The Maximum allowable surface temperature is 117° F OVER ambient (room) temperature. Thus, if a room is 70° – 80° the exposed combustible surfaces immediately surrounding the Fireplace can have a surface temperature as high as 187° F. – 197° F.

How hot does it get above a fireplace?

The allowable is 117°F above room temperature for combustibles. Average room temperature is 70-75°F; therefore a 187-192°F surface temperature can be expected.

Is it normal for fireplace surround to get hot?





The area around the fireplace will naturally get very hot. This is why you shouldn’t hang any sensitive items above the fireplace. If it’s a gas fireplace, you should check your fireplace manual to make sure your installer used the proper clearances. If it’s wood, you should get an inspection done.

Can a fire be too hot for a fireplace?

If your fire still burns too hot after checking the airflow and fuel usage, you may have an issue with the venting. Once you get to the point where you see the warping of the appliance, you’ll know you have overfired your fireplace.

How hot can a fireplace be?

A wood-burning fireplace can generate temperatures up to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. But because wood burning is inefficient, the hard surfaces around the fire tend to get no hotter than 1000 degrees. A gas-burning fireplace tends to burn at a lower temperature, around 1000 degrees.

How hot is too hot for wall behind wood stove?

To be safe, exposed combustible materials around the stove should never exceed 117 degrees F over ambient temperature, and unexposed areas (under the hearth, for example) should never exceed 90 degrees F over ambient.

How do you protect a fireplace mantel from heat?





A heat deflector is installed to provide air space between it and the wood mantel, and it’s bent at a 45 degree angle to deflect heat away from the mantel. It turned out great! It does its important job and is barely noticeable.

Can a wood fireplace get too hot?

Stovepipe thermometers are a cheap and easy way to monitor flue temperatures. They give you an easy way to make sure you are not firing your wood stove too hot (which may cause stove or stovepipe damage and could ignite adjacent structures) or too cold (increasing smoke levels and allowing creosote to build up).

How hot can wood fire get?

Under medium density and at equilibrium humidity with that of the surrounding air, the wood ignites at a temperature of about 300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit). The wood does burn hot, averaging temperatures ranges from 800 to 950 degrees Celsius (1472 to 1742 degrees Fahrenheit ).

How hot is too hot for a wood burning stove?

It’s fine to operate the stove at 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit to help get rid of creosote buildup and excess moisture, but after 20 to 30 minutes, the Town of Amherst suggests running the stove at the temperatures indicated by your user’s manual or at 300 to 400 F per a stovepipe thermometer for the safest, most- …

How do you cool down a wood stove that is too hot?



The Stove Is Oversized



If you’re finding that your stove is running too hot, leave any doors to the room open, or leave a window open to help cool the room down. What is this? If your wood stove is too large, it’s not recommended to build fires that are too small for the stove.

Will a hot fire remove creosote?

One method to loosen crusty or tarry creosote so it flakes off and falls down into the firebox or fireplace is to burn aluminum cans in a very hot fire. While this method works, it does not clean the chimney of creosote completely, and chimney brush cleaning is still necessary.

At what temp does creosote ignite?

Creosote can ignite at temperatures as low as 451 degrees F (for context, a fire in your fireplace can burn in excess of 450 degrees F), and even just an 1/8” buildup of creosote is considered enough to cause a chimney fire.

Does burning potato skins clean chimneys?



Potato peels and acorns help prevent creosote buildup in your chimney. Save your potato skins and collect acorns in the autumn. Just a handful thrown on top of a burning fire can help keep your chimney in good shape.

At what temperature does creosote melt?

Add larger pieces of the dry firewood to the fireplace. In order to melt solid creosote efficiently and safely, a very hot fire is necessary. Creosote has a flash point of 200 degrees F.

Will a chimney fire burn itself out?

It is not safe to assume that a chimney fire will burn itself out. Though it is possible that it will eventually burn off and end, it is much better to call 9-1-1 if you have a chimney fire. A chimney fire can potentially spread to other parts of your home and risk the lives of the people inside.

How does a fireplace explode?

Though very rare, gas fireplaces are susceptible to explosions and sudden fires. If the pilot light isn’t sitting properly when the gas begins to flow, gas may build up and explode. Regular checks of the pilot light are important to keep this from happening.