8 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021 • HOUSE TO HOME
Dear Jim: I want to help the environment
and use my fireplace more
often but hate handling firewood.
Is using commercial firelogs better
than real wood, and what types are
best? — Randi H.
Dear Randi: In all but very
mild fall and spring weather, most
fireplaces lose more energy up
the chimney than they produce
to warm your home. If you want
to use any fireplace in an environmentally
friendly manner,
install tight-fitting glass doors,
make sure the chimney damper
seals well when closed and some
outdoor combustion air (even
from a window slightly open) is
provided.
Handling firewood can get
messy, but there is nothing exactly
like the ambiance of a real
wood fire, although some firelogs
get close. Storing firewood that is
stacked properly under a cover
can really reduce the mess from
handling. Well-seasoned firewood
has fewer insects and it will be
easier to split pieces that are too
large to burn well.
Using artificial firelogs is a reasonable
alternative to burning
real firewood (technically called
cordwood). Firelogs have a unique
contour on the top of the log to
produce realistic-looking flames.
The only drawback to using them
often and for long periods is the
cost will be greater than using
real firewood. For the occasional
or short two- to three-hour fire,
the actual cost difference is not
significant.
Burning real firewood does create
air pollution and it is limited
in some communities. Firelogs
burn significantly cleaner than
real firewood, producing 85 percent
less carbon monoxide, 70
percent less particulate matter
and 50 percent less visible smoke.
In the past, firelogs were made
from sawdust held together with
petroleum waxes. Their heat content
comes somewhat from the
burning sawdust, but most from
the waxes. The sawdust acts like
the wick of a candle. These firelogs
produce a significant amount
of heat per pound. They keep
waste sawdust produced at wood
HERE’S HOW
mills and woodworking companies
from ending up in landfills.
Because of interest in the environment
and higher costs of
waxes today, many firelogs are
now made with less expensive
natural vegetable waxes. Since
the vegetable waxes are a form of
biomass, burning these natural
firelogs is almost global warming
and carbon neutral.
An environmentally-friendly
type of firelog, Java-Log, is made
from recycled coffee grounds. The
coffee odor is not noticeable when
they burn. The high heat content
of coffee grounds produces 25
percent more heat than standard
Whirlybird (turbine) vents
draw well on windy days
sawdust firelogs. Their flames are
more colorful and bright.
Firelogs create less creosote
buildup than real firewood in the
chimney. Special anti-creosote
firelogs are available to use regularly
to minimize reduce creosote
buildup. Saver Systems makes
an anti-creosote spray liquid for
wood fires. Use a couple of squirts
each fire.
No-wax, compressed sawdust
firelogs and bricks are also available.
Since they are 100 percent
real wood, they can be burned just
like real firewood. They are made
by compressing waste sawdust,which makes the particles stick
together into a solid block.
The following companies offer
artificial firelogs: Bio-Diversity,
570-84-3057, bio-div.com; Duraflame,
702-803-7701, duraflame.
com; North Idaho Energy Logs,208-267-5311, northidahoenergylogs.
com; and Pine Mountain, 877-
402-5185, pinemountainfire.com.
•••
Dear Jim: We are having a new shingle
roof installed this week. I know
the attic needs more ventilation. Is
it better to install several whirlybird
vents or a single ridge vent across the
top? — Jeffery K.
Dear Jeffery: A long ridge vent
at the peak of the roof is more
effective overall. The whirlybird
(turbine) type draws well on
windy days, but not as well on
still days. A ridge vent also is at
the roof peak, the hottest part.
Since you are having the roof installed, definitely go with the
ridge vent. If you are doing the
work yourself on an existing roof,several whirlybird ones will be
easier to install.
Send inquiries to James Dulley,House to Home, 6906 Royalgreen
Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244, or visit
dulley.com.
by JAMES DULLEY
Enjoy your fireplace in an
environmentally friendly way
METRO CREATIVE
ADOBE STOCK
Call 724.830.4940
email marketing@triblive.com
or visit MediaKit.TribLIVE.com.
“The consultants at the Trib are remarkable... As we
continue working with the Trib team, I learn more about
the dedication and hard work each and every consultant
devotes to their company, team and most importantly,
their clients.”
Explore solutions
for your business!
- Andrew Bell, Bella Construction