FIREPLACE OPERATION
WOOD VS. FOSSIL FUELS
Compared to fossil fuels, a full cord of dry hickory weighs about two tons and is approximately equal in heating value to a ton of hard coal. On a per pound basis, heavy hardwoods have about half the heating value of coal. The table below shows the relative densities and heat values of a variety of dry woods. Varieties at the top of the list (Dogwood) burn longer and those near the bottom (White Pine) ignite and burn quicker. A combination of both light and heavy wood is desired.
SPECIES VALUE | DENSITY | HEAT |
Dogwood | ||
Hickory | 100 | |
Oak | ||
Black Locust | ||
Beech | ||
Hard Maple | ||
Birch | ||
Apple | ||
Ash | ||
Southern Pine | ||
Elm | ||
Cherry | 70 | |
Douglas Fir | ||
Spruce | 59 | |
Redwood | ||
White Pine | 50 | |
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A FEW WORDS OF CAUTION
Do not burn plastics, poison ivy twigs and stems and chemi- cally treated woods such as discarded poles and railroad ties in your fireplace. These create air pollution and can cause extreme irritation for some people.
Use hemlock, spruce, juniper and other resinous woods with caution. They contain moisture pockets which, upon heating, “pop” with considerable vigor.
Always use a fire screen. Always “bank” a fire (or at least push all unburned fuel to the rear of the grate) before leaving a fire unattended. Do not use this fireplace as an incinerator.
The termination of the chimney above the roof is exposed to wind, cold, and pressure changes. These and other environ- mental conditions may make it hard to get a sufficient chimney draft at times. At other times the draft may be sufficiently disrupted and cause smoke to spill from the fireplace opening. If problems with chimney draft occur, help start chimney draft before you build a fire by holding a piece of burning paper near the flue opening at the top of the firebox to preheat the chimney. If smoke spills from the fireplace opening after the fire is burning, open a window on the up wind side of the house that is far enough away form the fireplace that the wind will not blow across the fireplace opening. Push burning wood as near the back of the fireplace as possible. If your fireplace has glass doors, close them.
IMPORTANT: Do not leave children or physically or mentally handicapped, or senile persons alone with a burning fireplace.
61D0008 | 35 |
