If you have a fireplace in your home or are considering moving to a home with a fireplace, then you know what a beautiful thing it can be to have a warm fire burning in your home. A fireplace can lend vital warmth and light to a room, and can make a home feel cozy and comfortable as well as adding quite a bit of value to the property. Fireplaces can also add expenses to your home, however, as they require maintenance to function both properly and safely.

Fire Danger

One danger of a fireplace is that it will cause a fire. A burning fireplace should not be left unattended, but rather should be watched even if only casually by an adult. This also prevents small children from touching the fireplace when it is lit, burning things that should not be burned, or otherwise presenting their own forms of danger.

An important part of fireplace maintenance is sweeping the chimney, and although this is often not performed at all, it should be done annually. It is best done by a professional to ensure that you get the best results. This will involve them covering the fireplace front, which should first be cold and cleaned, then climbing up onto the roof to begin the sweeping process.

The chimney sweeping removes debris that can build up and catch fire over time, which could lead to a house fire that could quickly get out of control. It also encourages you, because the fireplace must be swept out, to remove old ashes and debris from the fireplace itself so that it is kept clean as well.

During the process of sweeping the chimney, your sweep will also look for cracks or other damage to the chimney which could make it very dangerous to light. This can help to prevent a dangerous situation from getting worse, allowing you to get the problem fixed before you lay your next fire.

It is also possible for the fireplace to spark, which can cause a fire in the home itself. Keeping the glass doors or screen in place over the fireplace will prevent such sparks from escaping, making it safer to burn in your home. Keep in mind that you should be careful when adding wood or stirring the fire, and that you should be prepared to extinguish any sparks that shoot from the fireplace.

To remain as safe as possible with your fireplace, make sure that it is only lit in the presence of an adult. Keep the screen or doors firmly closed and in place while you are not actually interacting with the fire, and keep children away from the fireplace. Your children should not be allowed to add wood to the fire or to poke it, as this can be dangerous to them and can also lead to unsafe behavior without supervision.

Another way to remain safe is to make sure that your fire is out before you go to bed. This may take a while, so stop adding wood several hours before you go to sleep, and stir the ashes before you leave to be sure that they are out.

Carbon Monoxide

You may not realize it, but fireplaces can be a big source of carbon monoxide danger. It is best to talk to a fire professional to find out how to prevent carbon monoxide from building up in your home, but one good way is to ensure that the flue is open and the fireplace is venting normally. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which is deadly.

Physical Injuries

Children especially are prone to injuries around fireplaces. In addition to burns on curious little fingers, which can actually be quite serious, there are other dangers to small children that come from fireplaces. Even if your child knows not to touch the fireplace, they might not think twice about running nearby. It is possible for a child to fall and be injured on the often sharp edges of a fireplace, making it a very unsafe place to play.

There are several fireplace dangers, but having it cleaned and inspected every year before fire season can help you to keep many of the dangers minimized, and keeping children away from the fireplace eliminates many of the other dangers. Another important step is to learn how to properly operate your fireplace so that you know that it is venting correctly and that you and your family are safe.

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About Author: Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning alternative heat sources such as Pellet Stoves