As beautiful as a roaring fire in your fireplace can be, it can also be very dangerous. This is especially true if you are not very familiar with fire safety tips. Following fire safety practices is very important whenever you light a fire in your home, especially if you have children and pets. All Seasons Chimney would like to share with you a few tips on how to stay safe by the fireplace with your family because your safety is a top priority for us!
Schedule an appointment for a professional chimney sweeping and inspection at least once a year.
To make sure your chimney and fireplace system is working efficiently and safely, it is essential to have a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney technician sweep and inspect the chimney every year. All Seasons Chimney can check everything out to see if there is any damage or other possible problems.
Make sure the damper is completely open before starting a fire.
You need the damper to be open to draw smoke, carbon monoxide, and the other byproducts of combustion out of your home. HealthyChildren.org recommends keeping the damper open until the fire has been fully extinguished. You could have smoldering ashes that could cause your home to be smoky if the damper is closed before the fire is out completely.
Install a screen in front of your fireplace.
Kids and pets can be very curious about your fireplace. It is very important to protect them from getting too close to the flames. Even if you have glass fireplace doors to close while a fire is burning, those doors can become extremely hot and could harm your child if he touches them. Setting up a fireplace safety screen is a great way to keep this area safe for children and pets.
Never leave a burning fire unattended.
You always want to be sure a fire has been extinguished before you go to bed or leave the house. You should also never leave your child alone in the same room as a burning fire. If you must leave the room, even just for a few minutes, you should bring your child with you to be safe.
Following these fire safety practices will help you and your family stay safe and warm by the fireplace. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney for any of your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.