Fireplace Safety Tips

12/17/2019 (Permalink)

Stay warm during the holidays but be cautious!

Everyone enjoys a good fire around the fireplace when temperatures have fallen.  What’s not to enjoy feeling cozy and warm during the winter months? Fireplaces may be used to provide warmth during this time of year.  But have you considered that this could be a potential fire hazard?   Listed below are some tips about fireplace safety to use to keep you and your family safe.

• Crack open a window while the fire is burning.
• Be sure the damper or flue is open before lighting or starting a fire, and until embers have completely stopped burning, to draw smoke out of the house.
• Check the damper by looking up into the chimney with a flashlight or mirror.
• Use smaller pieces of dry and well-aged wood for home fire safety, avoiding wet or green wood, which causes more smoke and soot buildup in the chimney.
• Have a professional check the chimney annually.
• When cleaning a fireplace, remove ashes from previous fires, keeping levels of the to 1 inch or less for less smoke
• Check for animal nests or other blockages that could prevent smoke from escaping.
• Make sure the area around the fireplace is clear of anything that is potentially flammable.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended and be sure it’s completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Home fireplace safety should include keeping a fire extinguisher on hand.

Fire damage can be devastating and SERVPRO of Victoria understands the stress that comes with it.  SERVPRO of Victoria is dedicated to helping you.  If you face any winter storm damages, give our team a call (361) 573-6000 and we’ll be there to make it “Like it never even happened.”