A nice fireplace provides a place not just to stay warm
, but a romantic backdrop and even a great place for the family to gather. If you use your fireplace the way it was intended to be used, it should never create a problem and you will be able to use your fireplace in a variety of settings to make your home feel cozier.
If you are having a fireplace built in your home, this is when the safety aspects start. You want to make sure that you have a professional install and build your fireplace for you, or you may find that your insurance will not cover this. There are many aspects of a fireplace that an average homeowner will know nothing about, and unless you have specialized knowledge in fireplaces, you may want to leave this task to a professional.
If you have children and a fireplace teaching fire safety should be mandatory. You want to teach them to never play around, or try to tend a fire in the home. This will be rules that need to be set from the very beginning to prevent injuries from occurring. You may also want to protect the brick on the fireplace and not allow children to play around this area because this can cause tremendous injury. There are some great padding devices out there that will help prevent an injury and this is something that you may want to check into.
You can inspect your chimney and look for cracks or anything else that seems out of the ordinary. You should have a professional come in once a year and inspect your chimney more closely and ensure that it is working correctly. An inadequate fireplace has been blamed for a build up of carbon monoxide which can be deadly and virtually undetectable.
Trees and other shrubbery can grow very quickly over the seasons and when you are ready to burn in your fireplace you will want to inspect nearby trees and other greenery and make sure that they are not blocking or have grown into your fireplace. This can be a fire hazard and a simple inspection may prevent this.
Your fireplace can be a tremendous source of pleasure and it you take care of this area; you will be able to enjoy it without any concerns about safety. There are many things you can learn to help you keep safety a priority and if you keep control over your fire at all times, it can make a big difference.