Getting the fireplace started with a good, constant fire is harder than you’d think. It’s not like you need some sort of special technique, but you do need to follow the right steps! And what are those steps? Keep reading to find out!

“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.” - Paul Theroux

Clean the Chimney

A clean chimey helps prevent fire accidents.
A clean chimney helps prevent fire accidents. Image source: Bob Vila

We’ve said it a thousand times and we’ll say a thousand more if that’s what it takes:

You need at least one chimney sweep every year!

So if you haven’t gotten your chimney swept this year yet, don’t even think about starting the fireplace before that.

That’s because:

It’s common to find creosote build up, soot, ashes remainings, animal nests, and old leaves there. All that could damage either your fireplace or your health (or both).

Choose the Right Wood

Oak is the best type of wood for fireplace fires.
Oak is the best type of wood for fireplace fires. Image source: Instagram

If you have a seasonal wood provider, that’s great! It’ll make your job a lot easier.

However,

If you need to go out and choose the wood you’ll use for the fireplace, go with denser wood. A good example is oak, a not-so-good example is pine.

That happens because:

Green woods (like pine itself) can produce more creosote - which is a highly flammable substance that can put your safety at risk.

Open the Damper

An open damper will prevent smoke from getting into your home.
An open damper will prevent smoke from getting into your home. Image source: DIY Network

If the damper is closed when you start a fire, you’ll not only start a fire, but also fill the house with smoke.

First of all,

Make sure the damper is working properly, check if there’s any debris that could be getting in the way of it opening and closing.

Then you just need to remember to open the damper before starting a fire.

Prime the Flue

Prime the flue to prevent cold air from getting into the house.
Prime the flue to prevent cold air from getting into the house. Image source: Bob Vila

The idea behind priming the flue is that the flue is probably cold and if you open the damper, cold air will sink into the house. So when you prime the flue, you’ll be neutralizing the air sink.

To do this:

Ignite a piece of newspaper and hold it up the damper opening for a few minutes. Once you feel the draft reverse, you’ll know the job is done!

Balls of Newspaper + Kindling

Keep logs and newspapers handy for your fire.
Keep logs and newspapers handy for your fire. Image source: The Art of Doing Stuff

This step will make it really easy to get the fire started. Simply:

  • Crumble balls of newspaper
  • Place them underneath the grate
  • Ignite the newspaper
  • Add kindling at the bottom of the grate

Arrange Logs

Find the best way to arrange logs in your own fireplace.
Find the best way to arrange logs in your own fireplace. Image source: Savvy Home

There are three main ways people like to arrange logs:

  1. The triangle approach
  2. The log cabin (when you place two logs at either end of the grate and the two perpendicular logs on top)
  3. The upside down method (when you put larger logs at the bottom, a smaller layer of logs on top, and repeat until you get to the top)

All three have their own ups and downs, but generally, the upside down method seems to have a better result when it comes to having a small, but long-lasting fire..

Fireplace Safety

We’ve already talked a lot about fireplace safety, it can’t hurt to repeat.

So here’s a quick recap:

  • Use fireplace screens when the fire is lit (and after that too)
  • Check all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to see if they’re working properly
  • Keep a metal shovel and container near the fireplace so you can remove ashes build up

Remember: ashes also help light a fire, but it should never be higher than 2 inches.

Are you ready to get your fire going? Get a free quote for a chimney sweep now!

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In this article: Fireplace How to use fireplace How to start a fireplace
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