Questions from first time wood-burning fireplace user

[ecalperif]

Hello all,

We recently bought a home with a wood burning fireplace. We are excited to use it. The previous owners say they installed a new liner and chimney cap a couple of years ago, and that the fireplace is safe to use.

That said, I do have a few questions.

1. Previous owners did not use it, but they say the owners before them used an electric-powered device (images below) that blew warm air from the fire into the home. Has anyone seen or used one of these? Would you try to use it, keep it and just burn logs in top of it (as I assume previous owners did), or remove it and replace it with a new grate?

2. There is one switch above the doors and one below the doors that slides open and shut decorative slats. What is the purpose of this? To allow or not allow heat into the room? Image of one of these switches is below.

3. Is it ok that the back of the fireplace is almost entirely blackened?

4. While having a fire, we should keep the glass doors open but the metal screen closed, correct?

Finally, as someone new to this, I am open to any advice from seasoned wood-burning fireplace users about how to have fires safely and enjoyably.

Thank you!

 

[Giaman]

1. That electric-powered device might enable your wood fireplace to heat the room slightly better— however, fireplaces do very little to heat a house to begin with and may even cool the house overall by drafting up so much air (although they will make a room warm). Might as well get it inspected by a pro.. inspections are cheap, new house isn’t.

2. Looks like that is for air circulation, like what a modern stove insert uses. Like the electrical device, it may slightly increase heat output, although if it’s just a passive system it will be a very minimal improvement.

3. Blackened is OK by itself and may only indicate a low-temp fire; but it may also indicate heavy creosote buildup. I would not make a fire in that fireplace without first getting a chimney cleaning (and inspection while at it).

4. Up to you I guess, but whatever you do you have to be around an open fire at all times. That fireplace isn’t an air-tight stove where you can leave the room and go to bed while it’s burning. And make sure the fire is completely out after you’re done burning.

General advice: If you just want nice ambience, it’s hard to beat an open fireplace like what you apparently have. But it won’t appreciably heat your house. A stove insert will give you the ambience and the heat. Also, always burn dry wood. It’s much safer, less creosote buildup, less smoke, less bugs, less hassle trying to start it; burning green wood, or rotten wood, or half-seasoned wood is simply the wrong way to have a fire.

 

[ecalperif]

Thank you so much, Giaman. Your input was very helpful.

I love the idea of a stove insert, but it looks like installing one would be several thousand dollars. That may be something to consider in the future.

In the meantime, I will look into an inspection/cleaning, and I will consider removing the air blower and replacing with a standard grate.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

I don’t like the look of that warm air blowing device. Too much risk of smoke/Carbon monoxide in house. Have chimney inspected/ swept and burn wood on a regular fireplace grate.

 

[ecalperif]

Thank you. Would your concerns be alleviated if I burned wood on the air blower’s grate but did not actually plug it in and turn it on? Just curious.

 

[Giaman]

I would say that alleviates the concern.

 

[Eman85]

First taking the previous owners word for it on the condition might not be the best. An inspection and cleaning is much cheaper than a house full of smoke or a fire.
If you want to feel warm looking at a fire that's what a fireplace is for. If you plan on gaining much heat from it that's not what a fireplace is for.
Do you have good dry wood now?

 

[mikey]

A grate wall of fire grate. with a steel fire back more heat less smoke, very dry hardwood kiln dried if you don”t have time to air dry it yourself. Have a good screen to put up when you are not in the room, forget about glass doors they block the radiant heat.