Q&A Re: Artificial logs ok?

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QandA

New Member
Staff member
Nov 27, 2012
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Question:

Craig- I have a freestanding metal stove with a glass door. Living in Florida- I only use the stove during winter for a couple of hours before we go to bed. Can I use the artificial logs they sell in home building centers? I've heard some people say the volatile gases produced by these type logs are not suitable for my sealed stove- yet that information does not mean much to me - what is the problem with volatile gasses? I'd like to use 1 log in the evening- and when it goes out (about 2 1/2 hours)- go to bed. Will this be ok?



Answer:

Bob- these logs contain sawdust and wax (paraffin). It is probably OK to burn them in a stove with the doors open (many stoves have screens for this use)- but you should not use them in a sealed stove. They are designed to burn with a large supply of air. Burning them in an air-starved stove could cause these vapors to go unburned- which would pollute the great outdoors- coat your stovepipe and even cause a chimney fire.
 
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