Tips on a Wood-Burning Fireplace Indoors

Blockage

• A chimney blocked by a buildup of creosote or soot is a potential problem that is easily avoided. Your best bet is to have a professional thoroughly inspect and clean it, both before and after the wood burning season. It's not a bad idea to frequently inspect the chimney visually throughout the winter as well, especially if you suspect that a buildup is causing problems with venting smoke from the house. Keeping the flu or chimney clear of obstructions is the secret to using an indoor fireplace.

Wood Type

• Hardwoods, like maple, oak, ash and birch, might be more expensive than other types of wood, but you should seriously consider using them exclusively in your fireplace. These hardwoods burn hot and long and tend to cause less of a creosote buildup. If cost is an issue, softwoods can certainly fill the bill; just be sure to inspect your chimney more frequently in case it needs additional cleaning. Keep in mind that smoke pouring into your house is not normal, no matter what type of wood you're burning.

Liner

• Fires get hot, and sometimes they get very hot. You can create an additional level of safety in your indoor wood-burning fireplace by adding a stainless steel liner to the fire box. The peace of mind might be worth the price alone. No matter how hot the fire gets, you will have no worries about hot ashes or embers burning through and causing trouble. Also consider installing doors on the fireplace to prevent embers from being ejected into the room.

Considerations

• If smoke does begin to accumulate inside your home and you're sure the chimney is clean, check that the damper is actually open. You can also greatly increase the efficiency of your wood-burning fireplace by installing a fan to circulate the heated air throughout the room and home. Remember that the byproduct of burning wood is ashes so you should regularly clean the ash receptacle below the grates that hold the logs. A buildup of ashes reduces air flow and makes it harder to get a good fire going.