Things Not to Burn In your Fireplace


When we have a chimney or fireplace in our homes, we think that we can burn almost everything there. And one of the most important reasons behind this is that we believe everything will turn into smoke and escape through the chimney. But this is not correct. Some items can produce toxic fumes while burning. Therefore, we need to be careful of the things we burn in the chimney and choose fireplace chimney inspection done regularly.

Here is a list of things suggested by fireplace services that you should not burn in your fireplace.

 Wet wood - It is a proven fact that damp wood produces more smoke in comparison to seasoned wood. This smoke can form coatings on the inner lining of your chimney and cause massive damage to it. Wet wood produces more smoke because it has around 45% water. Apart from producing more smoke, damp wood also doesn’t heat your room correctly.

 Christmas trees and some plants -  Most of us think that we can burn any plants in a fireplace. But we are wrong about this. The wood of these plants is not seasoned, and thus it is not suggested to burn them in a furnace. Also, several plants contain a resin which can produce toxic substances on burning. These resins even ignite very quickly and can cause a fire in your home.

 Painted wood - Chemical substances go into the painting of wood and timber. If you burn this wood in your fireplace, there are chances that toxic fumes get released in your home. These chemical substances and the fumes emanating from them can be dangerous for you and your family. 

 Plastic - No matter what kind of plastic it is, you are not supposed to burn it in the fireplace. Plastics release a large amount of harmful chemical substances when heated. Apart from releasing toxic fumes, plastic also gives out a foul smell when burnt in a fireplace.

 Cardboard - People assume that they can quickly burn cardboard and paper in the fire. But what they don’t understand is that cardboard with printed logos can be harmful to people in your home. These logos are painted and thus emanate toxic substances when burnt.

 Charcoal -  Now you would argue why you can’t burn charcoal in a fireplace. One of the primary reasons behind this is the toxic fumes released from the burning of charcoal. Charcoal releases carbon monoxide when heated, and it can cause health hazards for humans. 

 Dryer lint - We agree on the fact that dryer lint is one of the best things to start a fire, but it is not something to be burnt in a fireplace. It can release harmful chemicals that can be dangerous for you and your family.

 Fire accelerants - While kerosene and oil can be an excellent component to start a fire, it is not something to be used in a fireplace. If you use oil or kerosene in a furnace, it can cause flames to rise high and cause damage in your home.


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