An indoor wood-burning fireplace offers warmth and relaxation that can bring tranquility to your home, and with winter right around the corner, you will likely be enjoying fires frequently on the cold nights that are to come. However, that cozy, crackling fireplace can also cause a host of problems if you do not take the proper precautions. In fact, heating equipment such as indoor fireplaces are among the leading causes of house fires.
To ensure your family's comfort and safety, keep reading for a look at a few fireplace safety tips to help keep you warm and safe this winter.
Make Sure The Flue is Open
Before you even start adding logs to your fireplace, the most important thing for you to do is double-check that your flue is fully open. Once you have a fire going, it can be much harder to open your flue, and by that point, your room could be filled with smoke and deadly carbon monoxide. Even if you are pretty sure that your flue is already open, it never hurts to check again.
Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The start of the winter season is also the perfect time to make sure that the carbon monoxide detectors in your home are working properly, as you will be using your fireplace and furnace frequently. Make sure that your carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and alert properly when you press the "test" button, as this can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.
Use a Screen
Most homes with a fireplace will either have a screen curtain built into the fireplace that can slide open, or they will have a detached screen that is meant to be placed in front of the fireplace when a fire is burning. Either way, it is critical that you have a screen in front of your fireplace at all times when a fire is lit (particularly when you are out of the room), as this will prevent sparks from jumping out that could either damage your flooring or even start a fire. If this screen is damaged or missing, you should make sure to have it replaced before you start using your fireplace this winter.
If your fireplace has glass doors as well as screens, make sure that you keep the glass open when you are using your fireplace. This will allow air to be drawn up to cool the chimney and pull smoke out of your home.
Invest in High-Quality Grates or Andirons
Your fireplace's grates and andirons are meant to prevent the wood from rolling out of your fireplace. Unfortunately, low-quality grates can slowly melt and droop, causing burning logs to potentially roll out and cause injury or a house fire. Instead, consider investing in high-quality andirons, as these solid brackets will provide sufficient support to keep burning logs in place.
Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby
While fireplaces are safe (when used properly) and have helped warm homes for centuries, it is best to be prepared by making sure that you have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency. Make sure that everyone in your household knows where it is and how to use it, and take the time to ensure that it is still charged and in-date before winter arrives.
Do Not Leave Your Fireplace Unattended
Never leave your fireplace unattended for extended periods of time. While it is okay to step out of the room momentarily, do not let your fireplace run for hours while you are showering, doing chores, or sleeping, as this could put your safety at risk. It is particularly important that you never leave a fire unattended when there are children in the house who may try to play near the fire or with fire tools and equipment.
Handle Fireplace Ashes With Care
People often make the mistake of assuming that fireplace ashes do not pose a threat once all of the flames have gone away. However, fireplace coals can remain hot enough to start a fire for three days when left in your fireplace, and as long as seven days in a metal trash can or fire bucket. To ensure your safety and prevent inadvertently starting a fire on your property, wait a few days after having a fire before removing ashes from your fireplace. After removing them, douse the ashes thoroughly with a lot of water before throwing them out so that you don't start a trash or forest fire.
Have Your Fireplace and Chimney Professionally Inspected
Perhaps the most important fireplace safety tip that you should follow this winter is to have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep. Chimney defects and excessive soot buildup are some of the most common causes of house fires, making hiring a chimney sweep to inspect and clean your fireplace essential in ensuring you can safely use your fireplace this winter. You should have your fireplace inspected annually, or every 80 fires, whichever comes first.
Taking certain precautions when using your fireplace is essential in order to ensure the safety of you, your family, and other families in your HOA. Feel free to contact us to learn more about steps that you can take to keep your community safe.
Amanda Causey
Jennifer Harvey
Staff Writer
