Burn, Baby Burn! Fireplace Safety 101
Shorter days and chilly nights can mean only one thing: it’s time to fire up the fireplace. Before you get too far ahead of yourself, let’s talk about fire safety. It’s boring, possibly even a little overly dramatic at times, but the fact is that before you start that first big scorcher, there are quite a few things that you should know. This goes double if this is your first wood-burning fireplace. Chimney Safety First The bit of masonry that goes up and out of your firebox and through the roof is actually a lot more interesting than the bit at the bottom that holds the sparks and flames. It’s a bit more than just a masonry tube. It can pull in extra air if your fire’s too big, it can exhaust fumes and smoke, it can house baby bats if you’ve not used it in a while. There’s nothing that chimney can’t do. Because of its versatility and the vital role your chimney plays in the function of your fireplace, it’s crucial that it’s in great shape before you use it the first time t