FAQ - Wood Burning Stoves and Fireplaces
Flame-On Fireplaces LTD has over 25 years of experience installing, inspecting, servicing, and repairing wood burning stoves and fireplaces. If you don’t see the answer to your question here please contact us.
How often do I need to clean my chimney?
A chimney fire occurs when a build-up of soot and creosote ignites inside the venting system of a fireplace or woodstove. Wood-burning chimneys should be cleaned when a quarter inch or more of soot is present. Build-up can be more rapid in a woodstove than in a fireplace. In a woodstove vent, dangerous build-up may occur in less a month or may take much longer, depending on burn habits, fuel and other variables. New woodstove users should inspect their systems during the first season to learn their rate of soot build-up and determine cleaning frequency. Newer certified "clean-burning" stoves generate much less creosote than older non-certified stoves. Fireplaces do not need to be cleaned as often as wood-stoves.
How can I reduce creosote buildup?
First make sure your chimney is properly sized for both flue area and termination height. Try to avoid offset angles and keep the chimney as straight as possible. Try to size your woodstove correctly for the area you want to heat. This will ensure that you are able to burn it hot (efficiently) and avoid creosote build-up. Always warm-up your chimney by burning vigorously for the first 45-60 minutes before you reduce the air supply and burn slowly.
What are the installation clearances for a woodstove?
Each stove's installation requirements are different. Every manufacturer tests and lists each model. Clearances to combustible walls and hearth (underlayment) dimensions are critical safety considerations. Local building officials will rely on these specifications when inspecting an installation. Every stove's requirements are included in the owner’s manual and in less detail on the identification plate on the back of each stove.
I need tips on starting or rekindling the fire.
When starting a fire, use plenty of crumpled newspaper and kindling. As a guide, fill the firebox completely with loosely crumpled newspaper and hold it down with at least ten pieces of finely-split dry kindling. Softwoods make the best kindling. Find out where the combustion air enters the firebox of your stove and light the fire there so that the fire gets plenty of air. Open the air inlets fully.
How often do I need to clean my chimney?
A chimney fire occurs when a build-up of soot and creosote ignites inside the venting system of a fireplace or woodstove. Wood-burning chimneys should be cleaned when a quarter inch or more of soot is present. Build-up can be more rapid in a woodstove than in a fireplace. In a woodstove vent, dangerous build-up may occur in less a month or may take much longer, depending on burn habits, fuel and other variables. New woodstove users should inspect their systems during the first season to learn their rate of soot build-up and determine cleaning frequency. Newer certified "clean-burning" stoves generate much less creosote than older non-certified stoves. Fireplaces do not need to be cleaned as often as wood-stoves.
How can I reduce creosote buildup?
First make sure your chimney is properly sized for both flue area and termination height. Try to avoid offset angles and keep the chimney as straight as possible. Try to size your woodstove correctly for the area you want to heat. This will ensure that you are able to burn it hot (efficiently) and avoid creosote build-up. Always warm-up your chimney by burning vigorously for the first 45-60 minutes before you reduce the air supply and burn slowly.
What are the installation clearances for a woodstove?
Each stove's installation requirements are different. Every manufacturer tests and lists each model. Clearances to combustible walls and hearth (underlayment) dimensions are critical safety considerations. Local building officials will rely on these specifications when inspecting an installation. Every stove's requirements are included in the owner’s manual and in less detail on the identification plate on the back of each stove.
I need tips on starting or rekindling the fire.
When starting a fire, use plenty of crumpled newspaper and kindling. As a guide, fill the firebox completely with loosely crumpled newspaper and hold it down with at least ten pieces of finely-split dry kindling. Softwoods make the best kindling. Find out where the combustion air enters the firebox of your stove and light the fire there so that the fire gets plenty of air. Open the air inlets fully.
- Use dry, split kindling and newspaper to set the fire
- Use a separate piece of newspaper formed into a torch and lit at one end to warm the flue, once the damper is opened
- When draft is established, light the kindling
- Once the kindling is burning, add pieces of larger wood. Be careful not to smother the fire with pieces that are too large
- Do not overload the firebox
- Burn fires of reasonable size
- Do not burn garbage or waste materials, especially highly flammable materials such as gift wrappings or evergreen boughs
- Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.