How to Make a Good Fire in Your Fireplace

There are some time tested methods that can allow you to make a good fire in your fireplace, even if you were never a Boy Scout.

First, make sure that you have had your annul chimney sweeping and inspection. Remove all the ashes from your fireplace and take them to the compost pile, or used a Cricket Ash Vac to remove them the easy way.

Next, make sure that your damper is open by looking up your chimney. If you have a “throat damper” you will open it with either a lever or pull chains. While a “throat damper” is located at the bottom of the chimney, a “top-damper” will be at the top of your chimney and will be opened using a cable.

Make sure there are no flammable materials on the hearth. Place 2-3 crumpled pieces of paper on the fireplace grate. You need a fireplace grate so that the fire can obtain all the oxygen it needs to keep a fire going and keep a good draft going up the chimney. You will then need to place about 10 pieces of kindling on the paper. Kindling should be approximately ½ inch by 10 inch strips of pine. You could also use fatwood or a store bought fire starter. On top of your kindling or fire starter you will want to place about 8 to 10 pieces of hardwood. Keep these pieces small, about 1 inch square by 1 foot long.

You will then warm the flue and create an upward draft by lighting two sheets of crumpled paper and holding them inside the fireplace.

The next step is to light each end of the paper inside your fireplace grate. Once the kindling has ignited the small pieces of hardwood it is time for you to add some larger pieces of split hardwood. The heat will reflect in the room better if the wood is placed toward the rear of the fireplace. Continue to add more wood as the fire burns. To protect your home and family from sparks be sure to place a screen or spark arrester in front of the fireplace.

As you gain experience using your fireplace you will be able to time it so that you have just a few embers left in your fireplace by bedtime. Always be sure to have the fireplace screen in place before leaving the fire for the night.

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