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At All American Chimney Service, LLC, we take great pride in placing fire safety as a top priority, and we enjoy educating our customers about how to use their fireplaces as safely as possible. While many residential fires are linked to fireplaces, the majority of those could be prevented by following the proper safety procedures. To help you enjoy your fireplace this winter without having to worry about fire hazards, we would like to share some safety tips from theU.S. Fire Administration(USFA)to help you safely operate your fireplace this winter.

Have all heating appliances professionally installed.

If you decide to upgrade an older masonry fireplace to a fireplace insert, or if you would like to switch fuel sources on heating appliances, you will need to consult a professional chimney and fireplace technician for installation services. Our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified experts follow all of the applicable building and safety codes and make sure the proper clearances are met.

Have your chimney professionally swept and inspected every year.

Recommended by many national fire safety organizations, an annual professional chimney sweeping and inspection is the best way to ensure your fireplace and chimney will function safely and efficiently over the winter. Our CSIA-certified sweeps will make sure that all of the flammable creosote deposits have been removed from your chimney and that no potentially dangerous damage has occurred to your chimney.

Only burn seasoned firewood in your fireplace.

This type of firewood has been dried for at least six months after being cut. Seasoned firewood provides clean-burning and long-lasting fires. You never want to burn large amounts of paper or treated wood in your fireplace. Additionally, never use flammable liquids to start or accelerate a fire.

Place a screen in front of your fireplace.

To keep kids and pets from getting too close to the fireplace, you can place a glass or metal screen in front of the hearth. Not only does a screen protect people and animals from getting burned, but it also keeps embers and sparks from jumping out of the fireplace to ignite an accidental fire.

Be sure the fire has been completely extinguished before leaving your home and going to bed.

You never want to close the damper when hot ashes are still in the fireplace. When the damper is closed, it allows the ashes to heat up again and can force the toxic gas, carbon monoxide, back into your home.

Want more safety tips for using your fireplace? Contact us atAll American Chimney Service, LLCto find out more ways to safely enjoy warm fires this winter.