Nothing burns cleanly in a fireplace, even gas ones except for ventless ones.
Anything you burn in a fireplace like wood, oil, fat etc. will produce organic compounds that the fire is unable to break down into non-flammable substances because it does not burn hot enough.
A wood fireplace accumulates creosote, which can build until it is capable of igniting and cause a chimney fire. Oil and fat combust very poorly and will coat the flue with material that is easier to ignite than creosote. This ends up being a hazard worse than just wood byproducts because they can ignite and then set the creosote burning.
Complete combustion of hydrocarbons is difficult and usually requires specialized equipment for that hydrocarbon. A fireplace is probably for wood (I assume nobody here is throwing cooking oil into a gas fireplace), but it’s not even good at that. Cooking oil will spatter and polymerize
French Fry grease will coat your lungs. No reason to be subjecting yourself to that smell if not actively consuming french-fries. I’ve spent enough time frying fast-food and donuts that there’s only the two ways that smell isn’t making me puke: actively cooking or eating. Otherwise, I’m not stepping foot in your fry-scented cancer den.
If you have a fireplace, used cooking oil burns great.
I hope you get your chimney cleaned often because that flue probably looks bituminous otherwise.
Why? (Honest question, seems like a good PSA type moment)
You know the grease you see on the range hood or ceilings of your kitchen/restaurants above the cooktop/stove?
Same thing would happen in your chimney, but combined with wood fire ash.
But the oil is being burnt?
Is there something from the combustion process that causes issues?
Or are you saying some won’t immediately combust and would go up the chimney?
Would be interesting to see research into this.
Nothing burns cleanly in a fireplace, even gas ones except for ventless ones.
Anything you burn in a fireplace like wood, oil, fat etc. will produce organic compounds that the fire is unable to break down into non-flammable substances because it does not burn hot enough.
A wood fireplace accumulates creosote, which can build until it is capable of igniting and cause a chimney fire. Oil and fat combust very poorly and will coat the flue with material that is easier to ignite than creosote. This ends up being a hazard worse than just wood byproducts because they can ignite and then set the creosote burning.
Complete combustion of hydrocarbons is difficult and usually requires specialized equipment for that hydrocarbon. A fireplace is probably for wood (I assume nobody here is throwing cooking oil into a gas fireplace), but it’s not even good at that. Cooking oil will spatter and polymerize
How’s the smell though?
Like French fries
French Fry grease will coat your lungs. No reason to be subjecting yourself to that smell if not actively consuming french-fries. I’ve spent enough time frying fast-food and donuts that there’s only the two ways that smell isn’t making me puke: actively cooking or eating. Otherwise, I’m not stepping foot in your fry-scented cancer den.
I didn’t notice a smell, all the smoke goes up the chimney obviously.
Also a great firestarter if you like to go camping.
As a 90s kid, I prefer a more twisted firestarter.