New Year’s Eve may be over, but the new year has just begun! Make sure your family and home are safe and cozy for 2020 by insuring your fireplace and chimney are properly used and properly maintained.
What are You Burning?
Whether your fireplace burns gas, pellets, or firewood, it should be used properly, according to manufacturer user regulations and instructions. Fire safety rules should be followed by everyone in the home, and basic maintenance completed regularly to keep the system in property working order.
- Wood – If you have a wood-burning appliance or fireplace, it should be cleaned of soot and creosote regularly to avoid elevated fire risk. In order to prevent excessive creosote buildup, make sure you only burn properly seasoned firewood in your fireplace. Never burn trash, clothing, or any other materials inside your wood-burning system. These materials can burn incompletely, creating more particulate pollution than necessary and some light materials like paper and leaves can rise up the flue while ignited.
- Pellets – Pellets are a manufactured product that is made of recycled wood products. These pellets must be purchased and used properly according to your model. You should not burn any wood, trash, clothing, or any other items in your pellet appliance. Only use manufactured pellets and do not attempt to make your own.
- Gas – Your gas fire appliance should be professionally installed and gas connected by your local gas company. It is important to determine whether your gas fireplace is vented or vent-free and that vented gas logs are properly vented. Do not burn anything in your gas fireplace and keep the logs and fire area clean.
Fire Safety Tips for a Safer Winter
A fireplace is a great addition to your home but can turn disastrous at any moment. Most of America’s residential house fires occur in January and almost all of them can be prevented by proper use and maintenance. In order to prevent other fire accidents such as burns and damage, make sure you follow fire safety rules no matter how often you light your fire.
- Only burn the proper fuel in your fireplace. Burning other items can contribute to flue obstruction and buildup, raise fire risk, and drop efficiency (which drops safety).
- Use special long-handled fire tools when stirring your logs, shoveling and disposing of ashes, and cleaning up after your fire.
- Never leave a fire unattended. Many house fires occur while the family is out or asleep. You cannot control a fire left unattended, so make sure it is properly extinguished before leaving or going to bed.
- Make sure the damper is open when the fireplace is in use and left open until the fire is completely extinguished.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms on every level of the home. Check these devices monthly and change the batteries twice per year.
- Set rules for the fireplace and make sure everyone in the home knows them. Do not allow children to work with the fire.
- Plan two escape routes from the home and practice them as a family. Use these resources to help children understand the importance of fire safety and how valuable time is during a fire emergency.
- Maintain the chimney system properly by scheduling routine services with a certified professional.
Chimney Sweeps, Inspections, and Installations in Milford, CT
Whether you’re looking to service your existing fire system or hoping to install a new one altogether, look no further than the professionals at Total Chimney Care. Our sister company services all of our customers with the utmost professionalism, experience, and know-how. Total Chimney Care sweeps are CSIA certified and take our quality products and install them with expertise and beauty so that they are long-lasting and properly functioning.
Are you giving yourself a new fireplace for New Year’s? You can find the best of pellet, gas, and wood fire appliances at The Cozy Flame.
By partnering with the industry’s top manufacturers like Regency, Hargrove, and Thermo-Rite, our customers can choose from a broad range of capacities, full types, and styles. Whether your home décor leans toward simple and contemporary or traditional and rustic—or anywhere in between—we can match you with an appliance exactly.
Don’t hesitate to call the professionals when you’re ready to upgrade your hearth. The Cozy Flame is a comprehensive hearth and patio store located in Milford, Connecticut and is a retail company founded by the expert chimney sweep company, Total Chimney Care. Depend on us for all your total chimney care as well as all your hearth, patio, and grilling supplies. Start now and don’t stop with your winter fireplace. At The Cozy Flame, we’ve spent years warming your world, indoors and out. Talk with one of our experts today to plan your summer fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and more. Ask about patio heating and fire accessories and forward schedule all your inspections and service appointments today.
Call The Cozy Flame at 203-283-4459, stop by, or contact us online.