Safety Tips for Fireplace Season

If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace in your home, winter for you is a time of cozying up in front of the fire and enjoying its soothing warmth. Fires can be deadly, however, if careful steps aren’t taken to monitor the flames and properly maintain the fireplace. Follow these tips shared by Handyman Connection to keep your home and family safe this fireplace season, while still enjoying your fireplace to the fullest.

• Have your chimney cleaned and inspected yearly. Whenever a wood fire burns in your fireplace, a byproduct called creosote is released and deposited on the lining of your chimney. Creosote is extremely flammable, and becomes even more of a fire hazard as it builds up – which is why it’s so important to have a qualified professional clean your chimney every season before lighting the first fire. The chimney contractor should also perform a thorough inspection of the fireplace in order to identify any potential hazards that may need to be addressed.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector. Known as the “silent killer”, carbon monoxide gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless. The risk for carbon monoxide poisoning increases if the fireplace flue is mistakenly left closed while a fire is burning, or accidentally closes over a smoldering fire after everyone has gone to bed. If you have a woodburning stove or fireplace in your home, a carbon monoxide detector is essential for protecting your home and family from this deadly killer. If you don’t already have one installed, call on the electrical handyman services available from Handyman Connection to have one put in.
• Never turn your back on a fire. Avoid starting a fire in your fireplace unless you know that you’ll be around the full length of time it’s burning. While most fireplaces have multiple safety features in place, accidents can happen, and it’s never wise to let a fire burn unsupervised. In addition, refrain from using water to extinguish a fire, as it could damage the interior of your fireplace and cause hot embers to scatter and potentially start a fire.
• Clean out the fireplace regularly. The ashes left behind by wood-burning fires can build up quickly if you burn fires frequently throughout the week. When ashes are allowed to accumulate, smoldering embers can remain behind, catching fire when you least expect it. Thoroughly cleaning out the fireplace at least once a week will prevent this from happening.

Get Help From the Pros

Being able to enjoy the warmth and comfort of a crackling fire is one of the joys of having a fireplace, but it’s also important to use safe fire practices. To ensure that your home is ready for fireplace season and all necessary general home repair tasks are completed before the worst winter weather hits, give the experts at Handyman Connection a call today at 1-800-88-HANDY.