What Not to Burn in Your Lemont Fireplace This Fall
By Dan Joel, Elite Sweepers Inc.
By the middle of October the yard work in Lemont is in full swing, the garage is holding a stack of flattened boxes or leftover deck boards, and the fireplace starts to look like a handy way to get rid of all of it. It is not. A fireplace and chimney are built to burn one thing well: dry, split firewood. Almost everything else burns too hot, burns too dirty, or releases something you do not want in your flue or your living room. Here is the list we go over with homeowners, with the reason behind each item.
Cardboard, boxes and glossy paper
The short answer: a few sheets of newspaper to start a fire are fine, but boxes, pizza cartons and glossy paper are not. Cardboard burns fast and hot, and large pieces lift burning flakes straight up the flue. Those flakes can come down on your roof, in dry leaves sitting in the gutter, or on a neighbor’s deck. Glossy inserts, magazines and wrapping paper also carry coatings and inks that leave heavier residue behind. Break boxes down for the recycling cart instead, and keep starter paper to a few loosely crumpled sheets under the kindling.
Leaves, yard waste and evergreen branches
The short answer: keep the yard out of the firebox. Freshly raked leaves and green trimmings hold a lot of moisture, so they smolder instead of burning. That sends thick smoke and tar-forming vapor up a cool flue, which is exactly how creosote builds up. Dry leaves do the opposite and flare up, carrying glowing bits out the top of the chimney. Evergreen boughs are full of resin that pops and throws sparks. Compost the leaves or set them out for yard-waste collection, and burn only split wood that has had months to dry.
Treated, painted or manufactured wood
The short answer: if the wood came from a project rather than a tree, do not burn it. Pressure-treated lumber, painted or stained trim, pallets with an unknown history, plywood, particleboard and laminate flooring all contain preservatives, glues or finishes that give off harmful fumes when they burn, and some leave an ash you should not handle or spread in a garden. The U.S. EPA Burn Wise program advises against burning treated or painted wood, particleboard, plywood and household trash. An old deck coming down this fall should go to the dumpster, not the hearth.
Wet or freshly cut firewood
The short answer: firewood only becomes good fuel once it is dry. Freshly cut wood can be close to half water by weight, and the fire spends its energy boiling that water away. The result is a weak, smoky fire and a cool flue where tar condenses on the walls. If your wood hisses, sizzles or blackens the fireplace glass, it is too wet. Look for cracked ends, loose bark and a hollow sound when two pieces knock together.
Charcoal, lighter fluid and gasoline
The short answer: never use any of them indoors. Charcoal briquettes are made for outdoor grills. Burned in a fireplace they produce a large amount of carbon monoxide with very little visible smoke, so the danger is easy to miss. Lighter fluid, gasoline and kerosene can flash back out of the firebox and ignite the room. Use dry kindling and a fire starter sold for fireplaces, and keep a working carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the home.
Plastic, foam and household trash
The short answer: trash belongs in the cart, not the chimney. Plastic bags, foam packaging, food wrappers and similar items melt, drip and give off toxic smoke. The residue they leave in the smoke chamber is sticky, hard to brush out, and can hold other deposits in place.
Manufactured fire logs
The short answer: they can be used, but follow the wrapper exactly. Many are labeled for open fireplaces only, not wood stoves or inserts. Most are meant to be burned one at a time and left alone rather than broken apart with a poker. A fire log is not a substitute for dry firewood habits or for having the chimney looked at.
What a sweep finds when the wrong things get burned
The short answer: residue that does not look like normal wood soot. Trash and treated material leave glazed or sticky deposits, melted spots on the damper, and sometimes a chemical smell that lingers after the fire is out. Wet wood leaves heavy creosote in the upper flue where the gases are coolest. If anything on this list has gone into your fireplace, have the flue checked before the heating season gets going. NFPA 211, the standard we work to, calls for a chimney inspection once a year. Our page on chimney sweeping and inspections in Lemont explains what a local visit covers, and you can read how professional chimney sweeping removes built-up deposits.
Elite Sweepers Inc. is insured and bonded, and we give you the price before any work begins. Current rates are listed on our pricing page. We answer 7 days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM, so if you have questions about something that was burned, call (708) 432-3977 before you light the next fire. For the tasks that are safe to handle between visits, see our homeowner chimney maintenance guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use newspaper to start a fire in my fireplace?
Yes. A few loosely crumpled sheets of plain newspaper under dry kindling is a normal way to light a fire. Avoid glossy inserts and magazines, and do not use paper as the main fuel.
Is it safe to burn leaves in the fireplace?
No. Damp leaves smolder and put out heavy smoke that helps creosote form, and dry leaves flare up and can carry glowing pieces out the top of the chimney. Compost them or use yard-waste collection instead.
Why should I not burn old deck boards or pallets?
Pressure-treated and painted lumber contains preservatives and finishes that release harmful fumes when burned. Pallets are often treated or have an unknown history, so they are not worth the risk.
Is it dangerous to burn charcoal in a fireplace?
Yes. Charcoal gives off a large amount of carbon monoxide while producing little visible smoke, so the hazard is hard to notice. Charcoal belongs in an outdoor grill only.
Are manufactured fire logs bad for my chimney?
Not when they are used as labeled. Burn one at a time, only in the type of fireplace the wrapper allows, and do not break it apart while it burns. They do not replace an annual chimney inspection.
How can I tell if my firewood is dry enough to burn?
Dry wood has cracked ends, loose bark and makes a hollow sound when two pieces knock together. Wood that hisses, sizzles or leaves the glass black is still too wet.
I already burned cardboard or trash. What should I do?
Let the fireplace cool completely, then look for sticky, shiny or melted residue around the damper and firebox. If you see any, or smell chemicals after the fire is out, have the chimney inspected before the next fire.
How often should a chimney in Lemont be inspected?
Once a year. NFPA 211, the standard we work to, sets an annual inspection so deposits, damage and clearance problems are caught before they lead to a chimney fire.
Published October 16, 2026