Buzz
As we enter fireplace season in many regions, it's a time for cozy nights spent by the crackling fire. Or, perhaps, you recently stumbled upon old letters and gifts from a past relationship, and suddenly felt the pull of that fire for reasons that are far from cozy.
If you have a traditional wood-burning fireplace, it needs fuel—but not just any old wood (or other materials) will do. According to an article in the Farmer’s Almanac by Carol J. Alexander, there are specific woods and items that should never be tossed into a fireplace. Here's a list of what to avoid burning.
Wood that is wet, damp, or not properly seasoned
In certain situations, firewood that looks fine may still be unsuitable for the fireplace. As Alexander explains, firewood must be properly seasoned, meaning it should have little to no moisture content.
And it’s not just a matter of bringing the wood indoors overnight; the seasoning process takes at least a year. “You can identify seasoned wood by its appearance—properly dried wood is gray, cracked or checked, and has loose or detached bark,” she writes.
Even if the firewood is well-seasoned, it should never be used when it’s wet or damp. Ensure you store your wood in a place that’s protected from the elements.
Wood that’s treated, painted, or manufactured
When burning wood, you’re also burning any treatments on it—such as chemicals used to treat or paint it, or adhesives that hold together manufactured wood like particle board. As Alexander points out, inhaling the byproducts of burning such chemicals is dangerous. For this reason, you should avoid burning wood pallets, as they are often treated with chemicals.
Christmas Trees (and Other Resinous Woods)
That sticky substance on live Christmas trees is called resin (or sap), and trees containing it—such as pine, spruce, and cedar—should not be burned in the fireplace, Alexander says. Burning too much resinous wood can increase creosote buildup in your chimney, which means more frequent cleanings. Additionally, resin causes the fire to crackle, which can send embers flying outside the fireplace and potentially burn someone nearby.
Printed, Colored, or Coated Paper Products
Using simple black-and-white newspaper to start a fire is fine, Alexander says, but paper products with any kind of printing, coloring, or coating shouldn’t be thrown into the fireplace. Even if they’re printed with soy ink, they likely contain pigments and other additives. Plus, the coating used on gift wrap and direct-mail flyers doesn’t burn cleanly either, according to Alexander.
Plastics
You’d think it’s common sense not to burn plastic in your fireplace, but just in case, here’s a reminder.
