Chimney Safety Tips

If you’ve been enjoying the use of your gas or wood fireplace lately, then your chimney has been getting a workout. However, while you relax in front of a cozy fire, it’s easy to forget that the chimney is something that needs attention on a regular basis.

• •         Keep any decorations or ornaments away from the chimney. A nicely decorated mantel looks attractive, but most items are likely flammable.
  •         Use properly dried wood for a wood fireplace; logs from recently cut trees can produce a lot of smoke and result in an unhealthy and unsafe buildup of creosote and/or soot in your chimney.
  •         Make sure the damper is open enough when using the fireplace. Too much smoke remaining in the flue could lead to creosote buildup.
  •         Install carbon monoxide alarms. If your chimney is clogged, this could cause deadly carbon monoxide to back up into your home.
  •         Have a chimney cap installed. This can prevent leaves and other debris from getting trapped in your chimney, blocking the flue and keeping smoke inside your chimney and, ultimately, backing up into your home.