Fireplace Safety
Fireplaces and wood stoves can be cozy and warm heating supplements in winter. But in order to keep the air healthy and reduce the risk of fire, you need to be aware of the risks they pose. Here are some simple tips on staying safe and healthy each winter. It is especially important that kids understand that they are never to play with the fire and should always have an adult around when they are near the fire.
Bad Wood
Burning wood improperly can produce dangerous emissions such as
carbon monoxide, organic gas, and heavy smoke. To avoid this danger:
- Burn only seasoned hardwoods such as oak, maple, and hickory.
- Avoid burning softwoods, and never burn newly cut or wet wood.
- Burn only wood that has been aged for at least a year to allow
the dissipation of creosote oil.
- Don't burn wood that has been painted, treated, or made with
glue (such as particle boards).
- Never burn papers that contain bleaches or dyes. The particles
produced by these can clog the air passages in a fireplace or
wood stove, and also produce noxious, corrosive, or even carcinogenic gases.
Chimney Maintenance
Your chimney is an important part of your heating and ventilation
system. Make sure it gets cleaned and inspected at least once a
year if it is used regularly.
- Have your chimney inspected and/or cleaned at least once a year.
This is a job best done by a professional.
- In the fall, watch for a weak chimney draft. The difference
in temperature between chimney smoke and outdoor air is not so
great in the fall, so smoke won't rise as quickly as it should.
This may cause too much smoke to be in the room.
- Back-puffing is also a danger. An obstructed chimney or flue
causes smoke to build up in the house. Blockage can be caused
by soot and creosote buildup or by bird's nests.
- Review more information on chimneys.
More Fireplace Tips
- Have protective doors or a fire screen in front of the fire.
- Have the chimney checked and cleaned regularly.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Don't put rugs in front of the fireplace unless they are non-combustible
hearth rugs made especially for the purpose.
- Keep all combustibles at least 36 inches away from the fire;
the further away, the better.
- Make sure that your fireplace has proper clearances when it
is installed. If not, the heat of usage over the years can cause
a dangerously low "ignition" temperature to surrounding wood,
in a hidden space behind your wall or in the flue chase. When
that happens, you won't know it until a fire breaks out.
- Check for birds' nests not only in the flue or chimney, but
on the roof or in trees above the chimney opening. The first fire
of the season could send a hot ember to a nearby nest that then
falls on your roof or in your attic.
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