Fireplace Safety , Firecraft tips to make sure you keep safe and warm this winter
- Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
- Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside of sleeping areas. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
- Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment. Make sure all vent pipes extend at least three feet above the roof.
Fireplace Safety Tips From Firecraft
While enjoying your fire this winter, be sure that all fireplaces are as safe as possible
- If you have glass doors, leave them open while burning a fire so that the fire receives enough air to ensure the stove recieves complete combustion and keep soot from building up in the chimney.
- Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have a glass fireplace door.
- Never use flammable liquids to start a fire and use only seasoned hardwood. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash, charcoal or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
- Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
- When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
- Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving your home.
- Keep air inlets on wood stoves open and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.