OT-Building A Fire, How Do You Do It? Options

[redshift]

Try putting insulation in your walls & roof. It might cut down on the amount of wood you need to burn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Nice logsplitter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I already have the infrastructure, why would I insulate? That sounds expensive, plus add in all the money for building walls, and a roof. I don't think so.

If I could think of something to do with all the equipment, and the excess 78,392,000 b/f of exotic hardwood timbers every year..

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Nope..


M

[GWN7]

Well I live in an igloo. 2 ft. thick walls. I can (and do) heat this place with a couple candles and the waste heat from the CPU's. Have to be careful when cooking or I'd melt the roof off and a polar bear could get me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[campbellcj]

The newer construction out in these parts can't have woodburning fireplaces (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) But we have two of those gas-burning ones and they work surprisingly well and actually look pretty nice too. Cleaner, cheap and easy to light...just not quite the same as the "real thing" with the aromas and crackles, but what can ya do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[seanery]

Chris,
whatayamean? (about the newer construction)

[Aaron Cox]

my house was built w/ gas. we burn wood. a chimney is a chimney correct?

[campbellcj]

I could be wrong, but I recall being told it is "illegal" to build new fireplaces out here that burn wood, or to burn wood in a fireplace that was not grandfathered-in i.e. an older home. We are in a severe fire hazard zone and also in LA County i.e. "smell-A" as Zois calls it, so the smog rules are tighter than most.

I don't know any reason the gas-log fireplaces physically "couldn't" burn wood, though. The chimney, flue etc. is same as usual, as far as I can tell.

[seanery]

i gotcha on that one chris, embers possible floating out of the chimney sparking in the brush.

I thought it was that the houses weren't able to deal with it. I forgot about that damn desert you guys live in! LOL

[campbellcj]

There is about 8 miles of "nothing" (brush and trees - state parkland) between here and the ocean. It hasn't burned seriously in around 50 years, and I ain't about to help it along. Every day I still see the aftermath of the big 1994 Malibu fires while driving to work; some of the people never rebuilt and there are bare foundations and chimneys sticking out of the multi-million dollar an acre vacant lots off PCH. Scary crap.

I might research the exact building/fire codes a little more just out of curiousity. I know the earthquake vs. chimney syndrome is another major concern in SoCal. Apparently after the Northridge quake, a lot of chimneys got "sub par" repairs or didn't get fixed and then were leaky/unstable. So I think the building codes since then have tightend up a bit.

[Joe Bob]

Fire issues and the smoke from fire places cause new developers to install non wood burning fireplaces as part of the permit process to build.....it's not illegal YET to retrofit one in you want to....but it will be. Bad smog areas like Mammoth Lakes have no fireplace burning days and smog weenies that go around and cite people....

[GWN7]

You can check with your local Fire Department for upto date regulations for fireplaces in your area. They will know what you can and can't do.

Spark arrestors in the chimney cap usually take care of any embers that might go up the pipe, but they also slow the escape of smoke which can cause creosote build up in the chimney.

[Bruce Allert]

I was brought up using no grate. Grates weren't "fashionable" amoungst the mountain folk! Just a big ass fire place or wood stove, wad up the paper, throw the wood on & lite it.... WHOOSH and away we go-o-o-o. That was one biggassed house with no other heat source but a fireplace way up in the hills in a canyon of Southern California wa-a-a-a-y back when.......


..........b

[Rusty]

Newspaper? We don't need no stinkin newspaper! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif)

Get a paper cup (not styrofoam) or paper bowl. Crumple some paper towels into the bottom, to be used as wicking. Pour several ounces of cooking oil, and place below your rack of logs in the fireplace (or strategically stacked campfire).

Start your fire. There is very little mess left in the fireplace.

Guaranteed to work EVERY time, as long as your wood is reasonably dry.

-Rusty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smoke.gif)
missing his old apartment with the fireplace.

[Joe Bob]

Creosote?????

WYF, you burning RAILROAD ties again....no wonder you hang here...that stuff will kill ya.

[Joe Ricard]

Yup gas in a teener + hot water heater = hotter than hell.

Added benefit I get to practice rewiring house, replacing burnt framing, and then there is drywall and painting.

Then I am learning how to completely take apart a 914.

[Racer]

I just back my Pinto up into a tree.. crude but effective

[GWN7]

Creosote is the product of incompleat combustion. It's caused by the sap in the wood mixing with the water in green wood. The water turns to steam taking the sap and other stuff up the chimney where it cools against the sides of the pipes and solidifys. If allowed to build up over time it can cause a chimney fire, which can cause a house fire or wildlands fire. It can be cleaned by either building a hot fire everyonce in awhile or running a ball and chain with wire brushes attached up and down your chimney scraping it out.

I'm planning on building a Cordwood house up at the farm. The experts in this say that winter is the time to cut your wood (after the leaves fall) The sap/moisture is the lowest in the winter. Then stack it in lengths (protected) and strip the bark off in the spring. Any sap/moisture in the logs help with the removal of the bark. Then restack for 2-3 years to let the logs dry out before cutting to building lengths. This lets the wood get down to about 10% moisture content and prevents checking and cracking of the logs.