As we head through the next few months and begin to use fireplace and furnaces it is important to take a few precautions to prevent any potential damage to your home.
I have rounded up some advice from various expert’s blogs and would like to share the Top 10 Tips on keeping your home safe during the winter months.
1. Once a year have your wood burning fireplace inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
2. When you are not using your fireplace close the damper.
3. Do not leave a fire unattended and closely monitor children and pet’s proximity to the fireplace.
4. Keep the fire small. Too large and too hot of a fire can crack the chimney.
5. Spark guards help to stop embers from shooting out of the fireplace.
6. Prevent animals, rain and birds from making your flue a home by installing a chimney cap.
7. If your gas fireplace goes out it is best to wait about 5 minutes before attempting to relight to allow the gas to escape the fireplace.
8. If you smell gas when the fireplace is off call the Gas Company promptly.
9. With a gas furnace, it is best to replace or clean the filter frequently throughout the season.
10. Check the batteries in your smoke alarms & carbon monoxide detectors.
For more information on fireplace safety or to look up a certified chimney sweep in the area visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s website.