Fireplace Safety Tips for You and Your Valentine

Curling up together in front of a roaring fire is a romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day with your significant other, but you don’t want to let safety issues with your fireplace turn your date night into a tragedy. With that in mind, here are some fireplace safety tips for you and your Valentine.

Have Your Chimney Serviced Before Use

Cleaning your chimney isn’t just for holidays. It needs to be done at least once a year. If you don’t have your chimney cleaned annually the logs you burn in your fireplace will create a sticky, highly flammable substance called creosote which will blanket the inside of your chimney. Over time, the creosote will become thicker and thicker, which will undoubtedly lead to a chimney fire. Using a professional and trustworthy chimney sweep service to clean your chimney can circumvent chimney fires.

Use a Screen in Front of Your Fireplace

Embers tend to be launched from a fireplace and catch things such as rugs or curtains on fire. Be sure to keep your furniture at least three feet away from your fireplace; if not, a blaze could flash up seconds after an ember lands on a chair or rug. The solution is to place a screen in front of your fireplace to keep embers in and flammable things from coming out. A screen also keeps pets and children from burning themselves in the fire.

Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Before Your Valentine Fire

One thing that should be done regularly is to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You don’t want them to fail because disaster will follow. Placing fresh batteries in your detectors will ensure that your family and pets are protected from fires and toxic fumes. If you don’t have smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, it’s time you have them; they could save your life. Make sure to place them fifteen feet from your fireplace for optimum performance.

Never Burn Anything Other Than Wood in Your Fireplace

Using anything but seasoned wood in your fireplace is not a good idea. Painted or treated wood can give off fumes that could cause ill to your family and pets or even be fatal. The same can be said of plastics and other non-wood materials. Make sure that you use seasoned wood for the best effect. Using green or uncured wood will create smoke that will quickly fill up the room where your fireplace is located.

Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby

There is no better way to keep you and your Valentine safe than to keep a fire extinguisher in the same room as your fireplace. If the fire in your hearth gets out of control, you will be able to subdue it right away.

In Conclusion

So, if you want to keep your Valentine safe year-round, heed these fireplace safety tips.

Dubuque Fire Place and Patio Can Get Your Chimney Ready for Valentine’s Day

If you want to ensure that your fireplace has been inspected and is clean to perform at its best, contact us today. One of our knowledgeable and friendly chimney experts will be happy to discuss scheduling our crew of qualified and experienced chimney sweeps to come to your home. Don’t wait until your fireplace has an issue; get in touch today!