Foolproof Your Fireplace

The stockings might be hung by the chimney with care, but have you looked beyond your mantle this year? Your fireplace is likely a focal point in your home—but it’s also a major potential hazard if you don’t follow some simple guidelines. No matter if you have a wood burning or natural gas model, there are easy steps that you can take to save energy, improve efficiency and ensure your fireplace is operating as safely as possible.

Wood Burning Fireplace Tips

• Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned by a professional each year. Buildup of a substance called creosote is a major fire hazard, and you don’t want to accidentally roast any squirrels who may have built an unwanted nest.
• Resist the urge to flank the hearth with throw pillows. There are few items on planet Earth more flammable than little squares of cotton filled with polyester. (If you’re worried about kids bumping into the mantle or hearth, there are fire resistant padding products available.)
• Don’t use it much anymore? Inflatable fireplace balloons, available at home improvement stores, can be installed just inside the chimney to block frigid downdrafts from entering your home.

Natural Gas Burning Fireplace Tips

• Clean and dust the gas logs and synthetic coals annually.
• Consider shutting off the gas pilot light completely during the summer months or when leaving for vacation.
• Never add any additional items that were not specifically manufactured for your specific gas fireplace model.

Seriously never even consider:

• Using a liquid accelerant or gasoline to start a fire indoors.
• Burning your Christmas tree at the end of the season.
• Adding wood logs to a gas fireplace.
• Going to bed before a fire has been properly extinguished.

Finally, consider storing a small fire extinguisher in a nearby closet, and make sure to change the batteries in your smoke detectors every 6 months.

Now that your fireplace is safety ready, please share a favorite fireplace memory. Hopefully it did not require the use of the nearby fire extinguisher!!

Note: Information sourced from the Hearth, Patio, & Barbeque Association.