What a great time of year. It is a time when we settle down. Put the hectic days aside for at least a couple of months. It is a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to a new one. The shopping has started. The party planning has begun. It is a time to look at yourself and allow yourself some downtime.
But don’t neglect the safety issues that may come with the cooler weather. This is the time of year when your fireplace and chimney also need some attention.
Set up your annual inspection and chimney sweep. This is a great time to have this taken care of. Start your season with a clean chimney before the family gathers for a feast. Be assured that your fireplace will keep you and your family safe. An inspection will evaluate your firebox to the chimney cap. Our technicians at Chimney Solutions will let you know if any issues need your attention.
Keep your firebox clean. After each fire cools down, empty the firebox of ash and spent wood remains. Be sure to wait 24 hours before handling the remains. Empty the ash into a metal bucket. Keep it outside to ensure that it is completely cooled. Once cold you can distribute it to your garden. Your garden will love it.
Use glass doors to protect the surrounding area. Glass doors are great for an efficiently burning fire as well as keeping the sparks in the fireplace.
Never burn paper in the fireplace. You may think it is just paper, but it is not. Wrapping paper has additives in it such as dyes that make it burn hotter. Not, to say the least, it flies up the chimney in large pieces and can cause fires outside if landing on dry leaves.
Once you turn your clocks, it’s time to check your fire alarms. Batteries should be changed at this time of the year as well. This will keep you and your family safe and aware if anything does catch fire. Make sure you have working fire alarms on each floor of the house.
Do play it safe. Always use caution while using your fireplace. Don’t be unprepared. Keep a fire extinguisher close by and always make sure it is in working condition. Just as importantly, enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Since our very first customer, we’ve been committed to delivering the highest level of customer care and the most professional and reliable chimney and fireplace services. Our technicians are expertly trained and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), so there’s no aspect of chimney or fireplace service, installation, repair, or troubleshooting we can’t help you with.
