The Action Air Team prides itself on keeping Clarksville warm all winter long by providing preventative maintenance and 24/7 emergency heating service! But we know that sometimes, there is just something about the glow of a crackling fire. Sitting by a cozy fireplace on a cold winter’s night can warm the heart and hearth.
Here are some fireplace safety tips to keep your family safe this season!
- Unlike the “old days” when fireplaces were the main source of heat for the home, today’s fireplaces are meant for short durations of no longer than five hours.
- Never leave a fire unattended especially if children are in the home and never allow children to play near the fire or with the fire tools.
- Keep an open window in the home to prevent the room from becoming smoky. Air coming from the window will be drawn up the chimney.
- Before starting a fire, make sure the damper is open. You can check this by lighting a match in the fireplace and quickly blowing it out to see if the smoke is drawn up the chimney.
- Keep a non-flammable rug on the hearth to protect flooring from damage from sparks.
- Never use your hands to handle burning logs. Use your fireplace tools.
- Fireplace coals can remain hot enough to start a fire for up to 3 days, so wait at least that long before removing ashes. And never use a vacuum cleaner to clean up ashes since live coals may remain in those ashes.
- Have your fireplace and chimney checked by a certified chimney sweep at least once a year.
Bonus Fun Fact: Did you know you can use Worcestershire sauce and a toothbrush to clean brass fireplace surrounds and utensils?