Having a wood or gas fireplace at home gives your place a family to gather on cold winter days. However, these systems can pose safety hazards if you are unfamiliar with the proper usage and maintenance techniques. Here, the experts at Abbey Road Chimney Sweeps offer several tips for using a fireplace this winter. As the leading fireplace cleaning and chimney maintenance team in the Greater Dayton, OH, area, they know what it takes to create a safe, comfortable environment.

Keep Your Family Safe With These Wood & Gas Fireplace Tips

Leave Enough Space 

The holiday season calls for special decorations. When positioning items around the fireplace, keep them a safe distance away from the opening. Both wood and gas fireplaces get very hot when lit and could either melt decorations or cause a spark to create a fire. Chimney sweeps suggest keeping items at least three feet away from the fireplace to prevent these safety hazards.

Burn the Right Materials

While many people are tempted to burn the wood they find in the yard, this could be a risky idea. Some materials create floating debris that could get into the room and singe the carpets and furniture. Chimney sweeps typically recommend burning only seasoned wood in a fireplace because it won’t produce airborne debris or toxic fumes.

Clean the Firebox With Care

Removing the ash from a wood-burning fireplace is an important safety step, and this process must be done correctly. Make sure the firebox is completely cool before starting to prevent injury. When you finish sweeping the ashes, look for any stray particles on the floor and remove them, as these flakes can be flammable. 

Now that cold weather is on its way, Abbey Road Chimney Sweeps is ready to clean and inspect fireplaces throughout the Dayton area. For over 35 years, they have provided services for both wood and gas fireplaces and provided chimney inspections to ensure every customer’s system is safe to use. Call (937) 833-0505 to schedule an appointment, and visit their website to learn more about their fireplace cleaning services.