Safety Tips When Using Your Fireplace During Winter

As we dive deeper into winter and watch the cold wintry showers growing with more intensity from our windows, we cosy up at home, turn the fireplace on, and sit back and relax.

There’s nothing better than a warm, crackling fire. Snuggling up with loved ones, unwinding after a long day, or catching up with friends in a cosy environment – your fireplace soon becomes the heart of your home.

With a range of available fireplaces and even bespoke fireplaces to meet your exact style and taste, it’s important to remember some of our safety tips below to keep you and your family safe and ensure your fireplace is working in perfect condition.

Bespoke Fireplace Design

Fireplaces have grown in popularity due to the heat they can provide a home and how cost-effective these systems are compared to the ever-growing utility bills homeowners now face.

Great, luxurious features, a bespoke fireplace is a stunning attribute to any home.

Fireplace Safety Tips

Supplying high-quality fireplaces for several years, we’ve pulled together some of our top cold-weather fire safety tips to help you keep your house warm, cosy, and safe this winter.

1. Always carry out regular maintenance and inspection checks. Inspection checks on your fireplace should be carried out at least once a year, and ideally, before you plan on using your fire again. These inspections help to put your mind at ease that your fire is safe and ready to use. Ideally, fireplace inspections should be carried out by professionals with experience in all types and styles.

2. Regularly check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. If you have a real fire within your home, you will always be advised to install carbon monoxide detectors. As this gas is colourless, tasteless, and odourless making it extremely dangerous. Detectors are the most effective way to monitor and control the risk. We advise checking your smoke alarms and detectors monthly and replacing batteries every six months to a year.

3. Don’t throw just anything into the fire. Wood that is soft and moist is not suitable for fireplaces as it will produce excessive smoke, emit a strong smell, and create additional creosote buildup in the chimney or flue. This can lead to clogging of the chimney/flue and potentially further fires. For bespoke fireplaces, you should use only dry wood (dried for up to 6 months) and seasoned wood stored in a dry location. Avoid using flammable liquids at all costs.

4. Keep your fireplace and chimney clean. Minimising the risk of fires and injury, you should look to clean your fireplace and the surrounding area, including the chimney, at least once a year. Remove any obstruction from the flue, clearing away dead leaves, sticks, birds’ nests, and more. In addition, don’t let ash build up on the bottom of your fireplace; this should be removed carefully and placed in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Clean all vents and check for creosote buildup so that when you start your first fire of the season, nothing gets in your way.

5. Check your chimney cap. One of our best safety tips for the winter is to check that your chimney cap is still in place and not suffering from any cracks or damage. If so, this should be replaced as soon as possible to avoid debris getting in and even small animals nesting inside.

6. Clear the clutter surrounding the fireplace. If your fireplace hasn’t been in use for a little while, no doubt clutter and mess have started to build up around it – we get it. However, before you start using your fire again, clear all the clutter away and move rugs and furniture a safe distance away from the fire to reduce fire hazards.

7. Check the damper function. This is the valve on the fireplace that helps to regulate the airflow inside the chimney. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper will be closed; opening this when you want to use the fire. Again, a formal inspection will help look at this and check for gas leaks, warm parts, etc.

8. Install a spark screen. Protecting your home and the things your fireplace can produce, spark screens come in various decorative formats, so when sparks escape from the fire, the surrounding area is protected. Spark screens also provide added protection, helping protect pets and children from fires and reducing the risk of accidents and injury.

9. Never leave your fire unattended. Even the best fires can get out of control, so always err on the side of caution.

10. Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby (one rated for wood and paper fires) and learn how to use it properly. Make sure everyone in the household knows what to do in case of a fire.

Winter Fire Safety Tips

All the tips mentioned above are designed to minimise risk and costly repairs.

Fireplaces are enjoyed by thousands of people throughout the UK, keeping homes warm, adding a stunning feature to properties, helping to reduce energy bills, and simply create that snug, cosy feeling that we all fall into during the winter months.

For a fireplace to suit every taste, style, and space look no further than our full showroom and range online.

Our experienced team is always on hand to answer your questions and help you create that warm wow factor.

Call us on 01562 823282 to find out more.