Fireplace Safety Tips
One of the best things about having a fireplace is the warmth that it provides during the cold winter nights. The visual appeal of a real wood burning fireplace, with the flicker of the flames and crackle of the burning wood can be mesmerizing as well. But there are some safety precautions that you should take to make sure that your fireplace operates safely and efficiently for years as well.
One of the biggest safety tips that you should pay attention to when it comes to fireplace safety is what to do with the ashes that are left over. There are numerous home fires each year that are caused by improperly disposed of ashes. When you dispose of your ashes, you want to make sure that you use a metal container to put them in and not dispose of them in a regular trash can with other combustible materials.
Ashes can hold heat for days after you have enjoyed your fireplace and by improperly disposing of the ashes, you can risk having a fire. You should soak the ashes with water to make sure they are completely cold to touch before disposing of them.
Another tip is to have your fireplace inspected at least yearly. This would also include having it cleaned to prevent creosote buildup. When creosote builds up in your chimney flue, it can restrict the airflow that is needed up the flue itself. Creosote is also flammable and if there is enough heat or flame contact, it can also burn. This can lead to a fire in the chimney flue. If there is an opening in your flue, the fire can spread outside of the flue into the attic or area surrounding the flue and cause significant damage.
You should also check your fireplace insert for any signs of deterioration that can allow the fire to spread outside of the firebox. If flames are allowed to extend outside of the firebox, then you can have a fire in the walls of your home, which can easily spread to other areas of the home.
One last tip is to also check your fireplace tools to make sure they are ready for the next season. Nothing can make you madder than to need to use your poker or ash shovel to find that it is weak, broken or not in the ready condition it should be when you need it.
Just because it is warm outside, the fireplace is typically not on your mind. Now is the best time to take care of these issues as the prices are usually lower since it is off season.