Fireplaces are as much a part of the holidays as Christmas trees, Hanukkah menorahs, holly, and mistletoe. Gathering in front of a crackling fire, warming your numb hands while conversing with family and friends, is another time-honored holiday tradition. Still, safety shouldn’t be overlooked amid the celebration. Let’s look at some chimney and fireplace safety tips for the holidays.
Have Your Chimney Cleaned and Inspected for Holiday SafetyStart the holiday season safely by having your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends an annual sweeping; if it has been longer than a year since the last visit, schedule one now. Every fire coats the flue with creosote, a tarry, highly flammable deposit that ignites at a surprisingly low temperature. A thick layer can send a roaring fire racing through the chimney and into the house—hardly the warmth you want for the holidays.
A qualified sweep removes every trace of creosote and checks for blockages that trap smoke, deadly gases, or (on a lighter note) an incoming visitor in a red suit. One thorough cleaning gives you genuine peace of mind.
Any fireplace owner can tell you that glowing embers can leap from the hearth into the room, so extra caution is essential during the holidays.
Never set a Christmas tree beside the fireplace. A single hot spark on dry needles can turn the tree into a torch in seconds, and the rest of the room will follow moments later. If you decorate the mantel, choose flame-resistant materials and never hang stockings above an active fire.
Keep furniture, chairs, and sofas at least three feet away—the distance most insurance companies require. Near the fireplace, replace flammable curtains with blinds or shutters. Above all, fit a close-fitting mesh screen across the opening: it stops escaping embers and keeps children and pets from reaching the flames.
What belongs in every fireplace safety kit? Beyond the sturdy screen already mentioned, three items stand out.
First, install smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. They give the earliest possible warning of smoke or deadly fumes drifting through the house. Mount them roughly fifteen feet from the hearth—close enough to sense real trouble, far enough to ignore normal wood smoke.
Second, keep a fully charged fire extinguisher (rated ABC) in the same room. Alarms alert you; only an extinguisher lets you fight the flames before they spread. The fire department will still be minutes away; those minutes can save your home.
Always call 911 the moment a fire starts, but a few quick bursts from an extinguisher can keep a small blaze from becoming a disaster. However, if you don’t react fast enough, it will require professionals.
National Chimney Service Can Ensure Your Chimney is Safe This Holiday SeasonIf you want to ensure your chimney is safe for the holidays, contact us today. We will clean your chimney to scrub away creosote, prevent fire outbreaks, and remove blockages that could cause toxic fumes to back into your home. So, get in touch, and we will make sure that a Christmas spent in front of a fireplace is a safe one.
