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What Can I Burn in My Fireplace or Wood Stove?

 

November 18, 2014 by primm

2014-03-03-11.39.19-2-300x300

While many household items and materials are flammable, many are not safe to burn inside your home. We’ve put together a list of what you should and shouldn’t burn in your own home, including information about why each material isn’t recommended.

To start, we’ll go over which materials and items should NOT be burned in your fireplace:

  • Cardboard in all forms (including pizza, cereal, and shipping boxes) should never be burned in your fireplace. These materials are often treated with wax, plastic, ink, paint, and other materials which can release toxic fumes when burned. Even untreated cardboard can be a potential danger in your home due to its ability to burn fast and hot. This can cause large, high flames which can cause damage.
  • Magazines & Wrapping Paper. These materials present similar concerns as cardboard. Many magazine pages and wrapping papers are treated with high pigment inks and coatings which can release toxic fumes or smoke when burned. This rule goes for any kind of colored paper. Including coupons, newspaper inserts, junk mail, and other catalogs. A small amount of black and white newspaper is safe to use if your fire needs a boost, but it should be anchored in under the wood. When paper is burnt, bits can sometimes float up and out of your chimney if it is uncapped, creating a potential fire hazard.
  • Dryer Lint. Dryer lint is often included on lists of quick fire-starters, and while it is safe to use outdoors (where fumes can more easily disperse), it is not recommended for indoor/fireplace use. The synthetic (plastic) fibers from clothes often contained in dryer lint can release toxic chemicals when burned.
  • Fire Accelerant & Lighter Fluid. You should always avoid using lighter fluid or any other accelerant in your fireplace. These are designed for outdoor use only. Many contain methanol and petroleum-based chemicals which can produce toxic fumes. These materials also create intense and hot fires which can damage the integrity of your fireplace, and put your home at risk.
  • Incorrect Types of Wood. For many, this category can be the most confusing. We are going to break down which wood types and wood products should be avoided in your fireplace.
    • Treated or Coated Wood. Wood that has been coated, sealed, painted, or pressure-treated can release these toxic chemicals into the air when burned. These chemicals can cause damage to your eyes, lungs, and skin, but can also cause damage to your fireplace and chimney.
    • Christmas Trees. Christmas trees (evergreen trees such as pine, spruce, and cedar) are fine to burn if they are well seasoned.
    • While floating in the sea, driftwood collects and absorbs many of the wonderful minerals in the ocean. Unfortunately, burning these salts creates toxic fumes. Burning this wood can also release the salts it contains, causing corrosion to your fireplace and chimney.
    • Wet Wood. Last but not least, do not burn wet wood in your fireplace. Burning wet wood creates far more smoke than seasoned wood and can create dangerous creosote build up in your chimney. This build up is extremely flammable and is the leading cause of chimney fires.

The upside is that the list of what you SHOULD burn in your fireplace is much easier to remember:

  • Seasoned Wood. The one and only thing you should be burning in your fireplace is dry, seasoned firewood! Seasoned wood means that the wood has been left out for a long period to dry, and all moisture has been removed. Hardwoods such as maple, oak, and ash are often recommended as firewood. These have little sap compared to other softwoods, and often provide you with a longer burn time. Looking to season your own firewood? Check out our guide.

If your chimney is due for its annual inspection or if you are concerned about creosote buildup, give Black Goose a call! Our expertly trained staff offers chimney sweep services, as well as repair, installation, and restoration of fireplaces, wood stoves, and gas fireplace inserts. Our lead technicians are all nationally certified and ready to provide you with the best service in town. Give us a call at 757-596-2298 to schedule your appointment today!

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Google Rating
4.2
Based on 61 reviews
Black Goose Chimney
Black Goose Chimney
4.2
mk corbin
Work for a Keller Williams agency. Needed a chimney repair on a house closing the following day. Black Goose was able to check it out the day I called and are able to make repairs the following day! Mike the tech, MORE then helpful as was Lois in the office. I highly recommend them for your chimney and fireplace needs!!
Sovonia Golden
Miriam Kotsonis
Super helpful and knowledgeable staff!
Levi Collins
Mrs. Karen was wonderful and got us scheduled right away, the service team was excellent and professional. Mr. Jim ordered our part and it came the next week, nice lady called me and they scheduled it for the very next day. I HIGHLY recommend this company for there excellent attention to detail, customer service that makes you feel like family, and quick response time.
robandpathy S
Excellent Service
William Mace
If I could give negative stars I would! These guys jerked my 80 year old mother around during Christmas when it was freezing. Someone told Mom to call these guys because the furnace was venting into the basement. A dude looking like Bob Marley shows up and says he can't fix it or even look at it because we have slate roof and they need special equipment to get up there. Ok. I get it. When can you come back? Someone will call you. No. No one called me. I called the next week. By this time mom had to sleep downstairs in front of fireplace to stay warm. I called. Dude on phone said he didn't know anything about it but would get back to me day after New Years. He didn't. I called again on Wednesday. No one answered. I left a message. Nothing.
Al Budaszewski
I had my fireplace serviced recently. They were able to restore full function to my gas fireplace and remote control without replaccing any components. They are honest, thorough, and I would do business with them again.
Skip Savell
Dorethea Johnson
They attempted to charge me an absorbent amount for money a fireplace chain cover. They qouted a me the price for it. They didn't have it in stock. When It came in. They had changed the price by more than double.
Kyle Russell
I seen a employee hit another vehicle on 64 and keep driving. Wouldn't want that integrity working at my house.
William Chandler
Very professional and thorough.
Jory Morrison
Frances McCoy-Brown
From the person answering the phone and scheduling my appointment. To the two men who came out and did a chimney check were very courteous and professional. I was provided with information that would help me make an informed decision. There was no hard sell ! I would recommend them.
Yvonne Richardson
Had my chimney and firebox repaired. they did the work in very reasonable time and did a very good job. Were on time and were respectful, courteous and professional. Cleaned up nicely also. The lady in the office was very friendly and helpful.
Fran Spady
The gentlemen were professional and left my home clean. They were thorough in their inspection and answered our questions. They took pictures so we could see repairs. He wrote up more than one bid so we could take care of the necessities first. There was no hard sell or pushing to purchase.Thank you Black Goose. I have a new chimney sweep!
Bridget Sims
Brian Lucas
I paid them to perform a diagnostic on my gas logs that were not lighting. The Tech determined I have a faulty valve and told me the office would look up the part and send me a quote to replace it. That was nearly three months ago. I called the office twice during that time to remind them and got the run-around. Don’t waste your time on this company.
Amanda Wroten
Ken Nelson
Pauretta Banks
Love my fire place! They did a great job and made sure I was satisfied before they left.
Wayne Sears
Tom Jowers
High prices but as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for." In this case, quality service.
John Sims
This company helped fix our chimney after a very scary fire we had. Great quality work and very professional crew
Pamela Mason
Black Goose Chimney did a superb job for us. Their technician Joe is a pleasure to work with and is not only professional and polite, but does fantastic work! On time, great workmanship and a pleasure to work with - what more can you ask for. I would recommend BlacK Goose Chimney to anyone.
Deborah Hill
Michael Chase
What a great team. Highly professional, knowledgable and no nonsense tell it like it is workers. Sergey is a master brick layer and technician. I will not use anyone else when it comes to brick and chimney work.The owner, Jim and Kathy, front office, are absolutely great to work with. I highly reccommend this company.
William Marx
The terracota liner to the oil boiler had broken after 50 years. Jim came out and gave an estimate and managed to promptly get a crew here on a Saturday to replace it with a steel liner. The crew, Sergei and Michael, arrived on time and were quite polite, efficient and neat. The left the house in better shape than when they arrived. They took care that the 5 month old puppy was kept away from the repair materials. Michael went so far as to clear the entire roof of pine needles, not just the area he was working. Greatly appreciated. They truly went the extra mile!
Selina Tyler
James Simone
Wanted to charge a $99.00 service call for an estimate. Other companies came for free
Sean B
Don Lovis
They came out to do a dryer vent sweep. They quoted me 800.00 labor for 2 hours to fix one dryer pipe 10 ft long. Hired another company and charged 75.00. I will never use them again
Anthony Cronin Jr
Very ProfessionalShared Concern To Apply Money To Return Maximum Value With Highest Quality!
Wayne Booth
Called today to schedule cleaning two chimneys. The price they quoted was more than double other places I called. And they were booked out three weeks. The company I scheduled with was six weeks out. It was worth the wait.
Peter Henrie
Very disappointed with my experience with this company. I called to get a quote for a gas stove installed. They sent their employee who charged me $100 to quote me, this wasn't told to me on the initial call, only at the end of the onsite visit to quote. I was told it would be removed from cost of the installation however they were unresponsive to calls and emails multiple times afterwards that I gave up moving forward with them. Would sadly not recommend.
billd354
Used this company about 6 or 7 years ago for a new crown and mortar joint work. Felt they did a good job. Tried to get them to do more work, however after sending me a confirmation phone call that they would be there, they cancelled at the last minute. They did call me and tell me that a person called in sick, so I asked if the next time I schedule that they guarantee no matter what, they meet their appointment obligations. The person would not and so other person called me back, who also would not. They obviously gave preferential treatment to some customers, because they didn't get cancelled. This person told me a different story, that the person was in a car accident the previous day. Then why didn't they call me first thing in the morning? This person also would not guarantee that they would definitely be there on the reschedule. If you live on the southside, you can expect to be the first to be cancelled. Which was it? Sick, car accident, or just didn't want to drive through the tunnel because both people I talked to wanted to give me to their competitors.
Chris Burrell
The guys that came to the house were great!! Highly recommend!!!
Nikki Edgerton
Tim Pratt
Jerry Fortner
Enjoying another early season fire watching football thanks to Blue Goose Chimney. Great system been years we have been able to enjoy our fireplace!Jerry FortnerPoquoson, VA
I C
Barry Hughes
Very frustrated in dealing with the office of this business. My chimney inspection was completed on the 18th of October and I called last week and then sent an email and kristin responded on the 11th of November and said she would have something by the 13th. It's now the 15th and nothing. Not right at all.if you can't
kathryn howard
I have used Black Goose for over 15 years. I needed serious work to our fireplace and chimney which they took care of and they have been out to inspect and or sweep every year since. They are always timely and fair. They only sweep about every other year so I'm not charged a sweep, it's based on how much we have used the fireplace. We have had no problems at all since the repair and I only have them to thank.
Rhonda Saunders
These guys are very professional and they know there stuff. Very honest and trustworthy
Wesley Stilson
Great service. Sergey and his helper showed up during the allotted time. They did a full inspection of my wood stove to ensure it was installed correctly to code. they did a full borescope inspection of the stove pipe and chimney pipe and found one sheet metal screw that was installed incorrectly. they fixed it and did a full sweep. They cleaned up their mess and provided me input on when to have them back for another sweep. Top notch service. They will not disappoint.
Eric Marsalis
Marilyn Keener
I highly recommend Black Goose Chimney. They arrived on time and did an excellent cleaning job. I found them to be very knowledgeable and professional. I would not hesitate to use them again.
Jeffrey Sheffield
Trustworthy, prompt, and professional. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
Adam Russell
Expert technicians, receptionists needs some work though. Completely satisfied all the same.
Ellen Charles
We had a knowledgeable chimney sweep come and inspect our fireplace and chimney. We knew that our fireplace had a bad back wall and knew there maybe some problems with the chimney. He explained what needed to be done and the cost. They had two very nice guys come and do the repairs. They worked well together and cleaned up afterwards. They showed my husband pictures of what they did to the chimney. From the time I called setup an appointment and the work being completed was about 8 days.
Jeff Prunier
The team at Black Goose Chimney took care of my fireplace and my wood stove with courtesy and professionalism! I highly recommend them. Not only did they put a new chimney cap on and replace the mortar, they answered all my questions and made sure I was confident in preparing a fire. Don't delay, call today!
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