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Fireplace Safety Overview
Home » Outdoor Furniture » Fireplace Safety » Fireplace Safety OverviewThe fireplace in your home is a wonderful source for staying warm or for just relaxing by the fire. More than a third of U.S. citizens heat their homes with a fireplace or other fuel-fired source. Unfortunately, these heating sources account for 36% of the fires in homes each year. As a homeowner you need to be aware of the risks involved with using your fireplace and what you can do to reduce those risks.
Most fires in fireplaces start because of creosote buildup. Burning wet or unseasoned wood or burning wood at a low temperature creates creosote. Creosote is a black tarry or flaky substance that tends to build up in chimneys. A cool chimney causes some condensation that forms on the inside walls of the chimney becoming creosote. When this creosote begins to burn inside your chimney it can start a fire. If you hear a swooshing noise in your chimney you should be aware there might be a problem. Chimney fires can be very difficult to put out and can be the cause of losing your entire home in no time at all.
The use of gas fireplaces has become increasingly popular in the past few years. Many new homes being built today have gas fireplaces instead of wood burning. They offer the convenience of being able to start a fire with the flip of a switch. The fire logs also have less risk of a creosote buildup than fire wood but gas fireplaces too have precautions of which you must be aware.
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