Sunday 19 April 2015

Safety Tips When Using The Wood Fireplaces

By Stella Gay


The winter season requires people to turn up the heat of their fireplace. The wood fireplaces in Hamilton Ontario are the most popular ones being used these days. If you are using this, then you better take note of some safety measures to its usage. Here are the safety tips you can use when utilizing the said fireplace.

First, you should pick only those dry and cured wood to burn. Technically speaking, you should only burn those logs which have been split, stacked, and dried for a period of eight to twelve months. Pick hardwood if you want it to burn the longest. Less dense woods can burn well when dried sufficiently but you need to add more wood often.

Strictly only use firewood to burn in the chimney. No matter how many types of treated wood you have in your home, you have to avoid using them. Wood such as construction scraps, crates, painted wood, or lumber can release chemicals, which in turn compromise the house's air quality. That can be really bad for you.

If you are burning the fire, then you must keep the bifold glass doors open. Doing so will allow the heat to get inside the rooms. If the fireplace you have is a factory-built, prefab one, then you can enjoy the use of the circulating fan. However, you should keep the door closed for this to prevent any unnecessary heat loss.

Get a chimney cap and have it installed in your chimney. You have to do this quickly so that you can prevent any object, snow, and rain from falling inside a chimney. These debris can really damage your chimney, after all. It is also through the installation of a cap that you can significantly reduce the downdrafts from outside.

Sealing dampers have its purpose in the fireplace. When you locate any poorly sealing damper, it is a must to have them replaced at the soonest time possible if you do not want to suffer from heat loss. You should try to replace traditional dampers with the top-mounted ones too since not only can this act as a rain cap but it provides tighter closure too.

You should install detectors for carbon monoxide with the fireplace. Carbon monoxide, when in large volume in the house, can cause poisoning so you need to be wary of it. Aside from the detectors for carbon monoxide, it would be beneficial for you to install detectors for smoke. You can prevent disasters with these two detectors.

The maintenance and cleaning of the fireplace is vital to the functionality of the said structure. Since this is the case, it is highly recommended that you get it cleaned regularly. It is better to scheduled the said fireplace for cleaning at least twice a year. That is the best way to ensure that this fireplace remains functional.

The said safety measures should be followed diligently if you do not want any problems. Of course, many other measures are available out there for you to follow to ensure that nothing wrong happens. You must know what these safety measures are and follow them so that you can enjoy the winters season without any worries.




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