Burrr, It's Cold Outside

In Odessa TX we rarely have a chance to really get to enjoy a good toasty fire in our homes but lately is the exception. 

Before you stoke up the fire, here are some great tips to have a safe and efficient fire.  

• Burn only dry, cured wood that have been split, stacked and dried for 8-12 months.  The best wood to use is hardwood such as oak, hickory or maple.  In our area we have an abundance of mesquite growing wild.  It is a fairly hardy wood but it has a strong smell that is not always welcome indoors.

• Burn only firewood not processed or treated wood such as treated lumber or painted wood or wood that has any chemicals on it.  You can use log starters from the store to help get your fire going.

• Open the damper only when the fireplace is in use.  It can be a source of energy loss when a fire is not present.  A top-mounted damper can double as a rain cap and provides a tighter closure.

• Keep the fireplace doors open when a fire is in use so the warm air can circulate into the room.

• Have your chimney cleaned every year or whenever you have burned 3 cords of wood (approx 2 full-sized pickup trucks full).