Eco-Friendly Ways To Maintain A Healthy Fireplace

South African consumers are consistently hit with rising electricity bills. As a result, individuals have sought out cost-effective ways to heat their homes, including installing trusty fireplaces. However, as fireplaces are responsible for emitting gases, such as carbon monoxide, and creating smog, here are some eco-friendly ways to maintain and healthy fireplace.

Fake your fireplace

The smoke from a wood fire contains particles that are dangerous to human health and the environment. These particles pollute the environment and the quality of the air we breathe. Miniscule particles that are just 10 millimeters in size are particularly hazardous when inhaled as they can affect the respiratory system. With this in mind, if you’re considering installing or updating your fireplace, then it’s worth opting for a faux one. Faux ones use a heating element to keep your home nice and toasty and these types of fireplaces can be bought or even handmade. The biggest benefits of choosing a faux fireplace are that they are easy to install and maintain and, as they emit zero toxins into your home, they are the most eco-friendly option.

Burn dry wood only

If you prefer a wood-burning fire, then you need to ensure that the wood you burn is as safe to the environment as can be. The wood should always be appropriately seasoned which means that it has been stored and dried out for a period of at least six months, or until the moisture content is below 25%. Burning wet wood can lead to a buildup of creosote. This is an environmental risk as it affects the lifespan of plants, trees, and other green matter than play a crucial role in the quality of the air. The impact of burning dry wood is nowhere near as detrimental to the world, so be sure to purchase wood from reputable and trustworthy sources or store it suitably yourself.

Don’t forget to clean your fireplace

The National Fire Protection Association advises that fireplaces are cleaned at least once per year. Failing to do this can result in a buildup of deposits, including soot and creosote. Soot is particularly harmful to the environment as it causes haze and acid rain which impacts water quality. Thankfully, it’s simple enough to clean your fireplace with environmentally friendly cleaning products or you can call upon a professional cleaning service who uses eco-friendly cleaning practices. Whichever option you decide to go with, you should ensure that all the soot and debris is removed from your fireplace and chimney before reusing it.

Fireplaces are a practical, affordable, and aesthetically-pleasing feature in many South African homes. However, you should always use your fireplace sensibly and in a way that does not have a negative impact on the environment. Ideally, you should avoid real fireplaces, but if this isn’t an option wood-burning fireplaces should be used in an eco-friendly manner.