Duraflame logs nasty smoke and smell

[nicelyprepared]

I see that others have had the problem with horrific odor from Dura Flame logs. I've been using them for many years but the other night I burned on and had to leave the room because the fumes/smell was so bad. I closed the door to the room and opened a window. 24 hours later I went in and the embers were still glowing and the room engulfed in this toxic smell/odor. Removed the ashes (still hot and glowing) and put them in our fire pit outside. Now 3 days later we can still not use the room. I've tried burning incenses but that didn't help at all. Does anyone know how to get rid of this toxic odor/smell?

[SolaireSolstice]

I use firelogs in my outdoor firepit. It's usually just me, and they burn easily over about 4 hrs.

I usually buy Duraflame, and I have found they burn better than other firelogs, but yes, the odor is different than regular wood.

I recently bought "Enviro-Logs". The experience has been ridiculous. They don't burn, they smoldered. The smell was amazing. My husband suggested putting one in WITH the Duraflame, and maybe they would burn better, so I did once the Duraflame was fully engulfed. The Enviro-Log only smoked. When I went to bed, the Duraflame was fully extinguished and the Enviro-log was smoking a lot. I put the fire screen on and went to bed expecting fully for it to die out. The next morning, still smoking, and it was SMELLY. At about 11am, I went out to shake out rugs, and it was caught flame. And burned fully for the next 4 hours. Apparently I just never gave it enough time.... (they're crap, don't believe the label).

[earslikeacat]

White vinegar: drench a rag in it, and waft it around the room. The room will smell like vinegar, but if you do it a couple nights in a row the smell will go away.
I had a fireplace for 18 years and used it maybe 5 times. Hate them. Sooo bad for the environment. Can.t stand the big dark hole in the wall thats a PITA to decorate around.

[Nonesuch]

Originally Posted by earslikeacat

I had a fireplace for 18 years and used it maybe 5 times. Hate them. Sooo bad for the environment. Can.t stand the big dark hole in the wall thats a PITA to decorate around.

I love my fireplace. Without a fireplace mantle, there's nowhere to hang my great granddads musket above, or stockings below.

Fireplaces are nice for ambience, but if you want to heat your house, a fireplace insert or freestanding wood stove is the way to go.

I sometimes burn seasoned hardwood from my own land, but for heat I use BioBricks, Canawick blocks and Superlogs. Unlike Duraflame, these are all pure wood, ground up and run through a press, basically giant size wood pellets. Less work than cordwood, and if you buy early in the season, possibly less expensive than seasoned hardwood.

Originally Posted by SolaireSolstice

I use firelogs in my outdoor firepit. It's usually just me, and they burn easily over about 4 hrs. I usually buy Duraflame, and I have found they burn better than other firelogs, but yes, the odor is different than regular wood.I recently bought "Enviro-Logs". The experience has been ridiculous. They don't burn, they smoldered.

"Enviro-Logs", made from cardboard and wax, sound even nastier than Duraflame. Still sounds less wacky than the Java-Log!

With any high-density log, smoldering is a possibility, so you really need to get the fire off to a roaring start if you want it to do more than slowly smoke. I make sure the logs are raised on a fire grate, and use birch twigs and fatwood to get it going.

[BostonMike7]

I had to move away from the duraflame logs. I've had more smoke-outs with those than anything I've ever used. Cleanest burn I get, is with properly seasoned hardwood from trees I've removed from the yard, and seasoned over a year. Very little smoke, and burn very well.


I still have some duraflame logs on hand. I've used them in firepits in the yard, where I tend to use wetter wood that I won't use in the house.


Personally, I love having a wood-burning fireplace. Anytime I'm parked in front of the TV in the living room, I burn a few logs.