How to Safely Dispose of Fireplace Ash

Many fire department websites include instructions on how to dispose of fireplace ashes safely. Coals and ashes removed from fireplaces and wood stoves frequently cause home fires. The problem specifically has to do with the way ashes are handled. Information follows that can help you keep your home and family safer by knowing how to dispose of fireplace ashes safely while also recognizing common ways ashes are mishandled.

What Makes Fireplace Ashes Dangerous? 

What many people do not realize is that ashes from fireplaces can remain hot enough to ignite a fire for many days after it seems the fire has gone out. Although ashes may not give off any smoke and even though no heat can be felt radiating off of the ashes, hot coals could be buried underneath the layer of ash. The reason is that ash insulates the coals. The ashes prevent them from burning themselves out for a long time.

The timing of complete fire extinguishment and cooling depends on a range of factors.  For instance, how hot was the fire? What type of wood was being burned?  How much unburned fuel remains?

Undetected coals can be hot enough to ignite wood, vegetation, and paper. They can melt through plastics and often do. A major mistake often made is that ashes from fireplaces are disposed of in plastic bags, which is highly dangerous.

Thousands of fires occur every year as a direct result of improper disposal of fireplace ashes. In addition to destroying property, thousands of people are injured and some are killed because ashes that were improperly disposed of caused a house fire.

Tips on How to Dispose of Fireplace Ashes Safely

Using the right equipment for fireplace ash disposal is the best place to start when preparing for the safe removal of the ashes. It is important to place ashes from a fireplace into a metal container with a metal lid. The bottom of the bucket should have a rim so that the part of the container where the ashes are stored is not flush with the ground.

For your own safety in disposing of fireplace ashes, wear a face mask that will help prevent you from inhaling any of the toxic combustion materials. Also, wear fire-resistant gloves.

The best approach to fireplace ash removal is to consider the ashes to be hot, even if they don’t seem to be.

Where you place the container of fireplace ashes is also important. It is best for the container to be in a ventilated area with no combustible materials nearby. Nothing that is burnable should be near the ash container. The surface that the ash container is placed on also needs to be non-combustible. The location should be away from pets and children, as well, for their protection. Wet down the ashes before transferring them to a trash container.

Tips for Recycling Fireplace Ashes

An alternative to disposing of fireplace ashes is to reuse them, and there are various ways to do that. Ashes are excellent additions to plant beds. They’re incredibly dense in valuable nutrients.

A few household applications for ash follow:

• Mix ash with hot water and pour it down a clogged drain.
• Combine ash with baking soda to create a polishing paste for metals such as stainless steel.
• Use ash as a bleaching agent.
• Neutralize skunk odors with ash.

Contact Dubuque Fire & Patio

Chimney inspections, chimney cleaning, and ongoing maintenance are all essential for fireplace safety.  Contact Dubuque Fireplace & Patio for all of your related needs, including any further questions you may have on how to dispose of fireplace ashes safely.
Call us at (563) 582-5156 today!