A fireplace can be a terrific addition to a living room, dining room or even the backyard. It provides character, décor, warmth, and a sense of joy and comfort in whatever room you opt to place it in. It is important you take the proper precautionary measures when running the fireplace to remain safe. Here are some safety tips to help you protect your family and home.
When it comes to the fireplace itself, you want to make sure the chimney is cleaned before every fall and winter. This will not only remove soot and resin build-up, but it will also ensure that there are no birds or other flying objects that have settled in.
As for the room where you will be placing the fireplace, it is vital you place
hearth rugs or some other kind of hearth material like tile or metal on the floors. All hearth rugs that you look at need to be fireproof or fire retardant. This will protect the carpet or hardwood that is nearby from potential sparks and ashes that float out.
To further prevent sparks and ashes from coming out of the fireplace, look into installing metal mesh curtains or
fireplace screens. This will not only protect your floor, but it will also prevent injury to your children or pets if a log pops or shifts. While fireplace screens will reduce the amount of heat that comes out a little bit, it will also keep most of the smoke inside.
When building a fire, make sure you do not burn trash. What many people do not understand is that this can burn hotter than firewood causing the chimney to crack. You also do not want to burn fresh-cut wood. You are better off burning hardwoods and low-resin evergreens.
As the fire gets going, you want to keep the fire inside of the fireplace. It is vital you do not place a great deal of lighter fluid on the flames. Stay safe by using a small amount of newspaper, small branches, medium-sized firewood, and one large log. This will prevent the flames from getting to big which can cause trouble.
The final safety tip with your fireplace is to be careful how you put the fire out. Using
hearth gloves and the proper tools can help you effectively put out the flame. You want to dampen ashes with a mist of water and sweep the ashes into a dustpan with a broom or scoop. It is imperative you take the right precautionary measures to properly put out the fire.
