Is Santa skipping out on your chimney and putting you on the "naughty" list because your chimney is a safety concern?
It that time of year where using a fireplace can be a necessity to keep your house and family warm without spending a fortune heating your home with a furnace. Too often people neglect to have their fireplaces cleaned and maintained yearly. This could become a huge safety issue. Over time and non use chimneys accumulate creosote and ash build up, which raises the risk for a chimney fire. Have your fireplace checked by a chimney inspector once a year, especially if you use it frequently. If you haven't used your fireplace in a long time you might want to have an inspector check out the condition before starting any fires.
Some items you should keep in mind:
*Make sure your smoke detector batteries have new batteries
*Keep all items including holiday displays and decorations clear from the fireplace, you don't want your tree or stockings catching on fire.
*Think small on your fire size, you don't need a ton of logs to create a warm fire.
*Use seasoned woods that have been split for six months to a year
*Make sure you have a cap on your chimney to keep animals out
*Place logs in the back of the chimney for a safer fire.
*Don't leave fires unattended.
*Keep lots of wood in stock (you can get free wood off of craigslist most of the time, just need a truck and or trailer and someone with a chainsaw!)
*Enjoy!
Make sure your chimney is inspected so you will be on the "nice" list next year!
Happy Holidays!
