What are some tips to remember when handling wood around a fireplace?

A fireplace can make a room very cozy and comfortable. But just as with anything else in a home that deals with fire, there are several different safety issues to be considered. One area that consumers should always be careful of is to never place furniture near the fireplace where it may accidentally ignite and start a house fire.

Another detail that fireplace owners should pay very close attention to is the type of wood that they are using in the fireplace. With so many different types of woods, experts suggest that consumers learn about the different types so that they can find the best wood for their needs.

Dennis Capo works at Malm Fireplaces, a company that has been in the business of making fireplaces for over 40 years. Capo has dealt with the issue of wood for several years and knows exactly which types of wood consumers should look to utilize.

"Any of the hardwoods are very good because they are denser woods," he says. "This allows you to get a much longer burning time."

"A lot of your firs are softer woods and they are very sappy," he adds. "Not only do they burn quickly, but the sap will build up a residue on the inside of your chimney system. This could eventually cause a chimney fire if the chimney is not cleaned on a regular basis."

When dealing with wood in a fireplace, another misconception is that the fire needs to be started using some type of igniting fluid. Capo is just one of the many wood experts who says that attempting to start a fire in a fireplace with the use of a starter fluid could be a very dangerous situation.

"We recommend a dry kindling and actually no fluids at all," Capo says. "It is really dangerous to use starter fluids. You can get a very hot flash and burn yourself or your house."

While having a wood burning fireplace produces a true and magical moment each time it is lit, the maintenance and upkeep of the wood burning fireplaces has many consumers looking at different options. Other types of fireplaces include electric and gas. These fireplaces are advantageous because they can be installed in a home without the hassle of having a chimney built as you would need with a wood burning fireplace. Also with an electric fireplace, you don't have to worry about venting the smoke as you would have to with a gas fireplace.

Gas fireplaces are advantageous because they allow the fireplace to heat the home while maintaining a solid level of air quality in the home. "The disadvantage of a wood burning fireplace, more than anything else, is just the hassle of carrying in the firewood," Capo says. "It's more of a personal preference whether people want wood or gas. Aesthetically, they are pretty much the same."