How to Build a Fireplace Fire | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough demonstrates the best way to build a fire in order to prevent smoke from filling up the room

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Time: 5 minutes

Cost: $0

Skill Level: Beginner

Shopping List:

Steps:
1. Start by crumbling up some paper or newspaper and place it loosely underneath the grate.
2. Take two of the biggest logs and place them parallel with the back of the fireplace on top of the grate. Leave space between them for the flames to reach up over the logs.
3. Take some of the smaller logs and place them perpendicular on top of the bigger logs.
4. Place the kindling on top of the smaller logs in a loose pile.
5. Prime the chimney by lighting one of the pieces of paper on fire with a match or lighter and hold it up in the chimney. This should start an up draft to ensure the smoke will rise right away.
6. If the paper is long enough and it’s still safe to do so, use that same paper to light the pile of paper underneath the grate.
7. Place the burning paper on top of the kindling. This should create a strong draft that will keep the smoke in the chimney and out of the house.

Resources:
All the materials Mark used to build the fire in his fireplace were found either around the house or in the backyard. The only thing Mark cautions against is burning pine and other softwoods in the fireplace, as it can cause creosote to build up in the chimney which could eventually result in a dangerous chimney fire. Seasoned hardwood is best to use in a fireplace.

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The Correct Way to Build a Fire in a Fireplace

This Old House, Ask This Old House, DIY, Home Improvement, DIY Ideas, Renovation, Renovation Ideas, How To Fix, How To Install, How To Build, mark mccullough, fireplace, fire safety, masonry

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[fennecfoxtrot]

Just watched this morning when the big freeze is about to hit. I've never had a fireplace until now and with just me and my two kids at home, I really appreciate the tips for a proper fire. This video is awesome!

[realspacemodels]

Being new to having a fireplace, we had trouble getting a good fire going. But Holy Moly this technique worked a charm! Thanks This Old House!

[johngrossbohlin]

Another problem is the lack of replacement air in the house. For example, if you run the clothes dryer and have a fire, the dryer can draw so much air out of the house that the replacement air is pulled down the chimney and pulls smoke with it. A fresh air intake (or cracking a window) can solve that problem.

[theprivatepass]

Thank you - great video. I have been making fires for ever and your reverse approach really worked for my new fireplace.

[ncooty]

@1:18: I could think only of the argument between Dan Akroyd and John Candy in "The Great Outdoors".

"You _twist_ the newspaper. You _twist_ it to simulate kindling." :)

[ggmono]

Great video. Very helpful and clear. Looking forward to trying out this method some cold day soon!

[davidalessi]

This technique worked great! Thanks for sharing this

[pete]

After watching this video I tried this, it worked alot better than I expected it to.

[lexxluciano]

I watched so many videos on wood burning fireplaces, but this fire place is exactly like mine! Simple and i am ready to burn some wood! Thank you!

[gbf]

It's a great fireplace. I subscribed to a nice video.
In Japan, houses with fireplaces have not been seen so often.
I like bonfires, so if the fireplace gets home, it will heal.

[elizabethd]

Thank you!! Just used the method in our fireplace :)

[jewermank]

I think priming the chimney was the fix here. I've had the same issue, I build my fires pretty similar but have never thought about priming. When it's not 80 outside, I'll try it

[Budlte]

Myth #3: Burning certain soft woods (such as pine) will cause creosote damage to your chimney.

While this myth has been around for ages, studies conducted by the University of Georgia found that the amount of damage wood left on the chimney was a result of low-temperature fires rather than a resin rich fuel source. While pine does contain more sap than other types of wood, this is no longer considered to be cause of creosote buildup in chimneys. Wood that does cause problems though is burning green wood or burning fires at low-temperatures. Regardless of your choice of wood, it is very important to only use dry and seasoned wood to burn in your fireplace. Always remember that properly seasoned wood takes about one year for wood to properly dry out. Dry wood is more of a concern than hard versus soft wood when choosing what to burn.

[taylorstevenson]

Thank u for your video just started a perfect fire

[QuadroNVS]

They uploaded one of these out of season videos earlier this year. Something about properly maintaining your AC unit

[johnroberts]

Hi TOH, who doesn't like a rip roaring fire when it's cold outside ! 👍😀🔥🔥🔥

[futureshock]

If you are camping this will come in handy too it gets cold in mountains even in summer

[SilverCymbal]

I love you guys but the 4th of July timing for this might be a bit off.

[PeterPetrakis]

It's an upside down fire, lit from the bottom?

[angelxspell]

short and sweet steps: loosely placed newspaper. first row of thickest logs, lay additional rows of logs cris-crossed, lay kindling on the very top. “prime” aka getting heat flowing through the chimney (light one piece of newspaper and hold above stack for ~min). then light the rest of the stack.