How to Build a Fireplace Fire | Ask This Old House
Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough demonstrates the best way to build a fire in order to prevent smoke from filling up the room
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Time: 5 minutes
Cost: $0
Skill Level: Beginner
Shopping List:
Hardwood or Seasoned Wood [https://amzn.to/31IjPRm]
Kindling [https://amzn.to/2XnLdF4]
Paper [https://amzn.to/2IQlPi8]
Steps:
1. Start by crumbling up some paper or newspaper and place it loosely underneath the grate.
2. Take two of the biggest logs and place them parallel with the back of the fireplace on top of the grate. Leave space between them for the flames to reach up over the logs.
3. Take some of the smaller logs and place them perpendicular on top of the bigger logs.
4. Place the kindling on top of the smaller logs in a loose pile.
5. Prime the chimney by lighting one of the pieces of paper on fire with a match or lighter and hold it up in the chimney. This should start an up draft to ensure the smoke will rise right away.
6. If the paper is long enough and it’s still safe to do so, use that same paper to light the pile of paper underneath the grate.
7. Place the burning paper on top of the kindling. This should create a strong draft that will keep the smoke in the chimney and out of the house.
Resources:
All the materials Mark used to build the fire in his fireplace were found either around the house or in the backyard. The only thing Mark cautions against is burning pine and other softwoods in the fireplace, as it can cause creosote to build up in the chimney which could eventually result in a dangerous chimney fire. Seasoned hardwood is best to use in a fireplace.
Expert assistance with this segment was provided by MJM Masonry (www.mjmmasonry.com).
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The Correct Way to Build a Fire in a Fireplace
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/
This Old House, Ask This Old House, DIY, Home Improvement, DIY Ideas, Renovation, Renovation Ideas, How To Fix, How To Install, How To Build, mark mccullough, fireplace, fire safety, masonry
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No Body is talking about the real issue here, you are creating tons of polution, there is betters ways to heat a house this need to stop, USA is a country where still make wood houses killing millions of trees in the process, and then this burning tons of wood. Are you a first world country ?
My eyes are bleeding!! You shouldn't put newspepers under wood. That is the only way how you should make it:
https://youtu.be/ta5r3G3qkMc
First of all you should put on the top small pieces of wood then biger and biger. Then start the fire on the top.
That way you will produce less of CO2 and you save up to 30% of wood. WITHOUT ANY SMOKE!
Do not do this method what he's showed!
You get heat from the fire,and fire gets oxygen from you
I've only had outside fires but with fuel costs and a brutally cold winter it's time to use the inside fireplace for the first time since the 70s, needed a refresher
My fireplace is very similar to this one, but there's a vent on the side of my hearthstone. I believe this is fresh air intake? I keep it open when the fire is going but when it's -30*C out I only open 1/4 of the way.
What is this thing called, meant for, and how do I properly use it?
IDK, I can't get behind the kindling on top.
Thank u for your video just started a perfect fire
That fire should burn a lot of oxygen in the room
Myth #3: Burning certain soft woods (such as pine) will cause creosote damage to your chimney.
While this myth has been around for ages, studies conducted by the University of Georgia found that the amount of damage wood left on the chimney was a result of low-temperature fires rather than a resin rich fuel source. While pine does contain more sap than other types of wood, this is no longer considered to be cause of creosote buildup in chimneys. Wood that does cause problems though is burning green wood or burning fires at low-temperatures. Regardless of your choice of wood, it is very important to only use dry and seasoned wood to burn in your fireplace. Always remember that properly seasoned wood takes about one year for wood to properly dry out. Dry wood is more of a concern than hard versus soft wood when choosing what to burn.