Woodstove and Fireplace Safety

There’s nothing better than sitting in front of a warm fire on a chilly day. As temperatures dip homeowners need to follow a few basic tips to ensure their fireplace and woodstove are in good working condition.

• Have your chimney cleaned twice a year. Be sure to inspect the flue vents.
• To prevent creosote from building up don’t burn cardboard, trash or green word – select well-seasoned kindling and logs.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy and make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.
• Do not use flammable liquids to start your fire.
• Don’t leave young children unattended in a room where a woodstove or fireplace is in use.
• Store wood safely away from your fireplace or woodstove. This will reduce the risk of them catching fire.
• If using a fireplace ensure you have a screen to contain hot embers.
• Ashes should be removed in a metal container with a lid and disposed of once completely cooled.
• Never use a vacuum cleaner to remove ashes as there may be hot coals mixed in which could ignite the plastic vacuum tube.
• Keep combustible materials away from your wood burning appliance – make sure you are following all manufacturers’ specifications for use and clearance.

Contact us to review your coverage if you make any changes to your chimney or wood stove. They will want to know if the unit is certified and if it was professionally installed. They will also want to ensure that all clearances according to Building Codes and Fire Codes are being upheld, such as having a proper venting system or floor pad.