Tips On Setting Up Your Fireplace Hearth for Winter: From Wood to Fireplace Tools
Winter is officially here. This year’s wintry weather has spread in full force in to parts of the country that have not seen snow…well, ever. When the warm sunshine of summertime is a distant memory one big consolation is that you can finally crank up the fireplace. After insuring that your fireplace and chimney have been cleaned and safety checked by an expert, it is time to set up your equipment for a season of crackling fireside evenings. Not only can you make your hearth more efficient but handsome and welcoming with a few simple ideas:
WOOD: Use only dry hardwoods like oak, hickory, ash, birch, or maple. A clear radial crack along the cross section of the log is a good sign your log is dry enough to burn. Although plentiful, and the first wood you see “free” signs on in people’s yards, avoid burning softwoods like pine or spruce. These soft woods burn too quickly, and because of high sap content, require more frequently chimney cleaning. Find a dry and cool place to store your wood to insure logs are ready when you need them. Fruitwoods are a fragrant alternative.
TINDER: No big blaze started without some tiny tinder. Collect and store in attractive baskets, jars or vases some small twigs or pine branches. Various sizes of coordinating pottery or planters on the hearth are great storage choices that add interest to your fireplace area. Tie the splinters up in attractive bundles for storage. You can fill a large jar with pine needles layered with small pinecones for a display that is useful and themed.
KINDLE: Collect bigger pieces of tinder, from finger to wrist sized thickness, known as kindling. Some tightly twisted newspapers also work here. These newspaper “logs” work great and make a wonderful family project. To make rolling easier first wet the newspaper a section at a time. Then spread out each section on a flat surface protected by a plastic sheet or a garbage bag. Now tightly roll the paper into a log, securing the ends with twine. Let it dry overnight.
Pinecones, especially dipped in wax, along with dried herbs like sage, rosemary, and cinnamon sticks make fragrant kindling. These kindling kits make thoughtful and cost saving gifts. Simply bundle dried herbs and small pinecones inside a sheet of newspaper, then secure the ends with raffia ribbon or cotton twine. Now, nestle the herb bundle under the logs, leaving a “fuse” end sticking out. As your creation burns the herbs inside will ignite and not only help start the logs burning but fragrantly scent the room.
TOOLS: Basic fireplace utensils are usually sold in sets and come in very attractive designs that can fit in to any décor. A good set should include a poker, a set of tongs, a shovel, a whisk broom and a dustpan for ash removal. For safety’s sake and decorative covering, always buy a fireplace screen. Safety should be your first thought.
MATCHES: Wooden matches burn much slower than paper matches and gives you more time to ignite tinder and kindling. While any wooden kitchen match will work, the long fireplace matches are best.
FIREWOOD CARRIER: Always use a firewood tote to bring wood inside. It saves your sweaters, your steps, and can save your back from stress and your hands from splinters. An old pillowcase or towel with straps or handles from fabric, an old belt or old purse straps sewn on makes a very compact and inexpensive tote that can be folded and tucked in a basket.
IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE A WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE WITHOUT THE EFFECTS OF A RELAXING AND THERAPEUTIC HEARTH. AMISH BUILDERS CREATE CUSTOM ELITE FIREPLACES IN NATIVE HARDWOODS AND A WIDE ARRAY OF STYLES AND STAINS. THESE FIREPLACES ARE ELECTRIC AND EFFICIENT ON FUEL AND THE ECOLOGY.
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