How to Use a Fireplace for the First Time
Using a fireplace for the first time doesn't have to be difficult especially with a little preparation and some logical steps, you will be well on your way to enjoying a toasty fire in your hearth. Safety precautions and issues must be met beforehand to ensure safe operation of your fireplace. The kindling you use must be perfectly dry and combustible such as dry twigs and sticks to ensure a glowing warm fire. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Check the chimney for animal nests and bird's nests. Often animals and birds will nest in unused chimneys and these nests have to be removed before starting a fire in the hearth. When nests are present smoke will back up into the home, having no other way to vent.
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Ensure the chimney has been swept and is free of creosote and soot build-up before starting a fire in the hearth. A chimney fire may burn down a home or at the very least crack the chimney brick due to the extreme temperatures of the resulting fire.
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Install a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector before you use your fireplace. Open fireplaces need more oxygen for combustion and with new homes' tighter construction, the required oxygen may not be available. Ensure there is enough oxygen in your home by opening a nearby window for adequate ventilation.
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Buy a safety screen to place in front of your fire to use as a spark arrestor and to prevent red hot coals from straying onto the carpet or hitting combustible furniture that may happen to be nearby. Install a fire extinguisher in the same room as the fireplace to use in emergencies.
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Prepare to light your first fire. Screw up approximately six double sheets of newspaper loosely and place them on the grate. The grate is the raised iron slatted object present in your hearth. The grate is raised to provide maximum oxygen under the combustibles that you use to start your fire. On top of the screwed up newspaper, place several handfuls of sticks that are about the width of your finger.
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Open the damper of your fireplace. This is an iron "flap" located just inside your chimney that has to be opened before you light the fire. The damper will usually pull down to open and push up to close. Proceed to light your first fire in your fireplace by lighting the newspaper. You will notice that the dry sticks catch fire easily. When the sticks are glowing red, add a few larger sticks to keep the fire going. Keep adding larger sticks until you have a bed of coals. Place a small log lightly on the bed of coals so that you don't accidentally put out the fire.
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Place the fire screen in front of the fire to prevent a fire hazard. Ensure that small children and pets stay away from the open fire to prevent accidental burns. Ensure the fire is attended at all times and put out the fire if you leave the home.
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Tips & Warnings
Dryer lint wads make good fire-starters. Always use dry kindling to start a fire successfully.
Never store combustibles such as logs, fire-starters, sticks or paper near the fireplace. Never use gasoline to start a fire.
