Desa Wood Burning Fireplace Wood Selection, Cleaning and Maintenance, Removing Creosote

Wood Selection

Selecting the right wood depends on your preference for comfort, aroma and visual image. If you want a constant heat output, a short flame with a glowing coals type of fire, select a hardwood. If you want a short hot fire for damp and chilly mornings, select a softer wood. The following chart is a guide to aide in wood selection. Woods at the top of chart are harder woods and those at bottom of chart are softer. Aromatic woods are best from nut and fruit trees such as hickory, apple, cherry, beech, etc. Heat value from harder woods is better than from softer. It is important to burn wood that has been seasoned. Seasoning reduces moisture content for a good steady fire and less creosote output. The recommended length of time for proper seasoning is about 1 year.

Wood Type	Density
Dogwood	0.70 - 0.79
Hickory	0.70 - 0.74
Oak	0.60 - 0.73
Beech	0.64 - 0.66
Hard Maple	0.58 - 0.65
Birch	0.55 - 0.64
Mulberry	0.59 - 0.63
Apple	0.58 - 0.62
Ash	0.57 - 0.61
Southern Pine	0.51 - 0.60
Elm	0.50 - 0.59
Walnut	0.52 - 0.55
Soft Maple	0.47 - 0.54
Cherry	0.50 - 0.52
Sycamore	0.49 - 0.52
Douglas Fur	0.45 - 0.51
Chestnut	0.42 - 0.44
Spruce	0.41 - 0.44
Hemlock	0.40 - 0.42
Redwood	0.33 - 0.40
Aspen	0.37 - 0.39
White Pine	0.35 - 0.37

Cleaning and Maintenance

Creosote

When wood burns slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapors which, when combined with expelled moisture, forms creosote. Creosote vapors condense in relatively cool chimney flue of a slow burning fire.

As a result, creosote residue accumulates on flue lining. When ignited, this creosote makes an extremely hot fire. Chimney should be inspected at least twice a year during heat- ing season to determine if creosote build-up has occurred. If creosote has accumulated, it should be removed to reduce risk of chim- ney fire. It is recommended that you use a professional chimney sweep.

Removing Creosote

In order to remove creosote from flue, termi- nation cap must be removed.

1.Close damper before cleaning flue as fine soot can become airborne in the home.

2.If termination is round top (3 feet of ex- posed pipe with round cap) remove 3 sheet metal screws that secure termination to last section of pipe and lift off cap.

3.For square chase termination with pyra- mid cap, remove screws that secure top at four corners.

4.Place termination top aside.

5.After cleaning is completed open damper and collect debris in trash container. A professional chimney sweep has all tools and experience necessary to complete this job.

6.Be certain to clean all loose debris from termination before replacing.

7.Before installing a vented or vent-free gas log set in a solid fuel burning fireplace, chimney flue and firebox must be cleaned of soot, creosote, ashes and loose paint by a qualified chimney cleaner. Creosote will ignite if highly heated. Inspect chimney flue for damage. If damaged, operate vent-free gas log heater with flue damper closed.

8.Replace termination cap with screws.

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