Having A Fireplace Installed In Your New Home? 4 Safety Tips You'll Need To Remember

Posted on: 22 December 2017

If you're having a fireplace installed in your new home, you're in for some cozy winters. Fireplaces not only add charm to a home, they're also a great way to add extra warmth, especially during those long winter months. If this will be your first fireplace, you might not be aware of the safety precautions you'll need to take. You see, while fireplaces do add warmth to your home, they can also pose risks, especially if you're not careful with them. Here are four things you'll need to know to ensure proper fireplace safety.

Your Glass Doors Can Shatter

When your fireplace is installed by a company like Hartman Heating, Air and Fireplaces, you'll notice that it has glass doors attached to it. Those doors fold to completely close your fireplace. While it may seem like those doors should be closed when you have a fire going, that's actually not true. In fact, the doors should be open whenever there's a fire burning in the fireplace. That's because the glass can overheat quickly from the intensity of the fire. Unfortunately, once the glass overheats, it can shatter, sending shards of glass flying through your home. To prevent injuries, always open the glass doors and close the firescreen when you have a fire going in the fireplace.

You'll Need a Fire-Resistant Hearth Mat

Each time you open the firescreen to stoke the fire or add wood, hot embers can fly through the air. If they land on your carpeting, they can start a fire. Unfortunately, sometimes you won't even see the embers float from the fireplace, which means they may hide in your carpet fibers and smolder for a while. To prevent house fires, you should always have a fire-resistant hearth mat in front of your fireplace. Your fire-resistant mat will keep the hot embers off your carpeting.

Always Open the Flue Before Starting the Fire

When you have a fire going in your fireplace, it will produce smoke, which contains high levels of carbon monoxide. To prevent your home from filling with smoke and carbon monoxide, you'll need to remember to open the flue before starting your fires. The flue is located directly inside your fireplace and acts as a ventilation system to help pull the smoke up out of your chimney.

Remember to Have Your Fireplace Cleaned Once a Year

Just like any other part of your home, your fireplace is going to get dirty, especially if you're going to use it a lot during the winter. Each time you use your fireplace, your chimney will collect soot and creosote. If the chimney isn't cleaned often enough, the soot and creosote can catch fire. To avoid that risk, you'll need to have your fireplace cleaned once a year.

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