Keeping Your Fireplace Safe

Same Day Carpet Cleaning Paramount — Destructive fires are ignited every year as a result of unsafe or incorrect use. Fires can be avoided if certain safety precautions are followed. You can keep your family and home safe from fire threats by following these guidelines.

Make sure the area around your fireplace is free of debris and clutter at all times. A fireplace can be a welcoming and comforting space, but it can also be dangerous. Keep newspaper, kindling, and firewood away from smoldering embers as much as possible. To keep those hot embers from leaping out of the fireplace, always use a fireplace screen.

Your chimney should also be inspected on a yearly basis. A bird may have made a decision during the summer months. That nest could prevent the smoke from exiting your home. The nest could possibly catch fire, or it might cause your home to fill with smoke. Either way, it is not an ideal situation. Creosote is a flammable material that will build up in your chimney over time, so you will also need to have it cleaned every year or so.

Another thing to be mindful of is the amount of wood you are burning at any given time. A fire can grow out of control quite easily and the more wood you use, the more heat and flames will be produced. Do not overload your fireplace. Be extra careful not to burn anything other than wood are a manufactured fire log. Newspapers or garbage are very dangerous when burned in a fireplace. Think smart.

Just in case, always keep a fire extinguisher close at hand. A fire can get out of control very fast, and you may not have time to go looking for a fire extinguisher when you need one most. Also, ensure that your home is equipped with smoke alarms. If your smoke alarms are powered by batteries, be sure to change them every few months. Ideally, they should be hard-wired into the electrical system of your home.

Never, under any circumstances, leave your fire unattended. Always keep your children away from the fire, and explain to them the danger that it poses. You can even visit your local fire hall to obtain a video on fire safety that is geared towards children. Make sure that you do not go to bed unless the fire has burned out. By following these simple tips, you and your family can get cozy in front of the fireplace for years to come.
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