What better way to spend the holidays than enjoying a cozy fire and good company with friends and family? If you’re excited to light up your fireplace this Thanksgiving, read on for some of our top safety tips to keep in mind as the fireplace roars!
Use the Right FirewoodThe best fire to burn in your fireplace is seasoned, hardwoods. Burning the right types of wood in your fireplace can not only create a longer-lasting fire, but also help to prevent excess smoke and dangerous fumes in your space.
Some of our favorite woods include oak, maple, and hickory!
Fireplace accessories can be a great aesthetic addition to your fireplace, but they can also help create a safer environment for your fire to burn! Fireplace screens and doors help prevent stray embers from escaping the fireplace onto floors, carpets, and other flammable materials.
Speaking of flammable materials, it’s important to keep flammable household items a safe distance from the fireplace in case of mishaps. This will minimize the chance of any escaped embers or larger than expected flames starting a fire in your home. That is the last thing you need over the holidays and when company is over.
Have you ever experienced an extra smokey fireplace? While there are a few reasons this can happen, a more common one than you might think is improper damper placement. Ensuring your damper is open and functioning properly while burning a fire in your fireplace will help allow the smoke and carbon monoxide to travel out of the chimney as intended rather than gathering and spilling into your space.
Smaller friends and family, even the ones with fur, are notorious for being curious little creatures. We’ve all let our curiosity get the better of us at one time or another, just don’t let it happen with the fireplace while hosting! Practicing fire safety and keeping a close eye on any children or pets when the fireplace is in use will ensure a safer and more enjoying experience for everyone!
Although fireplaces are designed for safely contained fires, accidents happen. It’s important to stay alert, aware, and present anytime your fireplace is in use. Leaving your fireplace unattended can lead to a disaster that may have been avoidable or minimized with your supervision.
Possibly one of the most important parts of owning a fireplace is to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Always check your alarms and replace batteries as needed to ensure a safer fireplace experience. What better time to check than before guests arrive.
Finally, be sure to schedule your annual inspection and cleaning before the holidays arrive. A cleaner chimney is a safer chimney and, without an inspection from the professionals, your chimney or fireplace might be hiding damaged or dirty components that could lead to danger.
We’re here to make your holidays a little happier! Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule your inspection, cleaning, repair, or installation with the pros!
