The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed a best practices for people with fireplaces and chimneys. They have found that a working chimney should not emit any smoke indoors. In other words, if you smell smoke, you probably have a problem. Here are some guidelines they have setup to help us understand the best way to operate our chimney.
- Start fires with newspaper and dry wood kindling.
- Burn only dry, seasoned firewood.
- Maintain proper airflow by regularly removing the ashes from your appliance.
- Never burn household garbage, cardboard or plastics inside your chimney.
- Never burn wet or rotting wood.
- Keep your fire burning hot. A smoldering fire is neither safe or efficient.
Along with these tips, install a smoke alarm detector and a carbon monoxide detector. These devices save thousands of lives every year. If you’ll follow these guidelines, you will be sure to keep your family safe from preventable fires and the danger of carbon monoxide.