The Fundamentals Of Family Fireplace Safety
Northshore Fireplace wants to make sure you and your family enjoy your fireplace, while also practicing smart fireplace safety. With this helpful guide, you can enjoy your fireplace with peace of mind.
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1. Always have an adult supervise a fire, from the moment it is lit until the ashes are cold. This is the most important part of fireplace safety – a fire should never burn unattended.
2. Used licensed installers when setting up your fireplace. These professionals will ensure your fireplace is heat-proofed and properly vented.
3. Use a safety gate. A non-toxic, heat resistant, metal safety gate is the best way to keep your children or pets a safe distance from the fire.
4. Do not keep a fire alarm in the same room as your fireplace. While it may seem natural to keep a fire alarm nearby, the smoke and heat can trigger false alarms. However, you should keep fire alarms in every sleeping area, as well as at least one on every floor of your home.
5. Do install a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as your fireplace. Carbon monoxide is a silent danger that has no odor. Installing carbon monoxide detectors in hallways near sleeping areas is also recommended.
6. Do not clutter the fireplace area. While it may be tempting to decorate your hearth with knick-knacks or other decorations, it is essential to fireplace safety that the area remains free and clear of any decorations, debris, or flammable materials.
7. Do not mount your television over your fireplace. The heat from the fire can damage your television. Also, such a placement is too high and can result in neck strain.
8. Before lighting your fire, make sure to open your damper. This is generally done by pulling the handle all the way to the right. Opening your damper ensures that gases are properly vented. To make sure that your damper is fully open, it is recommended to check it with a flashlight.
9. While your fire is burning, leave the glass doors open. This helps make sure there is enough air available for complete combustion, which helps to keep your chimney free of creosote – a tar that can build up in your chimney, becoming a dangerous fire hazard. You will want to keep a mesh screen in front of your open glass doors, however, to keep embers from escaping.
10. After your fire is out and the ashes are cool, close the glass doors. This prevents air in the chimney from seeping into your room. You should also close your damper to help keep the cold air out of your home.
11. Let your damper handle cool before touching it. It is also recommended to wear an oven mitt while touching the metal handle to help prevent any burns or injuries.
12. You should only burn dried, cut firewood. Softwood (such as fir and pin) burns more quickly and is better used when beginning a fire. Hardwood (such as maple and oak) is more suited to burning in an established fire, once your chimney is heated. Fallen tree limbs make excellent kindling if they are given the proper amount of time to try.
13. Never burn flammable liquids, charcoal, soft or moist wood, painted or pressure-treated wood, or trash in your fireplace. The vapors from flammable liquids can explode, charcoal produces carbon monoxide, soft or moist wood encourages more creosote, and trash and painted or pressure-treated wood can release harmful vapors or chemicals.
14. Make sure to dispose of your ashes properly. Allow your ashes to cool at least overnight before disposing of them in a metal container outside your home. Always moisten the disposed ashes, and never put anything but ashes in the container. Ashes should be hauled away with the rest of your garbage.
Fire & Emergency Evacuation Gear and Supply – From Fire Axes and Fire Escape Ladders to Barricade “Caution” Tape, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Escape Masks and Kidde Digital Carbon & Fire Alarms – we’ve got your Emergency and Fire Evacuation Supplies in one easy location and at great prices
1. Always have an adult supervise a fire, from the moment it is lit until the ashes are cold. This is the most important part of fireplace safety – a fire should never burn unattended.
2. Used licensed installers when setting up your fireplace. These professionals will ensure your fireplace is heat-proofed and properly vented.
3. Use a safety gate. A non-toxic, heat resistant, metal safety gate is the best way to keep your children or pets a safe distance from the fire.
4. Do not keep a fire alarm in the same room as your fireplace. While it may seem natural to keep a fire alarm nearby, the smoke and heat can trigger false alarms. However, you should keep fire alarms in every sleeping area, as well as at least one on every floor of your home.
5. Do install a carbon monoxide detector in the same room as your fireplace. Carbon monoxide is a silent danger that has no odor. Installing carbon monoxide detectors in hallways near sleeping areas is also recommended.
6. Do not clutter the fireplace area. While it may be tempting to decorate your hearth with knick-knacks or other decorations, it is essential to fireplace safety that the area remains free and clear of any decorations, debris, or flammable materials.
7. Do not mount your television over your fireplace. The heat from the fire can damage your television. Also, such a placement is too high and can result in neck strain.
8. Before lighting your fire, make sure to open your damper. This is generally done by pulling the handle all the way to the right. Opening your damper ensures that gases are properly vented. To make sure that your damper is fully open, it is recommended to check it with a flashlight.
9. While your fire is burning, leave the glass doors open. This helps make sure there is enough air available for complete combustion, which helps to keep your chimney free of creosote – a tar that can build up in your chimney, becoming a dangerous fire hazard. You will want to keep a mesh screen in front of your open glass doors, however, to keep embers from escaping.
10. After your fire is out and the ashes are cool, close the glass doors. This prevents air in the chimney from seeping into your room. You should also close your damper to help keep the cold air out of your home.
11. Let your damper handle cool before touching it. It is also recommended to wear an oven mitt while touching the metal handle to help prevent any burns or injuries.
12. You should only burn dried, cut firewood. Softwood (such as fir and pin) burns more quickly and is better used when beginning a fire. Hardwood (such as maple and oak) is more suited to burning in an established fire, once your chimney is heated. Fallen tree limbs make excellent kindling if they are given the proper amount of time to try.
13. Never burn flammable liquids, charcoal, soft or moist wood, painted or pressure-treated wood, or trash in your fireplace. The vapors from flammable liquids can explode, charcoal produces carbon monoxide, soft or moist wood encourages more creosote, and trash and painted or pressure-treated wood can release harmful vapors or chemicals.
14. Make sure to dispose of your ashes properly. Allow your ashes to cool at least overnight before disposing of them in a metal container outside your home. Always moisten the disposed ashes, and never put anything but ashes in the container. Ashes should be hauled away with the rest of your garbage.
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