The cooler temperatures are quickly approaching and you will find yourself needing your fireplace sooner than later. While we know that you will appreciate the heat that comes into your home while a roaring fire is burning, we recommend that you prepare before you light that first fire.
Here are 5 things you must do to stay safe using your fireplace:
Have a Professional Clean and Inspect Your Chimney
Starting the season with a clean chimney is the best way to ensure that you will not have any unintentional fires. We can come in and clean all the creosote out of your chimney, while we are also removing any debris or animal nests. We will then inspect your chimney to make sure that there is no damage, loose bricks, or missing pieces that needs to be repaired before you can safely use it.
Choose Seasoned Wood
Firewood needs to be dried for a minimum of six months before it can be considered seasoned. Burning this type of wood will allow your fire to burn longer and cleaner. Wet wood or wood that has not been seasoned long enough will create a buildup of creosote and quite a bit of smoke.
Keep Your Hearth Clear
Decorations may look nice sitting on your hearth, but they can create a fire hazard. Flying embers can easily come out of your fireplace and land on whatever is sitting on your hearth. We recommend that you keep this area free of objects and don’t allow anyone to play or sit in this area either.
Don’t Use too Much Wood
If you place too many logs into your fireplace, the heat from the fire may crack your chimney. Therefore, we recommend that you burn fires with as little wood as possible.
Install Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
These detectors can save your life, so they are a must in any home! These detectors will alert you if an ember flies out of your fireplace and starts a fire or if there is a buildup of carbon monoxide in your home. We recommend that you keep these detectors in good working order and test them often to ensure that they are working properly.
Chimney Services in Drexel Hill
Fire is something that everyone should be careful with and we want you to be safe each and every time you light one this year. Therefore, we recommend that you follow the above tips and call us if you have any questions. Call us at 610-626-2439 to schedule chimney cleaning, chimney inspection, dryer vent cleaning, or utility flue cleaning. We’ll schedule an appointment as quickly as possible and help you keep these things under control.