efficiently, that is, it will not give off as much heat as seasoned wood and it will clog your chimney or flue with creosote. 

Creosote is caused by excess water being turned into steam by the heat of the burning wood.  This steam, along with unburned chemicals in the wood, condenses on the inside of the chimney or flue because the walls  of the flue or chimney are cooler than the smoke.  Over a period of time these chemicals will build up and become a fire hazard with a chance of causing a chimney fire.  Once this fire starts, the air rushing up acts as an updraft and burns hotter and hotter.  In order to slow this dangerous cycle down you must close the baffle in the chimney or flue enough to smother the fire.  Be prepared for smoke to back up into the room if you have to do this.  Cooling the fire down with small amounts of water will help but don’t dump lots at a time or you may cause the brick or metal to crack.

This is why it is so important to use dry seasoned firewood if possible.  If you can’t use all seasoned firewood, clean your fireplace or stove chimney regularly.  There are also fire logs and chemicals you can purchase which helps keep creosote buildup down.  Steel brushes with extendable handles can be found online and in many building materials suppliers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot.  I cannot overemphasize this part of enjoying a fire in your stove or fireplace.  Safety is first and foremost in any situation in which a wood fire is utilized.

If you are fortunate enough to cut your own firewood try to allow enough time for it to season before it is to be used.  Splitting the firewood at the time of cutting allows it to dry quicker by exposing more wood surface to the drying elements.  Stacking the firewood in the “log cabin” method, that is, two pieces down, two pieces across the end, and so on until the stack is at the desired height, allows the air to circulate between the pieces of firewood and speeds drying.

There is a method of shortening the drying time of drying firewood if you live in an area with plenty of sunlight.  Using the aforementioned “log cabin” method of stacking the firewood, create  the desired length and width of stacks and cover with clear plastic leaving each end open with enough plastic left to close completely.  On sunny days place a fan on one end so the air blows through the combined stacks and out the other end.  On rainy days or at night it helps to close the flaps so the damp air doesn’t reach the firewood.  This will cut the seasoning time down by a considerable length.

Enjoy your nice warm fire and the wonderful atmosphere it provides.  By using well seasoned firewood you can avoid most problems associated with wood burning fireplaces and stoves.  For thousands of years we have depended on this type of heat and comfort and we still do today.  Be warm and safe!