The Ultimate Guide to Using Your Fireplace Properly & Efficiently

So, how do you increase draft and flow in your chimney?

While a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® can evaluate your chimney and recommend any corrective action needed for proper draft and flow, there are a couple of things you can do to improve draft and flow as well:

• Keep your chimney clean and free of excessive creosote and soot buildup.
• Burn hotter fires. Hotter air is lighter, so it has more pull. You can burn hotter fires by using properly seasoned (dry) softwood when you build your fire.
• Make sure your chimney liner is properly sized for your appliance and free of damaged areas that could cause friction.
• Increase the height of your chimney (except when the chimney is already so tall that frictional forces negate the effect of the extra height). Given the same amount of pressure, a larger pipe can carry a greater volume of water than a smaller one. The same is true for chimneys – with the same amount of draft (pressure), a larger flue will exhaust more smoke from your fireplace than a smaller one.

Do I Need a Chimney Liner?

In the 1940s and again in the 1980s, masonry chimneys were tested by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) for durability, due to rising concerns about their performance and safety. The tests revealed that unlined chimneys were so unsafe that researchers characterized building a chimney without a liner as “little less than criminal.”

So, what is a chimney liner and why is it so important that you have one?

A flue liner in a masonry chimney is defined as “a clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.”

Although building codes vary from one state or locality to another, the installation of flue lining has been recommended since the early part of this century, and indeed, most fire codes now mandate liners.

Chimney liners serve three main functions:

• To protect the house by preventing heat transfer to combustibles. In the NBS tests mentioned above, unlined chimneys allowed heat to move through the chimney so rapidly that adjacent woodwork caught fire in only 3 ½ hours. Simply having a well-maintained and properly installed chimney liner can prevent this heat transfer and reduce your fire risk.
• To protect the masonry from the corrosive byproducts of combustion. In the NBS tests, it was also determined that if the flue gases were allowed to penetrate the brick and mortar of the chimney, the result would be a reduction in the useable life of the chimney. Here’s why: Flue gases are acidic in nature and literally eat away at the mortar joints from inside the chimney. As the mortar joints erode, heat transfers more rapidly to nearby combustibles and dangerous gases (such as carbon monoxide) can leak into the living areas of the home.
• To provide a correctly sized flue for optimum appliance efficiency. Modern woodstoves and gas or oil furnaces require a correctly sized flue to perform properly. The chimney is responsible for not only allowing the byproducts of combustion a passage out of the house, but the draft generated by the chimney also supplies the combustion air to the appliance. An incorrectly sized liner can reduce draft and lead to excessive creosote buildup in wood-burning appliances and carbon monoxide production with conventional fuels.

There are different types of chimney liners out there. Here’s a quick rundown of each and their advantages and disadvantages:

#1 Clay tile liners are the most common type of masonry chimney liners.

Advantages: These liners are inexpensive, readily available, and perform quite well for open fireplace chimneys that are properly maintained.

Disadvantages: These liners cannot rapidly absorb and evenly distribute heat during the rapid temperature rise that occurs during a chimney fire. What this means is that the flue tiles will crack and split apart in a chimney fire, allowing heat to transfer to nearby combustibles. (Check out the video below to see how quickly this can happen.) The second disadvantage is that flue tiles liners cannot adequately contain the liquid combustion byproducts produced by modern gas appliances, and therefore, can’t be used to vent newer gas stoves, fireplaces, or inserts.

#2 Metal chimney liners, usually of stainless steel or aluminum, are primarily used to upgrade and repair existing chimneys.

Advantages: If properly installed and maintained, metal chimney liners are extremely safe and durable. Stainless steel is suitable for wood-burning, gas, and oil-fired appliances, while aluminum is an inexpensive alternative for certain medium-efficiency gas applications only. It is usually required that high-temperature insulation be used in conjunction with metal liners for safety and performance considerations.

Disadvantages: Metal liners are considerably more expensive than clay flue liners.

#3 Cast-in-place chimney liners are lightweight, cement-like products that are installed inside the chimney to form a smooth, seamless, insulated passageway for flue gases.

Advantages: Cast-in-place liners can improve the structural integrity of aging chimneys and are permanent liners suitable for all fuels.

Disadvantages: These liners can be challenging to install and cost can be a deterrent.

Tips on Safely Putting Out a Fire in Your Fireplace

#1 How long does a fire last in a fireplace?

Depending on the fire you’ve built and the appliance you’re using, your fire may burn anywhere from 2 ½ hours to 7+ hours. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how many consecutive hours your particular appliance is designed to be used.

#2 Can you go to bed with embers in the fireplace or with a fire in the fireplace?

You should never go to bed with a fire or burning embers still in the fireplace. For your safety, your fireplace or stove should never be left unattended. So, before you go to bed or leave the house, always fully extinguish the fire first.

#3 How do you safely put out a fire in your fireplace? Can you pour water in a fireplace?

So, it’s getting late and you’re ready to hit the sack, but the fire’s still going in the woodburning fireplace. How do you safely put it out?

Let’s first talk about what you should NOT do.

Do NOT pour water in your fireplace. When that water hits the logs, it will create a cool shell on top of the logs in the fireplace, but it won’t fully saturate and extinguish the fire. Plus, this meeting of water and heat could cause the wood to dangerously pop and will create steam that could easily burn you and others close to the fireplace.

Now, what SHOULD you do?

To put out a fire in your fireplace, spread out what’s left of the embers and logs using a poker, and pour some baking soda over the embers and wood until the fire is sufficiently smothered and extinguished. If you don’t have any baking soda handy, flour can work as well.

How Can I Make My Wood-burning Fireplace, Stove, or Insert More Efficient?

Everyone wants their fireplace to be more efficient – because increased efficiency means more heat, less fuel needed to obtain that heat, and fewer flammable creosote deposits. But how do you increase the efficiency of your woodstove, insert, or wood-burning fireplace?

Follow these tips:

#1 Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for use.

Each prefabricated fireplace, stove, and insert is designed and tested by the manufacturer to be used in specific ways and under specific conditions. And one of the easiest ways to ensure your fireplace, woodstove, or insert is operating at peak efficiency and safety is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding use and maintenance. So, read up on your appliance and use it as it was intended to be used.

#2 Burn only properly seasoned wood.

When you burn wet wood in your appliance, heat output will suffer, appliance performance will suffer, and you’ll see greater smoke and creosote production. That’s because, to get the fire going, your appliance will have to remove all that moisture – resulting in wasted BTUs and a lot of smoke and particulates.

If you want your fireplace, stove, or insert to provide lots of heat and little smoke, the best thing to do is burn only dry, properly seasoned wood. The moisture content of your firewood should be somewhere between 10-25%, no more.

For tips on choosing and storing firewood, check out the Ultimate Guide to Firewood.

#3 Build a fire that’s just the right size.

If the fire is too big for your fireplace, stove, or insert, your chimney will have a hard time removing the smoke created by the fire, and you’ll see a decline in appliance performance.

So, how big should your fire be for optimal efficiency and performance? Well, when you’re finished building your fire, there should still be space between the firebox walls and the wood. Additionally, you should never stack wood higher than your fireplace opening.

Once the fire is lit and going strong, you should still be able to see the tips of the flames through the fireplace opening. If the flames are going up into the chimney, you’ve built a fire that is too big.

#4 Build a top-down fire and preheat the flue.

Earlier we talked about how to build a top-down fire. Not only are these types of fires easier to get going, but they’re also better for appliance performance and efficiency. Usually, the dirtiest part of the burn is in the beginning stages of the fire, but when you get the fire blazing as quickly as possible, you reduce the amount of unspent fuel that can cling to the interior of the flue or exit the chimney. That means less wasted wood, less smoke, and less creosote buildup.

Building a top-down fire will also work to preheat the flue before the fire really gets going, which again:

• reduces the amount of smoke coming into your living space
• reduces the amount of creosote settling on your flue walls
• and makes it easier for the appliance to operate at peak levels

You can also preheat your flue the old-fashioned way – roll up a piece of newspaper, light the end, and hold it up inside of your flue for a moment or two.

#5 Leave a little ash in your firebox.

Leaving a little ash in your firebox can also boost efficiency by insulating the fireplace and encouraging the hot coals to reflect their heat back into the fire instead of into the fireplace floor.

#6 Consider an upgrade.

If you feel like you’re doing all the right things, but your fireplace or stove just isn’t as efficient as you’d like, consider an upgrade. Newer woodstoves, inserts, and fireplaces are much more efficient than traditional open hearth masonry fireplaces and woodstoves of old. Many have great EPA ratings and provide cleaner burns, which means more heat, less smoke, and a guilt-free fireside experience.

You’ll also find great features on newer appliances – like temperature control and blowers, for more evenly distributed heat throughout your space.

#7 Schedule routine inspections and cleanings.

Lastly, if you want your hearth appliance to continue operating at peak efficiency and safety levels, keep up with routine inspections and cleanings. Every wood-burning fireplace, stove, and insert should be inspected on an annual basis and swept as needed. Find a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep® for the job right here.

Own a woodstove? For a few quick tips on properly operating your woodstove at max efficiency and performance, check out this video from our Director of Education, Russ Dimmitt.

Are Chimney Sweeping Logs Okay to Use in a Wood-burning Fireplace, Stove, or Insert?

While there are products out there – like chimney sweeping logs – that can be used to make creosote flake and fall of your chimney walls or make creosote easier to brush off, they don’t actually remove the creosote from the system altogether.

So, while there’s no harm in using these sweeping logs, remember that they’re not a replacement for a professional chimney sweeping. You should still schedule annual inspections and chimney cleanings when needed.

Check out this video from our Director of Education for more information on why you need to have your chimney swept on a routine basis, even if you use chimney sweeping logs.

Additional Safety Tips for Burning Wood

Before we wrap and move onto gas fireplaces and hearth appliances, let’s cover a few more safety tips for wood burners.

• Schedule annual chimney inspections and cleanings as needed. Having a qualified professional look at and maintain your chimney reduces the risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or chimney obstructions.
• Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of your chimney.
• Install a chimney cap to keep debris, rainwater, and animals out of your chimney.
• Properly store firewood and always season your firewood (or buy it seasoned).
• Keep your hearth area clear of combustible materials. Furniture should be at least 36” from your fireplace or woodstove.
• Use a fireplace screen to catch flying sparks that could ignite or burn holes in the carpet or flooring or injure pets and children.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home and check batteries in the spring and fall. The easiest way to remember is to check the batteries when you’re changing the clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
• Never leave a fire in your fireplace unattended and always supervise children and pets closely around woodstoves and fireplaces.

How to Properly Use Your Gas Fireplaces, Stoves & Inserts

Gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts have become incredibly popular through the years, and we know why. They’re easy to use, they’re efficient, they’re clean-burning, and they make great heating appliances for on-the-go folks who can’t be bothered with stacking and storing wood and building and stoking fires.

But while they do typically require less maintenance, there are still some things you need to know. Let’s cover some of the basics…

How Do You Use a Gas Fireplace?

The great thing about gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts, is that they’re pretty easy to use. You don’t have to chop any wood or build a fire. You don’t have to load fuel. And when you’re ready to head to bed at the end of a long night, you don’t have to wait for the fire to die out or worry about extinguishing it. All you have to do is turn the appliance on or off.

The specifics here will vary from appliance to appliance, but typically, a gas fireplace, stove, or insert can be turned on/off with the simple touch of a button or flip of a switch. Sometimes these switches or buttons are located to one side of the fireplace, just outside the fireplace doors. Your gas appliance may also have a remote that allows you to turn the appliance on/off, control the heat, adjust the flame, and more.

For all the basics on operating your appliance, refer to the manual that came with your fireplace, stove, or insert. If you can’t find it, you may be able to find what you need on the manufacturer’s website – so do a quick online search.

How Do You Adjust the Heat Setting & Flame Height on a Gas Fireplace?

You may be able to adjust the heat setting and flame height for your gas fireplace, stove, or insert right from the remote control, if it came with one. If you don’t have a remote, there may be a concealed knob for each setting either in the front of the fireplace (look for a flap near the bottom of the fireplace facing) or beside the gas logs.

Again, refer to your manufacturer’s instructions. A lot of manufacturers will also have great videos on their website that can walk you through the different features of your particular fireplace, stove, and insert and how to use your appliance.

How Do You Turn the Pilot Light On?

Some gas fireplaces are designed to rely on a ‘standing’ or ‘continuous’ pilot light, which means the pilot light will stay on all year, even in the spring and summer when the fireplace isn’t being used. Other gas fireplaces are designed so that the pilot light will automatically light when the fireplace is turned on. And in still other cases, the pilot light may need to be turned off/on seasonally.

The best way to know which type of gas fireplace, stove, or insert you have is to check your manufacturer’s instructions. This is also where you’ll find detailed instructions on how to turn on the pilot light for your particular appliance if it is off and does not rely on automatic ignition.

Is the Pilot Light Supposed to Stay on in a Gas Fireplace?

It depends on the type of gas fireplace you have. Your particular appliance may be designed for a ‘standing’ or ‘continuous’ pilot light, which means you will leave the gas and pilot light on all year.

How do you know if you should leave the gas and pilot light on? Reach your manufacturer’s instructions. The manufacturer’s instructions serve as the Bible for your appliance, telling you everything you need to know about safe and proper use and operation.

And of course, if you schedule annual inspections and routine service with a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®, they’ll be able to tell you what’s appropriate for your appliance and even take care of turning the pilot light on/off if needed as well.

Is It OK to Leave a Gas Fireplace on All Night?

We get the question ‘Is it safe to leave a gas fireplace on all night?’ a lot.

Here’s our answer: No matter what type of fuel your fireplace, stove, or insert burns, you should NEVER leave it unattended. That means, no leaving it on overnight.

With a gas appliance, you don’t have to worry about logs rolling out and causing a fire or smoke pouring into your home, but what you do have to worry about is carbon monoxide.

If something went wrong and your heating appliance started pushing carbon monoxide into your air supply instead of venting it up through the chimney, you might not hear the carbon monoxide detector if you were asleep.

And because carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, you could reach lethal levels of exposure without you even noticing anything was happening.

Carbon monoxide is deadly, so it’s not worth the risk. Always turn your gas fireplace, stove, or insert off before heading to bed.

How Can I Make My Gas Fireplace, Stove, or Insert More Efficient?

Gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts are – by nature – more efficient than open hearth masonry fireplaces. And if you’re following manufacturer’s instructions for use, you should be getting a lot of good heat with minimal waste from your appliance.

But how do you boost your efficiency levels even more?

• Upgrade. If you have an older gas appliance and feel like it’s not as efficient as you’d like, it may be time for an upgrade. Newer appliances are more efficient than older gas appliances, and most have thermostats that make it easy to set and maintain the desired heat output for the space they’re in.
• Use and maintain the blower. If your gas appliance has a blower, make use of it! The blower can work to evenly distribute heat, so you can more efficiently heat your space. Of course, you’ll need to make sure your blower stays in great working order. You can easily do so simply by investing in annual inspections and routine service. Find a pro for the job right here.

Is It OK to Close the Glass Doors on a Gas Fireplace?

If there’s one thing we want you to take away from this fireplace guide, it’s that you should always refer to your appliance’s manual. Gas fireplaces are designed to be used in specific ways and tested under specific conditions. The easiest way to figure out what you should and shouldn’t do with your gas appliance is to refer to your manufacturer’s instructions or manual. If they recommend that you leave the fireplace doors open when your gas fireplace is in use, leave the fireplace doors open. If they recommend the doors be closed, keep them closed.

Does a Gas Fireplace Chimney Need to Be Cleaned?

A lot of people assume that because gas appliances burn cleaner than wood-burning appliances, their venting systems don’t need to be cleaned. But while soot and creosote are not really issues with gas appliances and chimneys, dust, pet hair, insects, and other debris can build up and cause performance problems in these systems.

Likewise, chimney blockages can still occur, and if the carbon monoxide produced by the appliance can’t swiftly vent through the chimney, you and your family could be exposed to this toxic gas.

So, it’s still important to have your gas fireplace chimney inspected annually and your gas fireplace cleaned as needed.

Watch this quick video to learn what types of things a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep® will check when they inspect your gas appliance.