A fireplace can contribute greatly to the sense of coziness that a home offers. It's also a great and inexpensive way to heat your living room or other rooms of the house. In fact, many people won't buy a house that doesn't have one. Some are even very particular about the fireplace designs. It's easy to get caught up in all this excitement about fireplaces but it's also important to take a step back and look at all the potential dangers of a fireplace in order to eliminate the possibility of accidents. Fireplaces don’t have to be scary or intimidating once you learn how to take care of them and get the most out of them.
Avoiding chimney problems can be tricky. It's not easy to see inside of a chimney due to the length and darkness inside. Complicating matters further, many major chimney problems begin with tiny holes or cracks that are very hard to see. The best way to ensure everything is running smoothly inside of the chimney is to hire a chimney inspector who knows what to look for and has the right equipment to view and magnify the entire inner workings of the chimney. It doesn't cost a lot of money to get a chimney inspection and it may even help uncover hidden leaks that are making your energy bills higher than they need to be.
It's a good idea to place a fireproof rug outside of the fireplace. Occasionally small sparks or embers may fly out of the fireplace so keep objects away from the area and protect your floor with a special fireproof rug. A fireplace grate is a good way to help logs stay in place so they won't fall out of the fireplace. It can also help reduce how often you need to open up the fireplace doors and move logs around, which is always a risky proposition. A screen can help keep everything contained. Be sure that you never burn charcoal or use a fireplace for burning trash as this can cause dangerous fumes to enter your home.
flickr by musicsky
Regular cleaning is the best way to prevent your fireplace and chimney from causing disasters. You should clean up the fallen ash after each fire once the fireplace has cooled completely, usually the next day. You should also hire a professional chimney cleaner to come out and clean your chimney regularly to scrape off the dangerous creosote that builds up inside of the chimney liner after repeated use. You may have to do this yearly or every few years depending on the type of wood you burn and how often you use it.
Fireplaces are wonderful additions to homes and with a few basic precautions and regular maintenance they can increase your enjoyment of your home immeasurably.
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