Chilly fall and winter nights are a great time to use your fireplace, but it's important to do so safely. Fireplaces can be hazardous regarding house fires, burns, carbon monoxide leaks and other dangers. Before using your fireplace, make sure you're familiar with the following safety tips.
Schedule a cleaning and inspection
Your fireplace should be cleaned and inspected every year to ensure it's in good condition and safe to use. Wood-burning fireplaces need to be cleaned to remove soot and creosote buildup, which can cause house fires. Gas and electric fireplaces should also be inspected each year to identify potential safety issues and have them repaired before using them. All fireplaces should be checked for nests or other obstructions in chimneys.
Remove flammable items from the area
Flammable items can quickly catch fire when they're close to fireplaces, such as when sparks or ashes fly out. Keep any flammable material or items away from your fireplace before you use it.
Use safe wood sources
When you have a wood-burning fireplace, use smaller, dry and well-aged pieces of wood. Damp or green wood produces more smoke and can cause soot to accumulate inside your chimney. Smaller pieces of well-aged, dry wood don't produce as much smoke, resulting in a safer and cleaner burn.
Use a flame-resistant fireplace screen
A mesh screen or curtain helps keep ashes from flying out of your fireplace and onto carpeting, furniture and other surfaces. These screens also help reduce the risk of burns.
Never leave fireplaces unattended
Avoid leaving your fireplace unattended when you have a fire going. Stay in the room as much as possible while it's burning, and make sure the fire is fully out before you leave your house or head to bed.
Install carbon monoxide detectors
Wood-burning and gas fireplaces can be a source of carbon monoxide leaks. Carbon monoxide detectors can help you avoid any leaks and ill-effects by alerting you to any issues. You can then move your household outside and have the issue corrected. Avoid going back into your home until there is no trace of carbon monoxide in the air.
About the Author
Claire Rainville
I have been conducting business in this local area for 20 years as a full-time real estate broker. My priority as a real estate broker is to ensure my client’s satisfaction through providing them top-class service specifically catered to their individual needs. As your agent, I will effectively communicate with other parties involved in your transaction to ensure the purchase or sale of your home/land/investment property goes smoothly. I use my high-touch philosophy and high-tech resources to attractively market my listings as a seller’s agent, and will proactively use my connections as an experienced real estate broker to find my clients’ their dream home. I am also available via phone, email or text messaging to accommodate my clients’ various schedules and/or preferred mode of communication.
