Taking all safety issues into consideration when using a fireplace is necessary. Although it provides warmth and comfort during cold seasons, this does not mean that using it is completely safe for everyone. Despite of the benefits that it offers, you still have to deal with the not so good side of using a fireplace. Just before the winter season or fall arrives, you have to make sure that your fireplace is free from ashes and debris prior to using it again. If you are using a fireplace with fan and vents that would push the air towards the outside of your home, then you really need to have those cleaned as well. This is for the purpose of allowing the air to flow through the passage freely. And for the chimney, you might want to consider having it cleaned once a year to determine if there are cracks or anything blocking the chimney cap. If there are cracks, then you should have it fixed immediately because harmful fumes may get into your home through those cracks.

When it comes to the materials to be burned, you should make sure to only use wood and other materials that are suitable to be burned. Avoid burning paper, plastic or garbage in the fireplace because these things may produce harmful and dangerous fumes. You should also not use gasoline and other flammable fluids to start up a fire. You have to use something that is really intended to start a fire in a fireplace. Once fire has already been generated, make sure to extinguish it when everyone leaves, open the flue and close the fire screen. It is not really safe to leave a fireplace with fire unattended. And everything that can be caught by fire easily should be moved away from the fireplace.

Aside from these things, having some safety devices/equipments installed in you home is also a goo idea. Fire alarms, smoke detectors and other safety devices/equipments can really help in protecting your home and preventing any fire caused accidents to happen. Carbon monoxide detectors and other harmful fume detectors can also be placed near the fireplace to give you a warning for any danger. As of course, because using a fireplace involves fire, you should have a fully functional fire extinguisher that you can use in case of fire emergencies.

And lastly, if there are kids in your home or even pets, you should always make sure that they are not going anywhere near the fireplace opening. Compared to adults, kids are normally more prone to accidents because they are very active and playful. They love to run around so there is a big possibility that can get near the fireplace opening and they can get hurt. For your pets on the other hand, although they normally know that something hot means something dangerous, you should watch over them because even if they are just pets, they are still under your responsibility. Therefore, you should know how use a fireplace safely and the safety precautions to be considered to prevent fire related accidents.

Author Bio: James Terrell enjoys writing for Brick-anew.com which sells Heatilator fireplace doors and brick paint as well as a host of additional products.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: fireplace,electric fireplace,fireplace safety,using fireplace