Whether you just want to get cozy by the fire or give Santa a clear route into your home, you need to consider the safety of your fireplace. This potentially dangerous situation can ruin anyone’s holiday mood. Here are several tips that you can use to keep your chimney and fireplace safe this season.
Check for Intruders
If it’s chirping or hissing, then it’s not Santa up there. When chimneys are not in use for long periods of time, they can become homes for a variety of critters. Birds who try to nest around your chimney will drop things such as twigs and leaves inside and block off your fireplace.
Clear the Ashes
The ashes remaining in the fireplace will prevent the proper airflow required for the burning of the logs. This issue can cause more smoke to form and enter your household instead of escaping through the chimney.
When removing your ashes, it’s a good idea to wait a little while after using your fireplace. Ashes can remain hot even after an hour of the fireplace being used. To be safe, use gloves while cleaning and treat the ashes as if they are hot coal.
Keep Flammable Objects Away
Dried pine trees, blankets, stockings, and anything else that can go up in flames should be kept several feet away from the fireplace. It only takes a little spark to cause a fire that could endanger your family and home.
It is also a good idea to make sure you have a secure screen or chain curtain that will help keep flames from escaping. However, while the fire is going, you should always have someone monitoring it, just in case.
Hire a Professional
Did you know that chimney sweeps are still around? They don’t look like the ones from Mary Poppins, but they can remove any combustibles (such as creosote or debris) from your chimneys to keep them safe for burning. They are also certified to inspect your chimney for any cracks or loose bricks that you might have never noticed.
Remember to always practice fire safety when using your fireplace. If you’d rather just turn up your heating system to avoid handling fire altogether, then give us a call. We will get your Heater and Air Conditioner working and keep it working. If you would like to make an appointment, call (405) 305-5734 today.
