Safety Tips for Your West Knoxville Home Fireplace This Winter

1/30/2018 (Permalink)

A fireplace is a wonderful thing to have during the cold and wet winter months here in Knoxville. They lend a cozy ambience to any home, large or small, and the mantle of a fireplace is a great place to put holiday decorations, greeting cards, and pictures from holiday celebrations. But your fireplace needs to be properly maintained, as they can also be dangerous and serious fire damage hazard. Here are some helpful suggestions.

TIPS:

• Have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed throughout the home and keep them in working order at all times.
• Ensure that materials such as carpet, drapes, and furniture are kept away from the fireplace while it is in use. All of these materials are combustible and must be watched carefully to avoid fire damage to your home. Use a firescreen to keep children and pets away from the flames and to make sure that sparks are not projected near anything that could catch fire.
• Keep the ash accumulation under control, cleaning it out when it reaches the bottom of the grate. This can impede air flow and also make building your fire more difficult. When removing ash, it’s a good idea to wear a dust mask and gloves.
• A certified sweep in the Knoxville area can inspect and clean your wood-burning fireplace and chimney; once a year or more can keep you and your family safe. The Chimney Safety of America maintains a list of approximate 1500 chimney professionals that actively care the Certified Chimney Sweep credentials. They can be contacted in 49 of the 50 states.
• A good way to test the safety of your fireplace is by lighting a few small pieces of seasoned wood. If the smoke doesn’t exit up into the chimney but goes out into the room, immediately troubleshoot and correct any problems. These can include: creosote or soot buildup, debris in the chimney such as bird or animal nests, a closed or partially closed damper, or even wood that is damp; all of which can pose serious fire hazards and risk fire damage.
• Make sure you burn only seasoned wood. This is wood that has been cut and dried under cover for 6 -12 months. Green wood does not burn as thoroughly and creates more soot and creosote buildup, creating problems with your fireplace. Hardwoods, such as oak, ash, and maple are dense and heavy, delivering more heat than lighter softwoods, such as pine, poplar, and cedar; you should have no problems finding these woods from a plethora of different sources in the Knoxville area.  

These simple tips can keep your fireplace safe and in working order all winter long. And remember to call SERVPRO of West Knoxville/ Farragut at (865) 690-9658 or visit http://www.SERVPROwestknoxvillefarragut.com/ if you need any help with water damage, fire damage, or mold cleanup around your home or office this chilly winter season!