5 Fireplace Safety Precautions To Take Now

According to the National Fire Protection Association, during 2011, the last available statistics, there were around 53,600 United States home fires. This is 6%, down from 2010 and a 77% decrease from 1980. In order to reduce this number further, make sure your fireplace and chimney are in great shape. Contact All Year Chimney Sweeps and Repairs to help with this list.

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1. Clear the Area

The hearth may look great all decked out for the holidays, but those decorations are usually flammable. Hang garland and stockings as far away from the source of heat as possible.

2. Burn Smaller Fires

Although stoves burn the best when at its hottest, maintaining less smoke and no popping is the goal. Small fires lesson the creosote buildup in the chimney while an extremely hot fire can cause cracks in your chimney.

3. Burn Better Wood

Soft woods like fir and pine won't burn as long or give off a much heat as hickory or oak, the hardwoods. Be sure to allow all wood to dry for six months to a year before burning. When wood is green, the burning process causes more creosote filled smoke which is dangerous to you and your family. 

    

4. Hire a Professional

Have your chimney cleaned, swept, and inspected twice a year. You may be wondering 'how much does a chimney sweep cost' and the answer is less than a house fire. Chimney safety is always at the top of the list of home maintenance care.

5. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Invest in good quality smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to cap off the ultimate safety when using a fireplace. Install smoke alarms outside of each room on every floor and the carbon monoxide detectors on each floor.

If your chimney is in need of an inspection, or you haven’t had your chimney cleaned yet this year, call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair. We’ll have your chimney clean and clear again before you know it! Call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair at (615) 285-9118 today! We look forward to serving you.

5 Reason To Cap a Chimney

You want to protect your family, always. You know you need to keep your chimney clean and in working order, but did you know capping a chimney is another step towards safety in the home?

The fireplace chimney is part of the safety network that keeps your home and family protected. Chimney caps are not a requirement on chimneys in the state of Tennessee; however, chimney builders throughout the country recommend them as an additional safety measure.

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Debris - a chimney cap keeps debris like leaves, twigs, branches, and small trash out of your chimney. Debris that has fallen into your chimney can be hazardous when lighting a fire. Before building a chimney, be sure you contact certified chimney professionals like All Year Chimney Sweeps and Repairs.

Rainwater - water damage is a difficult problem when it comes to your home. This includes the chimney. A chimney cap will help prevent rainwater and melting snow from entering your chimney where it can become moldy and cause other damage.

Drafts - drafts are needed to keep your fire going without exploding into a large fireball. A chimney cap helps to create the proper draft within the chimney.

Animals - a chimney cap keeps birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and other climbing critters claiming your chimney as their warm home.

Chimney liner - having a professional installing chimney liner for added protection is ideal. Using a chimney cap will extend the life of a chimney liner.

If your chimney is in need of a cap, or you haven’t had your chimney cleaned yet this year, call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair. We’ll have your chimney clean and clear again before you know it! Call All Year Chimney Sweeps & Repair at (615) 285-9118 today! We look forward to serving you.