Simple as it may seem to some, building a fireplace fire is still considered a daunting challenge by many.
Fireplaces are designed for combustion purposes. Now, a variety of fuel types are used for such combustion. For each type, a different approach is followed in starting a fire.
We’re here to help! If you’ve had difficulties in the past with building a fireplace fire, we’ll show you how to. Apart from starting such a fire, it will need to be sustained and regulated until the heating objective is achieved.
After reading this article, you should have better luck getting a fire started.
How To Light Up A Fireplace
Building a fireplace fire once learned sticks with you throughout your life. In other words, such knowledge hardly leaves you. It’s not surprising why this procedure has become second nature to many.
You should understand that simple as it may seem, certain basic steps must be taken each time such fire is to be lighted.
Fuel Type
When discussing how to build a fireplace fire, the issue of fuel type comes into play. Now, this largely sounds vague until we go further to state how this affects the process of building a fireplace fire.
Fireplace designs are quite varied.
Certain fireplace types are meant to combust specific fuel types. The most popular fuels include firewood, coal, gas, and electricity among others.
Now the difficulty or ease of building a fireplace fire rests heavily on the fuel type.
Gas-powered fireplaces for instance can be ignited by simply flipping a switch. More advanced gas fireplace designs can be started by pressing a remote control button.
For such, not much needs to be done by the homeowner.
However, things can be quite different for other fuel types. Firewood for instance requires more work to ignite than a gas fireplace. Certain basic steps must be followed if you’re to successfully start such a fire.
This section has been necessary to lay the groundwork for further progression in our bid to show you how to light or built a fireplace fire.
Supplies For Building Fireplace Fire
Fireplace fires aren’t started or built in a vacuum. Several supplies are needed to start a fire. These include kindling, extra-long wooden safety matches, and seasoned hardwood.
Others include a grate, newspaper sheets, a lidded ash bucket, a screen, and utensils.
How can these supplies be used? You’re bound to have questions about all or some of these supplies for starting a fire. This is why we’ve provided brief answers for each of these.
You should have no issues having a full grasp of what each is used for.
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Kindling
To build a fireplace fire, you’ll need to have your fire starters ready. So, what are fire starters? They basically consist of small dry wood pieces or even twigs.
A lot of homeowners make the mistake of using flammable liquids to start a fire.
Flammable liquids will normally flare-up. This may result in accidents or combustible materials like curtains catching fire. With kindling or dry wood pieces and twigs, you’re ready to have your fireplace fire started.
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Extra-Long Wooden Safety Matches
One of the things you need to be careful about is your safety.
To build a fireplace fire, you’ll need to use extra-long wooden safety matches. These serve the purpose of protecting your fingers from getting too close to the fire or singeing.
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Seasoned Hardwood
The best firewood for starting a fireplace fire is seasoned hardwood. The best-seasoned hardwood in terms of heat energy includes red oak, apple, birch, beech, white ash, maple, and ironwood.
There are tons of efficient wood fuels in this category.
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Grate
The main purpose of using grates to start a fire is simply to allow air to flow beneath the logs. This supports combustion, thus helping you build a fireplace fire.
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Newspaper Sheets
Your used newspapers come in handy as potential supplies for starting a fireplace fire. However, not all newspapers will serve. Only use uncoated, and non-colored newspapers.
This is because coated and colored papers release toxic chemicals when burned.
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Lidded Ash Bucket
A lidded ash bucket will be needed to clear excess ash in a fireplace. Such a bucket must be metal and have a lid.
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Screen
After building your fire, it’s important to have a protective covering that prevents kids from getting too close. Also, this provision keeps sparking embers from reaching combustible items.
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Utensils
Their basic fireplace utensils to have around when building a fire. They include brush, poker, shovel, and tongs.
Basic Checks Before Igniting Fireplace Fire
Before a fireplace fire ever gets ignited, such a fireplace needs to be checked.
Basic checks must be performed each time to guarantee both safety and a good fire. You’ll need to ensure that no combustible items are too close to the fireplace.
Such combustible items include clothing, drapes, books, magazines, toys, and décor items. Look up your mantel and remove anything that hangs down unnecessarily.
Starting A Fireplace Fire
According to the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG), there are basic fire ignition steps to follow. These include placing 2 pieces of firewood and having your newspaper sheets crumpled and placed in between the woods.
Get your kindling and cover the wood. Additional pieces of seasoned wood (about one to two) should be added.
This should be done in such a way that it allows for easy ventilation. Is the fireplace damper open? Check and have it opened before igniting the fire.
To encourage a good draft in a chimney, you’ll have to light and hold up a newspaper sheet. Hold this as high as you can in your fireplace. Utmost care should be taken to avoid being burned.
Now it’s time to light your kindling. Your burning paper should be used to start such fires. Having succeeded in lighting the fire, more firewood should be added.
Sustaining A Fireplace Fire
Building a fireplace fire isn’t enough. It must be sustained by adjusting the wood and adding when necessary. This periodic procedure helps sustain the fire until the temperature required is attained.
Knowing how to build a fireplace fire isn’t rocket science. Tips on how to start one have been provided here. You can now proceed to try out the process.