Your fireplace can be a source of enjoyment for many years. Few things in life can compare to the simple pleasures of siting around a cozy fire all snuggled up and felling warm and content. Fire safety is important to keep in mind all year around, but can be even more important this time of year when many have large flammable objects in the center of their living rooms. The fire safety administration encourages you to practice fire safety when burning your fireplace. The following steps will help keep your home and love ones safe through the holidays and beyond.

     Have your fireplace inspected by a certified masonry professional. An annual inspection by a masonry specialist should be about ( $35.00 ) in this area and many times can be free. Have your fireplace cleaned regularly to avoid dangers creosote buildup , that could cause a chimney fire of over 2000 degrees, cracking your flue liners or catching your house on fire. Check the fireplace at the top for obstructions such as bird nests or overhanging branches. Look for sign of water damage, loose brick, moss growing in joints.

     Always use a fireplace screen or glass door when burning your fireplace. Sparks from a fire can shoot out over ten feet causing damage to your carpet, hardwood or worse. If you are burning your fireplace with the glass doors open be sure to close the fireplace screen on your doors. Special fireplace retaining screens  can be found to keep your children or pets at a safe distance away from harm.

     When building your fires never overload the fireplace with to muchWood. Start with a smaller fire that catches quickly and burns safely,adding more wood as needed. Make sure that the fireplace damper is wide open and remain open before lighting that first match, never close your fireplace damper while their is any flame or hot ash still alive in your firebox. Never burn charcoal in your fireplace. Burning charcoal give off a deadly carbon monoxide gas that can kill you

     When choosing firewood  a well-seasoned firewood is recommended. It will be generally darker on the ends with visible cracks and splits, making it relatively light. It will be easy to start and produce more heat and burn a cleaner flame. this will reduce the amount of buildup in your flue liners and create a safer burning fire. Green wood will have high levels of moisture in it ,making it hard to start with less heat, Try to find a hard wood that has been dried for at least six months  and properly stored. Cleaning your chimney at least once every year will go along way in decreasing dangers formation of creosote buildup.

     Keep your fireplace in good working condition will pay off in increased  safety and efficiency. if you notice any lose or missing brick or moss growing on top of the fireplace crown, your fireplace is being damage by water. This happens when water enters the masonry through small cracks. Water damage can be stoped and repaird easily when the problem is found early, Water damage if let go can deteriorate your fireplace to the point that it is unsafe to use.Lose or missing flashing can cause water problems to roofs, ceiling and walls, all costing money to repair or replace. ( FREE ) safety inspection  www.timwmasonry.com

Filed under: Fire safety by Tim Wheeler
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When temperatures drop, few activities can top snuggling in front of a warm and cozy fireplace.  One of the best wood burning fireplaces ever designed is a Rumford fireplace.  Count Rumford was born in Woburn Massachusetts in 1753.  He became very well known and widely read in his own lifetime.  As a high ranking Bavarian government official he received the title of Count Rumford.  He is primarily known for the studies he did on the nature of heat were he detail his improvements on fireplaces.  So let experience the art of building a fire in your Rumford fireplace.

To start, choosing well seasoned wood is important in more then one way.  With the use of seasoned wood your fire will catch easier and burn cleaner.  Since your Rumford fireplace are quite a bit larger and taller you can build your fire without a grate.  Start by laying the fire:  Put a sheet of newspaper against back of the firebox, then add some longer kindling 15 to 18 inches long and 1 inch in diameter.  Next lean four or five logs on end right against this cylinder of kindling, making them all pointing up toward the center of the throat, just like a tepee.  No grate will be needed with your Rumford fireplace.  You can build your fire right on the bottom of the firebox.  In fact the fire burns hotter and cleaner when you do.  This way you keep more of the smoke and gases in the flame, and most of it will burns up and produce less smoke and pollution.  This will also maximize your radiant heat output.

Before you go any further “Open the damper”.  Place some newspaper on the top the logs and light it, this will heat up the flue and get the air in going up and out.  Next light the paper in the kindling bundle.  As your fire starts to burn you can add a little more paper or kindling as needed.  After a few minutes you may want to adjust the logs or add one or two more, just remember lean them up against the back of the firebox like a tepee.  A tepee fire will fall in on itself as it burns, and rarely needs to be tended.

Now sit back and enjoy the cozy warm fire in your Rumford fireplace and thank Benjamin Tompson, The Count of Rumford for whom the fireplace was named. In 1790’s his Rumford fireplace became state of the art worldwide and remains so to this very day.

Filed under: Masonry Info by Tim Wheeler
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