Fireplace Dos and Don'ts
By Lorraine Syratt
Photo: © Tomasz Markowski / Dreamstime
 Having a fireplace is a dream for many people, but a fireplace can be dangerous if it is not treated with care. Here are some fireplace dos and don'ts.
Don't start a new fire over yesterday's ashes. The ashes should be removed regularly.
Don't throw paper or food crumbs into the fire. It's a bad habit and the fire pit will quickly become a trash pit, with the scent of burning food permeating the air.
Do close the damper when you're brushing out the floor of the fire pit. An open damper will cause dust to blow about the room. Sweep gently to avoid too much dust in the air.
Don't use cedar wood in the fire pit. Although the smell and crackle of burning cedar is romantic, the oils cling to the chimney liner and could eventually build up to cause a chimney fire.
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Do use hardwood for burning. Older, dry wood is better because it will burn with less smoke.
Don't go to bed and leave the fire burning. Even when the screen or glass doors are closed, sparks may still find their way to the carpet.
Do remove soot stains from around the mantle or fireplace opening. You can wash the stone surface with hot soapy water and a soft scrub brush.
Do have your chimney cleaned and inspected professionally once a year or more, depending on how often you use it. Over time, creosote, which is a build-up of smoke, can become quite thick or even thick enough to catch fire. Your chimney sweep will also be able to tell you if you have any cracks in the chimney. Those cracks can be deadly because they allow carbon monoxide to be drawn into the house.
Do cap your chimney. This will keep the rain out and will also keep birds from nesting or getting caught in the chimney. They find it difficult to fly up through the narrow tunnel of the chimney once they're in. |
