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lisabryn_gw

Starting fires with newspapers in Jotul wood burning insert?

lisabryn
17 years ago

We had a Jotul wood burning insert installed in our fireplace last year and love it. It heats the entire house! Now, when the company installed this, they taught me to build a fire with newspaper, so we have been using lots of newspaper to start our fires. The owner of the fireplace company was just over to give us another estimate and he looks at our fireplace and asks what all the newspaper is for. He was completely aghast that we have been using newspaper to start our fires and says it is a huge No-No!

I'm wondering what people do? He said we should be using gel or fire starter in it. I have to say, there is a huge build up of creosote and we have the chimney cleaned twice during the winter. Also, people have complained about their eyes burning sometimes... Is this from the newspaper?

Thanks for your thoughts here!

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