Your fireplace is an elegant focal point in your home, which can provide atmospheric lighting and practical heating. When using a fireplace, you should always be aware that an open flame presents several dangers that must be controlled. Here are several fireplace safety tips you should follow to keep your home and family safe this winter:
- Ensure proper ventilation: Burning wood and gas can create carbon monoxide, a very dangerous gas. Make sure your fireplace is properly venting this gas out of your home and up the chimney.
- Have regular chimney inspections: Call your heating specialist for regular chimney and flue inspections. Fireplaces should be cleaned and checked at least annually.
- Monitor children when fires are burning: Open flames often fascinate children, making the chance of injury very high. Make sure children are away from the fire or install a childproof gate.
- Don’t leave fires unattended: While your fireplace is in use, stay in the room to ensure no accidents occur. Always put the fire out if you’re leaving the room for an extended period or if you’re going to bed.
- Keep the fireplace area clean and clear of debris: Ensure your mantel and the area around your fireplace is clean, uncluttered and free of flammable materials, such as paper and boxes. A spark from your fire can ignite items near the fireplace.
- Do not use accelerants: Do not use flammable liquids, such as gasoline or charcoal lighter fluid, to start a fire. Fires started with these types of materials can easily get out of control or could spread to areas outside the fireplace where flammable fluids have been accidentally spilled.
- Burn only proper fuel: Do not burn paper, cardboard, trash, or other waste material in your fireplace.
Contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing today for more fireplace safety tips and information. We serve the Brownsburg area and have more than 40 years of experience in the HVAC service business.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Neil Podoll/Shutterstock”
