Firewood that keeps chimneys cleaner
A sweep can only do so much if the firewood going into the fireplace works against it. Wet or green wood smoulders at low temperatures, and cool, smoky combustion is exactly what lays down creosote inside the flue. Burn the right wood and the chimney stays cleaner for longer between sweeps.
Burn dry, seasoned wood
Freshly cut wood can be half water by weight. All that moisture has to boil off before the wood can burn properly, which keeps firebox temperatures low and sends steam and unburnt compounds up the flue — where they condense into creosote. Properly seasoned wood, dried for many months under cover with good airflow, lights faster, burns hotter and leaves far less behind.
How to tell wood is ready
Seasoned firewood feels light for its size, has cracks radiating from the centre of the cut ends, sounds hollow when two pieces are knocked together, and burns without hissing or bubbling at the ends. Wood that hisses, drips or is hard to light needs more drying time.
Store it well
Stack firewood off the ground, top-covered but open-sided so air moves through the pile. A woodshed or a covered rack against a sunny wall works well in Canterbury conditions. Never stack green wood hard against the house wall with no airflow.
Hot fires, cleaner flues
Small, hot fires with good airflow burn far cleaner than one big smouldering load damped right down overnight. Let the fire establish properly before turning the air down, and avoid slumbering the burner for hours on end.
Keep the sweep in the loop
Even with perfect wood, every flue needs regular sweeping. To arrange a professional chimney clean in Christchurch, call Allan Cleaning Services on 03 980 4488.