Fireplace Safety Tips for the Home and Your Family
Heating equipment, like fireplaces, is the leading cause of fires in homes. You can reduce fire risk and keep your home safe with simple fireplace safety tips and a little maintenance.
Fire Safety Tips 101
Prevent Creosote Buildup
Creosote is a big cause of many fireplace fires. It’s a highly flammable byproduct of burning wood. It can build up inside your fireplace and chimney which could then possibly ignite. A chimney fire can spread very quickly to other parts of your home before you even notice it.
To prevent this hazard:
- Always use dry, seasoned wood. Green or unseasoned wood produces more creosote. How do you know if your wood is ready for a fireplace? Try to buy it from a reputable source. Look for dark ends and cracks or splits in the wood.
- Have your fireplace cleaned and inspected once a year. The Chimney Safety Institute of America says that this is the best way to prevent fireplace fires. Before the cool temps when you will be eager to have a crackling fire, hire a professional to inspect and clean your chimney.
- Get enough air to your fire. Proper ventilation helps the wood burn cleaner and reduces creosote production. Keep the damper and fireplace doors open while using your fireplace. Keep the ash cleared as that will also help with better airflow.
Don’t burn paper.
During the holiday season, avoid the temptation to toss used wrapping paper in the fireplace. Burning paper can create floating embers that can ignite possible creosote build up in your chimney. Recycle the wrapping paper if you can.
Prevent burns.
Fireplaces are kind of a magical feature in a room. It is understandable that we want to be close to the flickering flames and the warmth. However, that increases the chance of being burnt. Teach children the proper respect for the fireplace. Install safety screens that can help prevent loved ones from getting a little too close.
Cap it off.
If your chimney flue doesn’t already have one, you should get a chimney flue cap installed. This will prevent birds and animals from getting inside and causing havoc. They usually aren’t super expensive and a DIYer can probably handle the installation.
Give it space.
Be careful to not leave pillows and blankets too close. A good guideline is to keep your stuff at least three feet away from your fireplace.
Don’t forget accessories.
Fireplace tools can also be a hazard. Make sure that your tools, matches, and lighters are put safely away after use. Some essential accessories would be a good fire extinguisher, a CO detector, and a smoke detector. Give us a shout to learn about our fire alarms, CO detectors, smoke detectors, and 5 Diamond Certified local monitoring.
