How to Start a Fireplace Fire
The cold weather is upon us and what is more cozy than sitting by the fire on a cold December night? Today, we’ll go over some steps on how to start a fire in your fireplace. Are you located in the Greater Boston, MA area? Boston’s Best Chimney is an all-service chimney company that has been serving the community for over thirty years. Here are some of the many services that we offer:
- Chimney sweeps
- Chimney inspections
- Chimney masonry work
- Chimney repair work
- Chimney installations
- And more
This includes both residential chimney and commercial chimney work! Don’t hesitate to click here or call (781) 893-6611 to contact our team with questions.
Now, we’ll dive into the steps of how to start a fireplace fire in your home.
First make sure your chimney is clean and free of blockages.- Then open the damper. Make sure to open the damper….all the way! That is the most common oversight and the most important step if you want to avoid keeling over from smoke inhalation.
- Next Prime the flue. When you open your damper, the cold air in the flue will remain idle or even start to flow back into your warm house if there’s enough negative pressure. If you try to light a fire while this is happening, you’re going to end up with a house full of smoke. Warm it up! This is done by rolling up newspaper, lighting it, and hold it up above the damper area.
- When you see the draft reverse, you know the flue is primed, and you’re ready to start your fire. Small hot fires always burn the best.
Weather. Yes, weather does have an effect on draft. You need the cold outside temp and warm inside flue temp for proper draft. At Boston’s Best Chimney, we suggest waiting until a cold day to enjoy your fireplace (32°F or below).
Here at Boston Best Chimney we get plenty of calls about smoky fireplaces and poor draft. Although there are other factors that affect how a fireplace will draft, these easy steps can certainly help the problem.
It’s always a smart idea to get your chimney inspected before you use your fireplace. Haven’t used your fireplace in a while? You should still get annual inspections to check overall condition and to be certain there aren’t any unwelcome guests that may have moved in while it wasn’t in use, in addition to having your chimney swept. Call (781) 893-6611 or click here to contact Boston’s Best Chimney before you light that roaring fire!
Happy heating and fire season!