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While hardwoods are the best woods to burn, a few types of woods should be avoided when burning. Wood that has not had time to season, or “green wood,” should be avoided. The extra water in the wood makes it smoke horribly, which is not a quality you want. Additionally, it’s best to avoid any wood that is manufactured or has been treated, including coated or sealed wood, painted wood, or pressure-treated wood. These woods have chemicals that will be released into your air when burned and can cause health problems.

Yes, you need to leave your chimney damper open when burning a creosote log so that smoke and other debris doesn’t waft into your house as it’s burning. You’ll need to make sure your damper is fully open, even when the log continues to smoke, until it’s completely out and cold.

How to light a gas fireplace depends on the particular model of gas fireplace you have in your home. In most cases, you can light gas fireplaces using a control panel, remote, key, or switch. You should reference your fireplace’s manual to see how your unit operates.

You can build a fireplace on an existing house, but it’s much easier to construct a masonry fireplace when building a new house. To add to an existing house, you’ll need to build a chimney and ensure the foundation can support a true masonry fireplace. Alternatively, you can purchase a gas or electric fireplace insert, which isn’t as complicated to add to an existing structure.