On a cold winter night, nothing makes a home cozier than a warm, friendly fire in the fireplace. However, without a little “pre-fire” maintenance, that cozy fire could turn your home into an inferno. Keep your home fires burning safely with these tips on chimney and fireplace use and maintenance.
• Have your chimney or fireplace/wood burner inspected and cleaned annually.
• Clear flammable materials around your fireplace.
• Remove debris, branches, etc., from the area around your chimney.
• Place a metal mesh screen in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks or embers from leaving the fireplace.
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood to minimize flammable creosote buildup.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
• Never burn treated wood or debris in your fireplace.
• Dispose of ashes in a metal container stored at least 10 feet from your home.
• Make sure your chimney has a spark arrestor to control sparks and to keep animals and debris out.