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| Tips on Keeping Your Fire Burning! So you've Mastered how to start a fire in your wood burning fireplace or stove, but you're having trouble keeping it burning over the next couple of hours? Ever wonder if there's an art or secret to keeping one burning? Here are two easy to use tips that will keep your flames dancing! - Remember that fires need lots of oxygen to burn well. Blowing on a smoldering fire can help the flames leap to life (but a billows works better if you have one handy).
- Fires burn better and hotter if they're raised up off the floor of the hearth, so air can circulate under the logs. Try a fireplace grate (metal grills on little legs) or andirons to elevate those burning logs.
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What to look for when buying firewood? Whether you use it to heat your home or just to burn it occasionally in your fireplace, you should be a smart shopper when you purchase firewood.
Firewood is generally sold by a measurement called a cord. A cord is equal to 128 cubic feet. For example, a stack 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long is a cord. You may also see wood advertised by a ‘face cord’ with the length of the pieces. A 24-inch face cord is 24 inches wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
In New York, all firewood sales and advertising must include the three dimensions of the wood, that is length, width, and height, with the wood ranked and well stowed.
To be sure you have a cord, stack the wood neatly by placing the wood in a line or a row, with individual pieces touching and parallel to each other, making sure that the wood is compact and has as few gaps as possible. Then measure the stack. If the width times the height times the length equals 128 cubic feet, you have a cord of firewood. Be aware that each time you restack a pile, the dimensions will change a little because of the differing air spaces between pieces.
Hardwoods such as maple, oak and cherry will provide more heat energy and burn longer that softwood species. Wood from conifers (pines), aspen, poplar, basswood, butternut, willow. And grey or paper birch cannot be advertised as hardwood.
Dry Wood preferred
Seasoned or dry firewood has many benefits over green or freshly cut firewood. Dry wood greatly reduces the potential of insect pest nuisances, is easier to light, and reduces creosote build-up in chimneys. If the advertisement represents the wood as ‘seasoned’ the length of time and the manner of seasoning must be specified.
When you buy firewood, make sure to get a receipt. Every seller of firewood must provide a receipt for every delivery of loose firewood. The receipt must show the name and address of the seller, date of sale, quantity and dimensions of the wood (when ranked and well stowed) and the price. It should also identify the firewood’s source. A regulation is in effect that prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been heat treated to kill pests. The regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from its New York state source. It’s also a good idea to get the phone number. If you found the dealer by some advertisement, keep a copy of the ad with your receipt. |
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Fireplaces By Design | 845-357-6062 Tuesday - Friday 1-5 | Thursday 1-6:30 | Saturday 10-4
120 Route 59 - Hillburn, NY 10931
One Minute Past Suffern (If using GPS Please use 1 Blakeslee Place)
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