Fireplace Safety Basics
Enjoying the warmth of your fireplace is one of the true pleasures of the cooler months. In order to cozy up in comfort, it’s important to clean your fireplace & take a few precautions. So before lighting that first fire read through Bent Nails fireplace safety tips!
Fireplace Safety Tips & Maintenance
- Some fireplaces are not intended for actual fires but are simply meant to be decorative. Never start a fire in a fireplace that has been altered in order to prevent it from being used. Check the linings & make sure that the smoke ducts, chimney & the vents are clean & clear.
- Hire a certified chimney inspector to check your fireplace and chimney for any problems. A home maintenance inspection also covers components like insulation, ventilation & your heating system, making fall a great time to schedule your inspection!
- Do not use your fireplace instead of your furnace & never leave a fire burning for longer than 5 hours.
- Be sure to use a fire screen. Open the glass door, which allows air to flow up & cool down your chimney, but close the screen in order to keep sparks from escaping.
- You should never let children near fire tools, even when adults are close by & of course, you should never leave a burning fire unattended when kids are near.
- Ensure proper ventilation by opening the damper & a window, at least by a few inches. Light a match & blow it out to check whether the smoke is going up the chimney as it should be.
- When selecting a rug to place in front of your fireplace, choose one that’s non-flammable or heat resistant with a non-flammable backing.
- A chimney blocked by debris or animal nests can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your house. Use a chimney cap to help prevent this from happening.
- Stains on your fireplace’s glass doors can be difficult to remove. After the doors have cooled, use a razor blade to remove any tough or gooey residue. Mix dishwashing detergent liquid with warm water & apply it to the glass via sponge or spray bottle. Wipe the glass down with wadded up newspaper, which won’t leave behind any lint.
- Did you know that it can take up to 3 days before fireplace coals cool down enough to no longer be a fire threat? Once 3 days have passed, close the damper, don a dust mask, open a window & shovel ashes into a container made of metal. Do not vacuum up ashes.
- Hire a professional to clean your chimney once a year.
If you follow Bent Nails fireplace safety tips, you’ll know your family is warm, safe & comfortable indoors on the coldest of days!
Bent Nails Home Inspections is licensed & certified by InterNACHI to inspect Fireplaces/chimneys and follow the link to view areas I serve with complete home inspection services. Contact me today if you’re in Ottawa, or the surrounding areas!