With Christmas just around the corner, you will probably be spending a lot of time with your family by the fireplace. Whether you’re opening presents on Christmas morning or relaxing next to a warm fire, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Doctor Flue has put together some Christmas fire safety tips to keep you and your home safe this holiday!
- Make sure your chimney is clear of snow – While snow does eventually melt, if your chimney is blocked, it will prevent smoke from leaving the chimney as intended. This can put your family’s health in jeopardy and home in danger.
- Be cautious with your Christmas tree – According to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas trees spark an average of 230 home fires per year. If you have a living Christmas tree, take extra special care to make sure that it’s fully hydrated. When the needles begin to naturally fall off, that’s a sign of a highly flammable tree. If you plan to use your fireplace this season, place the tree on the opposite side of the room and far from the heat source. Also, be sure to thoroughly check the strings of lights for any broken lights or exposed wires, as electrical problems account for one-third of tree fires.
- Always use a spark guard – Whether your fireplace has glass doors or a mesh screen, be sure to always keep it in place when you’re not tending to the fire. Spark guards prevent embers and ash from flying out of the fireplace and causing damage.
- Never leave a fire unattended – Make sure that someone will be around to keep an eye on the flames.
- Be careful cleaning up the ashes – Hot coals can take up to three days to cool completely. If you need to clean the ashes before then, use the proper tools and be cautious of hot coals hiding in the debris.
The staff here at Doctor Flue wishes you a very safe and happy holiday! If you have questions about Christmas fire safety, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!
About Doctor Flue
Doctor Flue, inc. is a leading chimney and fireplace service provider in Michigan and Ohio. Whether you just need an annual chimney inspection, or are looking to give your fireplace a facelift, the experts at Doctor Flue are here to serve you. Give us a call at 800-438-3583 or send us an email at office@drflue.com to request an appointment today!
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