Getting
Prepared for Fireplace Season
You should think about
annual fireplace maintenance as fall begins to
come to an end.
The following tips will
help you to ensure that your fireplace is
operating safely and efficiently as you enter
the cold winter months.
Fireplaces should always be operated with care.
It is never a good idea to leave children
unattended around a lit fireplace. Fire, while
beautiful, has the potential to cause an
incredible amount of damage to your home and
family if not handled carefully.
You should only use a fireplace for a limited
amount of time each day. You should be able to
remove the winter chill from your home in no
more than four to five hours. You always want to
have a screen in front of your fireplace to keep
burning embers from escaping and creating a fire
hazard. It is also important to keep the glass
doors open so that the air can be drawn up the
chimney. To help prevent your home from becoming
smoky it is a good idea to keep a window
slightly cracked.
The best way to start a fire is:
- Move the screen to
one side and open the glass doors
- Carefully place your
newspaper, kindling and logs inside the
fireplace
- Slightly open a
winder and completely open your damper
- Quickly light a match
and blow it out to test for proper air flow.
The smoke from the match should quickly rise
through the chimney.
- Light your fire and
place the screen back in front of it.
You should never allow
children to play near a fire. Any carpet that is
in front of a fire should be non-flammable so
that any escaped embers will not be able to
start a house fire. A set of fireplace tools for
adjusting the flames should always be kept near
the fire.
Extra caution should always be exercised when
cleaning up fireplace coals. The coals used in
fireplaces can remain warm for a few days after
your fire has burned out. The damper should be
open when you remove the ashes so that any ashes
that are airborne will travel up the chimney. As
it can be dangerous to inhale particulate matter
it is a good idea to wear a dust mask when you
empty the ashes. Ashes should be removed from
the fireplace with a shovel and placed in a
metal can far away from any flammable material.
Your local chimney sweeping professional will be
able to answer any specific questions you have
regarding your fireplace. These tips are a great
way to help your family enjoy the beauty and
warmth of a fire while staying safe at the same
time.
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