When fall has come and it’s a beautiful, crisp day, a lovely fire is a great comfort. However, when your chimney and fireplace or woodstove isn’t behaving and is causing excess smoke and fumes in your home, it can be a distressing and dangerous situation. In this post, we’ll discuss fireplace draft tips for New Braunfels homes and the many ways that you can improve your chimney draft and burning performance.
7 Ways to Get Good Draft and a Warm, Clean-Burning Fire This Fall
Burn good fuel. It’s tempting to just grab a few chunks of that limb you cut down last week, but that doesn’t make for a good fire. Use dry, well-seasoned hardwood.
Check for blockages. If your chimney is blocked, smoke and fumes can’t escape up it, causing a very hazardous situation.
Open windows or vents. Today’s homes are very airtight for efficiency, but that also means that it’s difficult to get enough air in for the fire.
Clean the chimney. A chimney that has a lot of creosote in it will have a tough time allowing the smoke and vapors to pass up through it to the outside.
Use a fireplace grate. A fireplace grate lifts your fire off of the firebox base, which allows more air and oxygen to get around it, improving combustion.
Push the fire back. Setting your fire in the back of the fire box allows more warm fumes to move up the chimney, warming it up faster and improving the exhaust.
Open the damper. Dampers are shut after you’ve had a fire to keep the heat that was created inside the structure. Open it wide to start the draft again and improve combustion.
By considering these factors in your fire, you can ensure that you’ll get a better burn and a clean-burning fire this fall. If you’re still having issues with your fireplace and chimney, there can be any number of reasons that should be explored, some of which may be dangerous if left unattended. In these situations, contact Wolfman Chimney & Fireplace in New Braunfels. From fireplace draft tips to chimney and fireplace services, we do it all!
Reach us online, send us a text, or call us at 830-620-4335 today!