Why Fireplace Safety and Cleaning Your Chimney Matters
Whether you live solo, own a business, or have small children running around the home — fireplace safety matters, and cleaning your chimney is a big part of that. Simply getting your chimney cleaned annually gives you the peace of mind you need to sleep soundly at night while protecting your business and family during the winter months.
Fireplace Safety for Homes and Businesses
Fireplace safety is important both at home and work, to provide optimal security for your family, employees, and tenants. When at home with small children, it’s good to invest in a fireplace gate or safety screen to keep distance between the fire and small, curious hands. Keep the mantel clear of flammable items and ensure that curtains and drapes are pulled back and out of reach. Install both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check and replace batteries at least once a year.
How to Safely Use Your Fireplace
Before lighting a fire, open the damper or flue to draw smoke out of the house — and don’t close the damper until the embers have gone out completely. Always ensure the fireplace is clear of excess ash before starting a new fire — but leave some behind! The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends leaving a one-inch bed of ashes on the fireplace floor to catch and insulate coals to keep your fire burning hotter for longer. Using dry wood versus wet wood will decrease the amount of smoke and ensure a cleaner burn.
Never leave a fireplace unattended.
Keep the fireplace free of old, excess ashes.
Keep the damper or flue open when burning.
Invest in a fire gate or safety screen.
Check batteries on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Keep a fire extinguisher accessible.
Never leave a fireplace unattended.
Keep the fireplace free of old, excess ashes.
Keep the damper or flue open when burning.
Invest in a fire gate or safety screen.
Check batteries on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Keep a fire extinguisher accessible.
How to Keep Your Chimney Safe and Clean
A fireplace or chimney should be cleaned annually (according to the CSIA) or when there is 1/8’’ of creosote and soot buildup on the chimney liner. The best way to ensure that your fireplace and chimney are safe is to call a professional cleaner to inspect and clean your chimney at least once a year.
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), more than 25,000 chimney fires take place in America each year, causing over $125 million in property damage. Even with home and fire insurance, families and businesses can protect their families and properties from possible chimney fires by adhering to proper fireplace safety and keeping an annual chimney cleaning on the calendar.
There’s nothing quite like the ambiance and warmth a log fire brings to an evening at home in the winter with family or friends. Enjoy your wood fires this season by scheduling a chimney cleaning today! Our team of specialists will inspect and clean the chimneys located on your property, removing soot and creosote to keep your fireplaces safe.
Let us be your 1st Choice Chimney service.
