How To Slow Down A Fire In A Fireplace (Why It’s Burning So Fast)

If you have a fireplace, it is important to know how to slow down the fire when needed. This is especially true if you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time and want to make sure that your house does not catch on fire because of a neglected fireplace. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks that can help you put out a raging fire in your fireplace so that it doesn’t burn everything else in its wake!

The fireplace is the center of attraction for any room. It’s a place where you can cuddle up with your loved ones during winter nights or sit and admire the flickering flames on warm summer evenings. But oftentimes, fires get out of control and it becomes difficult to put them off without burning down your house in the process! So how do you slow down a fire? Here are some quick tips that might help.

Make sure there is enough air supply for the fuel to burn completely. There should not be anything blocking airflow inside and around the fireplace chimney space. Remove items such as furniture from around it, if necessary; ensure adequate spacing between walls/windows/furniture so that hot air does not get trapped and suffocate the fire. Do not try to smother it with a blanket or anything else – you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal!

Once this initial stage starts dying down after about 20 minutes or so (you will know because there are no more flames), add larger pieces of dry hardwood/logs gradually over an hour or two depending on how large your pile has become. Gradually increasing log sizes ensures that individual logs do not get burned up too quickly – this way, the fire keeps burning continuously for a long time.

If you are using logs of which some have become wet or damp due to rain/snow etc., keep them outside in open air until they dry out completely. Never use wet wood inside your fireplace! This will not stop the fire. It will make it worse because wet wood is less dense and takes longer to burn away. Wetness also makes it more difficult for heat energy from the flames to get into the inside of logs by slowing down convection currents within the fuel pile – meaning that there is a delay in combustion rates.

Avoid Using Flammable Liquids To Slow Down a Fire

How to slow down a fire in a fireplace? The answer is simple: it’s not about getting more fuel on the fire, but rather ensuring that there is enough air supply for combustion. Keeping your chimney clean and free of any obstructions will also help ensure proper airflow through the system.

And finally, if you are using logs of which some have become wet or damp due to rain/snow etc., keep them outside in open air until they dry completely before bringing them indoors – never use wood inside your fireplace until it’s completely dried! This way, even if things start heating up rapidly at one end (for example because too much kindling was used), this heat energy will not get trapped and will dissipate into the surrounding atmosphere.

As a general rule, do not try to extinguish fires inside your fireplace unless absolutely necessary – this is something that should only be done if you smell gas or smoke coming out of it (in which case, turn off the valve at the bottom), there is a major obstruction in airflow due to too much kindling or logs stacked outside of chimney opening, etc., as mentioned above.

If all else fails and things really start heating up quickly with little chance for control even after proper air supply has been ensured throughout the ignition process, then take everyone away from the vicinity immediately and call 911!

How To Slow Down A Fire In A Fireplace?

There should not be anything blocking airflow inside and around the fireplace chimney space. Remove items such as furniture from around it, if necessary; ensure adequate spacing between walls/windows/furniture so that hot air does not get trapped and suffocate the fire. Do not try to smother it with a blanket or anything else – you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal!

When lighting your fireplace for the first time in winter, use only kindling (paper logs work great). This ensures that there is enough oxygen to keep the fire burning. The fire will burn brighter until all the wood is gone. It’s just like when you light a piece on one side. Gradually increase the size of logs as you go – this ensures that individual logs do not get burned up too quickly. If they are burning fast, it means there is a lack of oxygen and a buildup of carbon monoxide inside your fireplace/chimney system.

What To Do When Things Heat Up Quickly Inside Your Fireplace?

There should be no obstructions or anything blocking airflow around and through the chimney space;
remove items such as furniture from around to ensure adequate spacing between walls/windows so hot air does not get trapped;
make sure nothing is blocking access into open areas for heat to escape (close all other doors leading into other rooms);
keep children away who might get too close to the fire;
if anything starts heating up quickly inside your fireplace, do not try using a blanket or other object to smother it – this could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning!

Move everyone outside immediately and call 911. If you have an external chimney stove that has no insulation around it (or any other type of ventilated combustion appliance), then turn off the valve at the bottom before leaving for safety reasons.

Make sure nothing is blocking access into open areas so heat can escape from within your home/building by closing all doors leading into rooms adjacent to where the fireplace is located. In fact, if possible, move everybody out of nearby buildings as well in case they catch on fire due to radiant heat.

When you are lighting your fireplace for the first time in winter, use only kindling to ensure there is enough oxygen throughout the ignition process. Gradually increase the size of logs as you go so individual ones do not get burned up too quickly. If they are burning fast, it means there is a lack of proper air supply and buildup of carbon monoxide inside your chimney system. Do not try using an object to smother anything unless absolutely necessary – this could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning!

Why Does My Fireplace Burn Wood So Fast?

Some people’s fireplaces burn wood too fast. If you are one of them, read the following tips and tricks to prevent your fireplace from burning out quickly.

If you are using wood logs, make sure they were recently cut. Freshly cut logs release more water than old ones do. When the amount of water in a log is too high, it will burn out quickly and produce less heat or none at all. Make sure to only buy seasoned firewood if possible.
And last but not least – never ever use lumber scraps as fuel for your fireplace! Producing sparks with scrap wood releases harmful chemicals into the air that can be seriously dangerous to your family’s health.
An efficient combustion process requires oxygen flowing through the chimney when burning fireplaces’ fuel (logs). To prevent strong airflow from coming down from the top of the chimney while there is no smoke going up yet, use a wind guard. This will make it take longer until the chimney starts to pull air in when you light up your fireplace.
Another reason why your fireplace burns logs too quickly is that it’s not built correctly and/or has poor insulation and ventilation systems (e.g., no window or flue damper). Poorly insulated fireplaces lose heat very fast, which may cause problems with burning wood efficiently as well as lowering the amount of produced heat significantly.

To prevent this from happening again, buy high-quality products for building and insulating your fireplace such as custom-fitted glass doors, cast iron trimming around the door frame, etc… Build an effective exhaust system by installing a proper window or flue damper so all the heat and smoke can be released slowly and efficiently.

If you want to speed up the process of your fireplace burning firewood, try using a chimney brush (to clean out built-up creosote) or add some lighter fluid on top of the logs before lighting them on fire. This will release more flames initially which results in higher temperatures inside the combustion chamber that allow for a better fuel burn rate.

Do not use too much though; otherwise, it might cause an explosion due to high concentrations of flammable vapors!

How To Slow Down A Fire In A Fireplace

A fireplace can be a great way to heat up your home during the winter, cook food on it and give off some light. When you go out to buy one though, there are so many choices that it gets overwhelming. You should consider buying an electric or gas fireplace because they don’t require anything but electricity or natural gas in order to work properly.

If you do decide on getting wood for this purpose then make sure that it is seasoned (it must have been dried for at least six months). Choosing the right kind of wood is also important; if not chosen correctly, these will emit hazardous gases like carbon monoxide which could lead to serious injuries or even death. Make sure you read all safety precautions before starting any fire.

When you go to light the fire, use only dry matches because wet ones will not strike and could cause an explosion in your fireplace. Always keep a bucket of water nearby when lighting fires so that if something does happen, it can be put out immediately before it’s too late. You should also have on hand some type of fire extinguisher just in case the flames get way too big for one bucketful of water to handle.

If any sparks do fly around while trying to start the wood on fire then they must be removed right away otherwise they might catch onto other objects or even burn down your house! For this reason, I’d recommend wearing clothes that are made from flame-retardant materials like cotton (not polyester).

Be sure to have a ventilation system that is working properly. If you’re just using the fireplace for heat, then it’s best if this isn’t being used as much because too much oxygen will feed the flames and make them grow even bigger than they already are! This could lead to all kinds of problems so keep it in mind when building your fire. Also never leave children or animals alone near an open flame ever since both groups tend to be very curious about things.

The last thing I’d like to mention here is that most fires spread fast from one area of a house or room into another which can cause major damage pretty quickly if not put out right away. So always remember where those buckets of water and fire extinguishers are because you don’t want to risk losing your home over this.

Burn Recommended Moisture Content Wood

A fireplace will be able to burn more efficiently if the wood has a moisture content of 20% or less. This means that in order for your fire to slow down, you need to purchase dry logs when possible.

Since the wood is dried out, it will burn slower.

You can speed up a slow fire by crumpling two pages of newspaper into balls, soak them in lighter fluid, and place them near your logs or inside your fireplace before adding kindling or paper to start the fire. These “logs” are an excellent source of fuel because they ignite quickly and contain more energy than regular wooden logs.

Once these begin burning you should be able to slowly add larger pieces of wood that have been stacked beforehand so they catch on fire as well. If needed, use another small amount of paper with some tinder placed underneath if necessary for added heat which will help get this process started faster. Repeat steps one through three until the flame has successfully set in with the help of the fire starter or paper.

The best way to keep it burning is by adding larger pieces on top that will burn longer and require less maintenance while also making sure not to add too much at once which can cause it to go out quickly.

Close the Damper

Closing the damper will reduce airflow to your fire. If you’re having trouble getting a good burn, try closing it off completely for several hours before restarting. When there’s no oxygen flowing through the chimney, any embers that are still burning should die down naturally.
If you’re trying to get rid of a stubborn fire, clamping the damper shut for several hours might be enough to smother it.
As we all know that fire in our fireplace is one of the most charming and cozy things in the winter season. Now when the weather is getting cooler and colder they usually people think about starting their romantic fires inside their homes. But what can be done in case of the fire gets out of control?
One good way to extinguish a chimney fire is by closing off your fireplace’s damper. If you’re having trouble getting a good burn, try closing it off completely for several hours before restarting. When there’s no oxygen flowing through the chimney, any embers that are still burning should die down naturally.
Another option is clamping the damper shut for several hours if you’re trying to get rid of a stubborn fire or smother it. This will cut back on airflow and eventually suffocate your blaze altogether. However, make sure not to close the flue too tightly since gases from combustion may need escape routes while they are being cleaned out.
If you’re serious about extinguishing a chimney fire, the most effective way is to open your fireplace’s flue and let in some cool air from outside. This will not only starve your blaze of oxygen but also force out lingering hot gasses that could reignite once they mix with fresh oxygen again. However, this method should be used as a last resort since it can cause dangerous backdrafting which can spread toxic gases into your home or even create an explosion; we all don’t want that!
There are several ways how to slow down a fire in my fireplace: closing the damper off completely for several hours before restarting when there’s no airflow through the chimney; clamping the damper shut for several hours if you’re trying to get rid of a stubborn fire or smother it; opening the fireplace’s flue and letting in some cool air from outside which will not only starve your blaze of oxygen but also force out lingering hot gasses that could reignite once they mix with fresh oxygen again.

Burn Hardwood Logs For A Slower Fire

Burning hardwood logs will give you a slower, steadier burn. Hardwoods are denser and produce more heat than softwoods so they burn for longer periods of time. The downside is that they also cost a bit more per cord so you have to decide if burning them in your firebox is worth it or not!

List of Softwoods that are good for burning in your Fireplace:

Pine/Fir
Spruce
Douglas Fir

List Of Hardwood’s That Are Good For Burning In Your Fireplace:

Oak
Hickory
Cherry
Apple Tree Wood
Only use woods from fruit or nut trees.

Do not burn wood from conifers such as pine, spruce, and fir. They give off a sooty smoke which is bad for you to breathe! If you have some hardwood on hand but no softwood tries mixing the two together when starting a fire with kindling. The combination will produce a steady flame while heating up more quickly than an all-hardwood fire.

Don’t Forget! When starting a fire, always use kindling before adding the wood to it. Start with small pieces of dry twigs and leaves or old newspaper until your logs are burning steadily on their own. You can also get fireplace starters that you just place in the bottom of your fireplace and light them up for an easy way to start your fires without using any paper products!

The last step is simply throwing some more log chunks onto the fire when needed so that it doesn’t go out too quickly while keeping enough flame for heat in-between times when there is no need for extra warmth. This method will give you great results every time whether it be winter or summer anytime you keep cozy indoors by the fire.

On top of burning hardwood logs, you should use fireplace starters instead of starting your fires with paper products which can be bad for your health and cause soot build-up in your chimney. This will keep your home smelling great while still keeping dangerous chemicals away from people that are sitting by it!

You should also only burn wood from fruit or nut trees as they produce less smoke than other types of trees such as pines and firs when burned inside a fireplace setting. Start out using small twigs and leaves until all the way up to larger chunks depending on how much heat is needed at certain times during an evening before letting off some warmth.

Make sure you add more logs when needed so the fire doesn’t go out too quickly while keeping enough flame for heat in-between times. This will give great results every time whether it be winter or summer anytime by staying cozy indoors with a fireplace to keep warm!

The last step is simply throwing some more log chunks onto the blaze when needed and not going overboard by adding a large amount at once which could smother your flames if done repeatedly. Just hold back on adding pieces of wood until there isn’t much left burning steadily before throwing another piece into the mix without smothering your hot coals underneath them.

Remember, this method will get you awesome results each time no matter what season throughout the year either spending quality family time together inside by the fireplace or just staying cozy inside throughout various weather conditions.

Build Fires Using The Top-Down Method

The top-down method is the most common way to build fires. There are many ways that can help you slow it down, even if you have no control over the outside conditions. The first thing that will be helpful for this is having a metal screen or grate on your fireplace floor before building your fire pile.
This makes sure there isn’t anything in between the wood pieces and helps keep them from falling through into the flue while they’re burning. If you don’t want to get too far ahead of yourself with safety, then just make sure to place any small sticks under other larger logs so they won’t fall through by accident when assembling the whole structure together during ignition time.
The second way to slow down a fire in your fireplace is by using the two-log method. This means, that when you’re building out your initial structure and ready for ignition time, you want to place one really large piece of wood on top of another smaller one and lean them up against each other instead of laying side-by-side as most people do.

Reduce The Air Supply To Your Fireplace

One of the easiest ways to slow down fire is by reducing the air supply. If you are not familiar with your fireplace, then it might be best to turn off the gas or electricity before turning on anything else in order to reduce any risk of injury while working with fireplaces.

As soon as everything has been turned off (and after making sure that no one else is home), all you need to do is slowly open up some vents and gradually increase them over time until you get an idea of what setting makes your brand new logs look like they’re burning more slowly.

This is the best way to reduce fire in a fireplace.

FAQs

What is the best way to slow down a fire in my fireplace?

Sounds like your woodpile might be too big. Make sure you are only using small pieces of dry kindling and hardwood or seasoned logs no larger than ten inches wide. The ideal size is right around three inches thick, so split smaller if needed! Putting out ashes may also help reduce heat build-up on hot coals after the blaze has burned itself out.

Do I have to empty my ash basket every time?

Ideally, yes. Ashes build up heat and can cause the logs to combust prematurely if not removed. If you notice your fire is burning faster than normal, a quick rake of ashes should do the trick! Don't let them accumulate more than three inches deep before taking action.

How often should I clean my fireplace?

Ideally, every time you use it. If it's been a while and your fire is really blazing (and the rest of the house has turned into an oven), give everything a good once-over with a wire brush or vacuum hose before adding fresh wood. That will get rid of any leftover ash/debris that might be causing heat to build up in excess amounts!

What type of wood burns best?

Typically, hardwood is the most popular choice among homeowners. It's dense and full of energy, so it will burn longer than any other common kindling. However, seasoned softwoods like pine are also great for starting fires because they require less heat to get burning! Either way, you go, always make sure your firewood has been properly dried out before use (look for cracks in the bark). Just remember that if you're adding logs into an active flame – never add fresh wood or green/wet pieces directly from outside without drying them first! You'll risk extinguishing the flames with excess moisture.

What's the best way to stop a fire from smoking?

One thing that can contribute to excess smoke is using too much paper, cardboard, or other flammable materials in your fireplace. They typically burn quickly and turn into a quick pile of ash – which isn't good for airflow! Make sure you only have one layer of natural wood on top at any given time so air can easily circulate underneath it. And don't forget about ventilation – if you're finding yourself choking on fumes every few minutes, try opening some windows near the floor/upper level of your house while lighting up. That will help get fresh oxygen flowing through all areas pretty quickly! In general, though, make sure you're always burning seasoned logs no larger than ten inches wide – and don't overload the grate with more than one layer of wood at a time!

What's the best way to clean up ash after my fire is over?

One thing that people often forget about cleaning their fireplace/wood stove is those pesky embers that fall out onto your floor, hearth, or carpet. Once they turn into fine dust (which happens within five minutes), it can be difficult to spot them all without lifting everything in sight...and who wants to do that!? It's actually pretty easy if you've got some vacuum attachments lying around - just suck 'em right up before they have a chance to combust! If there were larger chunks of unburned materials on top, sweep them into a dustpan or ash bucket with a stiff broom. Then, add them to your outdoor fire pit for proper disposal!

How can I prevent creosote buildup?

One thing that contributes to excess smoke and creosote build-up is the type of wood you're burning in your fireplace – especially if it's been cut down recently. Wood from trees like pine tends to burn very quickly without offering much energy, so they often leave behind some unburned pieces after combustion (them...it smells awful). To combat this issue, try using denser kinds of lumber instead. If not, simply put out ashes before reloading logs into the grate/stove!