Tips to Help Prevent Chimney Fires

With the weather turning cold, many of us are building fires and cozying up inside. While winter is the perfect time of year to enjoy your fireplace, heating equipment is the number one cause of residential fires.  Half of home heating equipment fires occur between the months of December and January. It is important to follow the below safety guidelines before using your fireplace.

You should have your chimney cleaned and checked yearly to make sure everything is working properly. It is important to clean your fireplace to remove all blockages and built-up creosote before using. Creosote is a highly flammable substance that builds up in your chimney due to burning wood. It only takes a small amount of creosote glazing to cause a chimney fire.

Even if you only use your fireplace in the winter months, remember to have an annual inspection to ensure it is clean and working properly.