Chimney Safety Tips for Using Your Fireplace This Holiday Season
The moment temperatures dip, homeowners get anxious and excited to enjoy their fireplace. Cozy, warm fires in your home can elevate any ordinary day spent at home. However, before homeowners get too carried away with the festive excitement, there are some important safety tips to consider. Regardless of if you have young children in your home or not, an annual reminder of the basics can benefit anyone. Let’s take a look at a few important tips to safely get you through the winter.
5 Safety Tips to Remember This Holiday Season
Don’t forget your annual inspection and sweep
The importance of regular maintenance is often overlooked. It’s easy for household tasks to pile up and some tasks get lost in the mix. Chimney professionals, as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) highly recommend that homeowners keep up with annual chimney inspections and sweeps. Not only can this minimize the risk of smelly and smoky fires, it also mitigates house fire risks and the likelihood of inhaling toxic fumes. If you need to book annual maintenance, don’t forget to call your chimney professional today.
Make sure decorations aren’t too close to the firebox
With the holidays, it’s tempting to decorate. What’s better than a holiday inspired mantel? It’s important to consider how flammable decorations are and their vicinity to the fire. Even if they don’t touch the flames themselves, they can melt or cause certain decorations to ignite. Have fun with decorating, but don’t forget basic safety considerations in the process.
Consider a gate or fence around the hearth
If you have young children or animals at your home, it may be beneficial to invest in a fence or other form of barricade between the fire and little ones. There are several styles you can choose – from discrete to decorative – but they all serve the same purpose of providing a level of protection. If you have a more rustic hearth made of stone, you also may want to add corner protection of sorts.
Remember to clean in between every few fires
Ash will accumulate in your firebox after every fire. It’s not imperative to clean after every fire, but it may be beneficial every week or every other week. If you don’t, it could potentially make for unpleasant smells or even smoky fires.
Commit to burning dry and seasoned wood
Many think of dry, seasoned wood as a benefit, but it could and should be the norm. Did you know that burning seasoned wood leads to less creosote buildup? This means a lower risk for house fires and fewer toxic chemicals for you and your house to breathe in.
Think Chimney Safety This Holiday Season
If you’re in need of any chimney or fireplace assistance, the team at Dubuque Fireplace & Patio can assist with install, maintenance, and repair. No job is too small or large for us to provide expert assistance. Our team will provide outstanding support every step of the way. If you’re ready to install or in need of a cleaning, reach out to our team today.
