IT’S TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!
For the Holiday Season, Here Are Some Fireplace Safety Tips.
With bright decorations, warming your feet by the fire, hanging ornaments from the mantle, and special events with friends and family, many people consider the winter holidays to be their favorite time of year. However, before you burn anything, have a fireplace check and clean before hanging those stockings beside the fireplace.
In the meanwhile, we’d like to share some fire safety recommendations with you over the Christmas season.
Check for Smoke Detectors
Ensure that your smoke alarms are in good working order on every level. It’s a good idea to have some spare smoke detector batteries on hand. When your smoke detector’s battery needs to be replaced, hearing that loud chirp sound and discovering you don’t have any spare batteries may be a real pain.
Check the Carbon Dioxide Detector
Carbon dioxide is a poisonous gas that has no odor. It is crucial to take the required measures to avoid carbon dioxide poisoning. Make sure your carbon dioxide detectors are in functioning order.
Seasoned Wood Should Be Burned
Make sure you’re only using seasoned wood when burning wood in your fireplace or woodstove. Soot and creosote development will be reduced if there is less moisture in the wood.
Properly Dispose of Ashes
Carefully dispose of ashes from the fireplace or woodstove. In some instances, there are still hot coals embedded in the ashes. Also, make sure you’re wearing gloves. Finally, a 5-gallon plastic bucket will melt when exposed to burning embers.
Wrapped packages/boxes should not be placed near a fire.
It is not a good idea to set your nicely wrapped gifts or boxes near the fireplace when there is a fire because of the combustibility. Keep candles, portable heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces at least 3 feet away from flammable things.
Wrapping Paper Should Not Be Burned
In wrapping paper, other boxes, cardboard packaging, and colored paper make burning these items harmful. When the chemicals in these items are roasted, they produce incredibly high temperatures. These higher temperatures have the potential to start a chimney fire. Do not use the fireplace to burn your wrapping paper.
Your Christmas tree should not be burned.
Some people consider hacking down their Christmas trees and burning them in the fireplace as a way to get rid of them. This is a terrible plan. The tree may create a fire danger if it has not been adequately dried for burning.
Always have a fire extinguisher handy.
This tip may seem self-evident, but we wish more people would follow it and get a fire extinguisher for their house. Some fires can occur. It’s usually a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher nearby if you need to put out a fire before it gets out of hand.
Questions?
We’re not just here to build fireplaces at Fireplace Gallery; we’re also here to make sure you’re safe while you use your fireplace or woodstove. We would prefer you call us or any fireplace specialist to inquire about fire safety and what you should and should not burn in your fireplace rather than take needless risks.