When you own a fireplace, it’s your responsibility to use and maintain it carefully. From hiring a chimney sweep Purcellville VA for regular chimney repair milton fl to knowing the stuff you should never burn, you’ve got to be mindful of a lot of things to make sure your fireplace doesn’t cause any home fire or any other form of harm.
In this article, we’ll be discussing nine things you should avoid burning in your fireplace.
Unseasoned wood. If the wood you’ll burn is not ye seasoned or dried out, it will not burn properly and will create too much smoke. If you continually do this, your chimney will have a smoke and creosote build-up.
Treated or painted wood. Make no mistake about their safe-looking facade. When you burn them in your fireplace, the man-made chemicals it contains can release toxins that are harmful when inhaled.
Ocean driftwood. Similar to treated wood, ocean driftwood can contain chemicals it has absorbed from the ocean. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, burning this wood creates a health hazard you would want to avoid.
Colored paper. From magazines to wrapping papers, experts don’t advise any colored materials to be burnt in a fireplace. The colored ink contains release toxic fumes and can also lead to creosote build-up; the latter you can address with the help of a chimney sweep Purcellville VA.
Plastic. Plastics are generally harmful when burned, more so if you burn them right inside your home. The hazardous fumes they give off will spread across your place, putting you and your loved one at risk of inhaling them.
Coal. Burning hotter than firewood, coal or charcoal can exceed the safe temperature levels of your fireplace. They also produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide, which can be dangerous and even deadly.
Accelerants. These substances like gasoline and kerosene can produce overwhelmingly large flare-ups, which when not controlled can cause a fire emergency.
Clothes. There are several reasons why you shouldn’t burn your clothes in your fireplace. First — it will produce a nasty smell. Second — it can add more creosote to your chimney lining. When not addressed, it can even lead to a chimney fire.
Household garbage. Like burning clothes, burning household garbage in your fireplace can also give off a pungent smell. It can also produce emissions that are dangerous to breathe in. If you have someone who has respiratory issues in your household, his or her health condition may also be aggravated.
Things You Can Burn
While the above-mentioned things are a no-no for your fireplace, it’s also helpful to know what you can actually burn. These include hardwoods that have been seasoned for at least six months, like maple, oak, ash, or birch; manufactured woods that contain no chemical additives; organic fire starters; and papers with no colored ink.
To further guarantee safety, experts advise that you perform both visual and professional inspections regularly. You can also hire a certified chimney sweep Purcellville VA to help you clean and maintain your chimney.
At JCS Home Services, we provide affordable and efficient chimney sweep Purcellville VA services. Contact us today to learn more!
