Winter is the perfect time to sit around the fireplace with your family. A cozy fire burning bright, everyone spending quality time with each other, it is a classic holiday sight.
Unfortunately, these picturesque family moments can be ruined by improper fireplace maintenance. If left unattended or not regularly checked, your fireplace fire can quickly get out of hand and create a dangerous situation.
That’s why it’s important to practice fireplace safety before, during, and after using your home’s fireplace. While there are many steps and precautions you can take, here are a few important ones to remember before gathering around the living room fireplace.
- Keep a window cracked open: If possible, try to keep a nearby window cracked open while the fire burns. This will help with airflow, ensuring smoke goes up the chimney and not back into the room.
- Make sure the damper or flue are open: The damper and flue are two plates that sit in your chimney that keep cold air out or convey exhaust gases respectively. If these plates are not opened before you light a fire, smoke will quickly fill the room and create a hazardous situation.
- Use the right wood: Make sure you use dry, older pieces of wood. If your logs are wet or green, you create more smoke, which leads to soot buildup in your chimney.
- Keep flammable objects away: Even with a metal screen or glass door in front of the fire, it’s important to keep flammable objects away from the flames. This includes rugs, curtains, newspaper, etc.
- Never leave a fire unattended: The worst thing you can do when burning a fire is to leave it unattended. Without paying attention to an active fire, there’s always the possibility that an ember can light something on fire, or smoke can fill the room. If you have to leave the house or room for an extended period of time, make sure to put your fireplace fire out.
- Remove ashes before starting another fire: Ashes from a fire can still create new fires almost 3 days after the fire has gone out. That is why it’s important to dispose of ash buildup in your fireplace before lighting a new one. Make sure to dispose of the ashes into a metal bucket or container and place them outside.
- Regularly check fire alarms: Throughout the year, especially during the winter, make sure to check that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
Stay Safe Throughout the Year
By regularly maintaining and cleaning your fireplace, you can help keep your home and family safe during the cold months of winter. Yet, your fireplace is only a small part of your home’s safety. It is important to understand the risks of your home so you can reduce them, as much as possible.
If you need help accounting for everything, look no further than Sanford Insurance. We offer residential homeowners insurance plans along with risk management plans to assist you for anything life can throw at you. From fires, floods, and any disasters you can think of, Sanford Insurance is here for your Richmond home.
Contact us to get a quote and put your home in good, local hands.
Sources: