My power had been out for a few days, and I happen to have a fireplace
but never use it and don't know much about fireplaces. I did know
enough I think to open the "vent" and pull down the "lever" looking
thing (I live in an apartment complex btw), but I didn't realize you're
technically supposed to use only one long-burning log at a time. I
used about 4! The fire got really huge, and I didn't htink it was a
good idea for it to be that big, so I eventually put it out by pouring
lots of water on it. It wasn't on for more htan half hour. What
could happen by burning too many long-burning logs? Could it damage
the fireplace?

wrote in message
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My power had been out for a few days, and I happen to have a fireplace
but never use it and don't know much about fireplaces. I did know
enough I think to open the "vent" and pull down the "lever" looking
thing (I live in an apartment complex btw), but I didn't realize you're
technically supposed to use only one long-burning log at a time. I
used about 4! The fire got really huge, and I didn't htink it was a
good idea for it to be that big, so I eventually put it out by pouring
lots of water on it. It wasn't on for more htan half hour. What
could happen by burning too many long-burning logs? Could it damage
the fireplace?

The only thing I would be worried about in making a 'too big' fire is the
possibility of the flames reaching up where soot and creosote have
accumulated in the past and catching fire up there. Good move opening up
the damper first so the smoke goes up and out and not into the room. I have
fires in my fireplace a lot as I have woods on my land and a relatively
unlimited supply of wood. I tend to make pretty vigorous fires with no
problem. Fireplaces are meant to get hot. I figure that if I am still
seeing the tops of the flames I am fine. You really do not want the flames
reaching up past the damper. Unless you have some manner of little wimpy
fireplace that you would need to worry about it getting too hot for the
walls (rare but possible), fireplaces can handle a lot.

If your flue and chimney is clean you will not have done any damage. Since
the fire department did not need to come you did not light up anything up
there. If you have never used it and are the original owner, it likely is
spotless up there.

The size of your fire should be what you feel comfortable with. It seems
that you were not comfortable with a 4 'long-burning' log fire, so I would
suggest to use less, at least until you build up your confidence in fire
handling. I might also suggest that you add some real wood to it to 'make
it nicer' (which is very subjective...) and become more versed in burning
real stuff in there. Just keep away from pine or anything sappy as that
will clog up your chimney - dried out hardwood is best, but I burn just
about anything that falls over that is not piney after about a year on the
wood pile for it to dry out.

Please ask more questions here so you can become more comfortable with this.
Also find a fire building friend who can look at it and talk you through
this. Fireplaces are wonderful things once you get the hang of it. I have
2 in my house and we use them heartily.
Hoping this helps,
Tomes

On 18 Dec 2005 14:57:46 -0800, someone wrote:

..... I didn't realize you're
technically supposed to use only one long-burning log at a time. I
used about 4! cut I eventually put it out by pouring
lots of water on it.

1) What's a "long burning log"?

2) We have been known to run the fireplace for a couple of days
running, when there was someone home to look out for it. Is that "long
burning"? So what's the problem?

3) Lots of water? Are you out of your mind? Lucky you didn't
explode the hot bricks and do thousands of dollars of damage.



Reply to NG only - this e.mail address goes to a kill file.

(v) wrote:

1) What's a "long burning log"?

The OP is probably referring to those preformed sawdust/wax "logs" sold in
grocery stores and other retail locations.

2) We have been known to run the fireplace for a couple of days
running, when there was someone home to look out for it. Is that "long
burning"? So what's the problem?

Its not the duration, its the intensity of the heat. Wax logs burn much hotter
than natural wood logs and can damage the firplace. You are only supposed to
burn one at a time.