Can Your Wood Fireplace Get Too Hot?
Contrary to popular belief, a wood fireplace can get too hot. Many people think the more wood the better, right? That is not entirely true. In this article, we will discuss overfiring and why it's an important concept to understand so you can keep your wood stove or fireplace for years to come.
Overfiring happens when your wood fireplace gets hotter than it can handle. This can happen for a few reasons. The first reason is putting too much fuel in the fireplace. You don't need every square inch of the firebox to be full of wood for the fire to burn hot. Doing so will actually cause the fireplace to warp. So, check the manual when you get your appliance to see what type of wood and how much is best for optimal burning.
In addition to adding too much fuel, adding too much kindling can also be a problem. It's tempting to use softwoods, OSB sheathing, or other materials with flammable glues to get the fire burning more quickly. Though, engineered materials can cause overly hot fires that will warp the top of your fireplace or stove if used frequently. Stick with hardwoods and smaller-sized kindling that helps your fire to burn but doesn't take over the show.
