Having a fireplace in your home is a wonderful way to enjoy those cold nights and spend time with the family. It can save you money on your heating bill, and a fireplace can come in very handy when the weather is at its worse and you lose power. Being able to naturally heat the interior of your home, even if it’s just a room, can give you peace of mind that everyone is safe and sound. Here we show you a few simple safety tips for your fireplace so that you can enjoy all of the advantages they have to offer and protect yourself from any dangers.
Hire a Professional Chimney Sweep
A professional chimney sweep can get the job done right the first time, so that you don’t have to worry about any time being wasted. They know that the build up in a fireplace is one of main causes of a house fire, and they have the training to ensure that they properly clean and maintain your chimney so that you never have to experience this. They’ll also respect the integrity of your home by using techniques that keep everything clean of the soot, so that when they leave your home looks exactly how they arrived.
Light Fires and Put Them Out Using the Best Practices
Lighting fires in your home is very different than lighting them at a campsite or in a grill. You’ll want to have an ash bucket handy, as well as the proper tools that are made with material that can withstand the heat like wrought iron. Make sure that you have a screen that you can cover the fire with that properly fits the fireplace so that you don’t have any loose embers pop out on a rug or wood floor. Your chimney sweep can answer any questions you have about the grate that goes under the logs for airflow and the screen that protects the space around the fireplace.
Make Sure Your Space Is Well Ventilated
Make sure that you have your chimney properly opened and that your space is well ventilated. You don’t want to lose any air quality or reduce the amount of oxygen in the room without you realizing it. You’ll also want to remove anything from the room that is extremely flammable or any gases that you may be storing. Your chimney sweep can give your space an inspection to let you know what is fine where it is, and what need to be moved to another room.
Keep Up With the Yearly Inspection
A yearly inspection from chimney sweeps is an excellent way to stay on top of your safety when using a fireplace. Take the time to ask questions when they visit, and get your family involved so that they know the proper safety procedures to use when you’re not there. A little knowledge can go a long way and you’ll be more at ease by the fire than ever before.
