Q&A Help make a fire last????

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
  • Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving!
  • Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
Status
Not open for further replies.

QandA

New Member
Staff member
Nov 27, 2012
0
Question:

My wife and I have just bought a new house a with a fireplace and we have had several fires, but every time we get it going it just dies out. I have been told that the fireplace is lacking oxygen, but I'm sure I have the outside vent open. It will last about 10- 15 min. and then die down. I add another log and nothing really happens and the log never seem to burn very well. Are we doing something wrong, or do we have the wrong type of logs? HELP....



Answer:

Lots of possible reasons:
1. Is the wood dry and seasoned...can you hear it hiss, or does moisture run out of the ends?
2. Are you building up a good hot fire and bed of coals using small, dry kindling?
3. Are you criss-crossing your wood..one pice by itself does not burn well

If cracking a window near the unit solves the problem, then it may be lack of air...however, check the other factors also.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.