How to Ventilate a Fireplace (Video)

Wood Stove Accessories
By: Bobby Hester
eHow Presenter

Learn about proper ventilation when lighting a fire, to make sure the air you're breathing is safe, plus expert tips on how to build a fire in a fireplace, in this free how-to video.


How to Ventilate a Fireplace -- powered by eHow.com

Video Transcript
"Now this particular fireplace has a screen on it but there is different fireplaces where some of them have an actual glass door on here and some of them perhaps maybe like a cast iron fireplace. There are a few other things that you need to think about when you have those, the glass and the cast iron. This one has the oxygen free flow to the fire. The ones that have glass on it, you need to allow enough ventilation that the fire can continue to burn. The great thing about the cast iron and the glass ones is that you can control the ventilation of it. You can shut it down a little bit and it will lock more of that heat inside the fireplace. That way you are giving it just enough oxygen to burn being that the heat stays in there and actually the fire will burn a lot hotter with those applications."

Source: eHow.com
Wood Stove Accessories

How to start a fire in the Fireplace or Wood Burning Stove (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: Anthony Delgado

Having a fire in a fireplace can be a beautiful addition to your home, but it is functional as well if properly prepared. Follow these steps to ensure a simple and safe fire in your home.

Things You'll Need:
- Wood
- Kindling
- Fire starters or newspaper
- Lighter or Matches
- Fireplace tools

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1
Accessories: If you are using a fireplace, be sure to have a screen to reduce the risk of sparks escaping the fireplace. Whether you have a wood burning stove or a fireplace, it's important to have a set of fireplace tools and, if you want, a set of bellows can be helpful.

Step 2
Fuel: The fuel for the fire is two parts. You have to have wood, but you also must have oxygen. In order to ensure good oxygen circulation, use a fireplace grate or andirons and make sure it is cleaned out underneath. The grate or andirons will allow the ash to fall down and the oxygen to rise up into the wood.

Step 3
Kindling: Kindling are small sticks or shards of wood that will light easily. It's best to use these on the bottom as large logs will have trouble lighting without them. Even if you are using fire starters, it is best to use kindling. The fire starters often will not get the whole log lit evenly, which will affect the compression within the stove or fireplace and may, consequently, not generate as much heat.

Step 4
Fire: You can use crumpled paper under the grate to start the fire, however the inks and oils can cause damage to the hearth over time. It's best to use wax based fire starters that will completely burn up and cause very little ash. Start the fire centrally beneath the kindling to ensure that the fire will spread evenly to the log.

Step 5
Compression: If your stove or fire place has an adjustment on the air intake, use it. Once the fire is completely lit, lower the air intake. This will cause compression within it, which will cause more heat to be exhausted into your home and will allow the wood to burn for a longer period of time. A good solid piece of oak can burn all night if set up properly.

Article Source: eHow.com
Wood Stove Accessories

How to Buy a Wood Stove (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: eHow Contributing Writer

Beyond their romantic glow and homey crackle, modern wood stoves produce low-cost heat, and burn cleanly and efficiently, producing minimal ash and smoke. You pick the technology and choose the ideal-size stove to match your heating needs. Buy the most efficient stove you can afford. It'll pay for itself in the long run.

Step 1
Evaluate your home's floor plan to determine where you should install a wood stove. Some stoves can heat an entire house; others work best as zone heaters for the most-used areas. A stove placed in one room will heat adjacent rooms if there's good airflow at the ceiling and floor.

Step 2
Show a dealer a sketch of your home, the area that needs heat, and a description of the insulation surrounding that area. The dealer will help you calculate the proper stove size, expressed in British thermal units (Btus). You'll waste money if you buy too big a stove, and it will either create a smoky fire or use more fuel than necessary.

Step 3
Talk to one or more professional chimney sweeps (csia.org) about the brands you're interested in, and get their recommendations.

Step 4
Understand the technology in catalytic stoves ($1,000 to $2,000). A catalytic combustor cuts normal burn temperatures in half for a slow, controlled fire with the fewest emissions. Look for a castiron or plate-steel stove body 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick and a tightclosing bypass plate 5/16 inch (8 mm) thick. Also look for a design that protects the combustor from direct flame.

Step 5
Consider noncatalytic (recirculating) stoves ($500 to $2,200) for their two-chamber combustion, which injects jets of preheated air into the fire to boost heat and reduce emissions. Look for a cast-iron or plate-steel body 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick. To resist warping, the fire chamber's baffle should be 5/16-inch (8 mm) plate steel with V-shaped supports. These models have no combustor to maintain, but their smaller fireboxes mean you'll have to use shorter logs and load them more frequently.

Step 6
Buy a super-efficient pellet stoves ($1,700 to $3,000) for the cleanest-burning option. They burn easy-to-handle pellets formed from wood waste. A thermostat-controlled auger delivers fuel from a hopper to the firebox. Fans pull air in and exhaust gases out through a house-warming heat exchanger. Pellet stoves need battery backup during power outages.

Step 7
Get toasty warm beside stylish stoves in steel or soapstone. Design options to consider include legs or a pedestal base, colorful porcelain finishes and tile accents. Check out well-known brands such as Vermont Castings (vermontcastings.com) and Hearthstone (hearthstonestoves.com).

Tips & Warning:
- Look for two labels. One certifies that the stove meets Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards; the other lists efficiency range and heat output in Btus.
- Look for standard features including self-cleaning glass, hidden hinges and reversible flues, as well as optional accessories such as fans, gold-plated accents and heat shields for walls.
- Your home's air will become very dry when heated with a wood stove. Combat this with a humidifier or by placing a kettle of water on the stove.
- Ordinances regulating wood stove use vary by city and sometimes within cities. Check the back of the stove for the EPA certification label to see if you comply with local ordinances.
- Dirty chimneys can cause catastrophic chimney fires. Hire a chimney sweep for regular cleanings.

Article Source: eHow.com

Wood Stove Accessories

How to Clean a Wood Stove (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By Mary S. Yamin-Garone

Wood stoves are becoming more popular with homeowners as an economical alternative to the more conventional means of heating. A wood stove also adds aesthetic value to a home. Today's wood stoves are safer and more energy efficient than the old pot-bellied models of the past. They are nearly smokeless, produce small amounts of ash and use less firewood. Cleaning your wood stove regularly keeps it operating safely and effectively. Learn how to clean your wood stove.

Things You'll Need:

- Fireplace shovel
- Wire brush
- Metal container or bucket with lid
- Ladder
- Dust mask
- Gloves
- Flashlight

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1
Find your wood stove's catalytic combustor located between the fire and stovepipes. Look for any ash that may have amassed there from the burning wood.

Step 2
Use a small wire brush to remove the ash. This should be done every 2 months. Remove the combustor, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 3
Remove ashes from the stove with a small fireplace shovel. Put them into a metal container or bucket with a tight-fitting cover. Leave the container outdoors or on a non-combustible surface overnight or until the ashes have cooled before disposing. Cooled ashes can be used on flowerbeds, gardens and compost piles.

Step 4
Inspect the outside of the stovepipe and remove any surrounding debris. Scrape the sides of it with a proper fitting wire brush. Place the brush inside the pipe and move it in an up-and-down motion to get rid of any creosote that may have accumulated. Creosote is the yellow, rancid-smelling, oily matter produced when the gases emitted from the burning wood cool to less than 250 degrees F and turn to liquid.

Step 5
Shine a flashlight into the pipe to be sure all the creosote has been removed. If left inside the stovepipe, creosote can catch fire. Use a fireplace shovel to get rid of any soot or creosote that may have fallen into the stove.

Step 6
Clean the inside of the wood stove's window with fine steel wool once the glass is cool to the touch. If using chemical cleaners, check that the glass is dry before burning again so smoke or dirt is not ensnared in the dampness on the glass.

Step 7
If you've done all this and you still don't feel like it's clean enough, call a chimney sweep.

Tips & Warnings:

- A more thorough cleaning is performed at the end of the wood-burning season. Stovepipes should be cleaned any time there is at least 1/4 inch of creosote buildup.
- Never clean a wood stove while it is hot. Wear a dust mask and gloves when cleaning a wood stove. Burning seasoned or dry wood at a high temperature eliminates excessive creosote buildup. Keep a fire extinguisher close at hand.

Article Source: eHow.com
Wood Stove Accessories

How to Use A Wood Stove Safely (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: delorean88

If you are heating with wood this winter, you'll need to take steps to make your wood stove as safe as you possibly can. Wood stove safety is very important in order to protect your family from Carbon Monoxide poisoning, burns, and fire.

Instructions:

1. Clean the chimney once a season - You'll need to clean the chimney every fall before you start burning wood. Use a chimney brush or hire a professional to remove the built up creosote on the inner chimney walls.

2. Empty the ashes - Clean out the ash tray and ashes in the wood box whenever they are full. You can dump these in your compost pile or garden.

3. Buy fire extinguishers and chimney fire extinguisher sticks - Fire extinguishers are your first line of defense against a home fire. Use chimney fire extinguisher sticks if you have a fire in your stove-pipe. Store both of these items in close range (but not too close) to the wood stove.

4. Buy a carbon monoxide detector and test it once a week - You need to have at least one working Co2 detector in a home with a wood stove. You should buy two or more, and place them in your bedrooms and the room with the stove. Change the batteries at least every six months, even if they have plugs because the batteries operate the detectors in power outages.

5. Don't overheat the stove - Get a special magnetic stovepipe thermometer and attach it to the stovepipe. Don't let the heat in the box go over the safety line. A lot of stove and chimney fires are caused by overheating wood stoves. Don't overfill the wood box. Don't burn anything other than firewood. Plastic, paper bags, clothing, and other flammable materials burn too quickly and overheat the stove, damaging it, causing chimney fires, and possibly burning your house down.

6. Keep kids safe - Give a long lecture about the dangers of wood stoves every year. You children should be able to repeat the dangers of wood stoves to any other children or guests that come into your home. Tell your children never to open the stove box, and never to play with fire. Tell them to never try to start the stove on their own, or attempt to burn anything in the stove. Tell children to never remove anything from the stove, whether it appears to be lit or unlit. If they see a fire, or notice or smell something unusual about the stove, they should tell and adult right away. Tell children to never touch a stove, and warn them about the possibility of getting seriously burned, even when they think the stove isn't hot.

7. Avoid burns for adults, children, and pets - The surfaces of wood stoves can get very hot. So, hot, in fact, that even touching the surface can cause a third degree burn instantly. You should never touch a wood stove or crowd close to it in order to warm up. Keep your distance at all times. Most people don't realize how dangerous the surface of a wood stove is, and how serious falling on a stove can be.Keep a safety line around the stove, and don't let children or pets cross the line. Warn adults about the dangers of touching the stove for any reason.

Article Source: eHow.com

Wood Stove Accessories