We all love the feeling of a warm home, and the smell and crackling noise of firewood burning. But, we also love to be and feel safe. So in the spirit of keeping both of this loves together, let’s go over some tips that will help you stay warm and safe this coming season.

First of all, it’s very important to have your chimney inspected and cleaned every year by a qualified professional chimney service technician. By doing this you help reduce the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Keep an eye out for the exterior of your chimney. Make sure you have a chimney cap installed, in order to keep debris, animals and nests out of the chimney. If you don’t have one, get one now! Also make sure no tree branches and leaves are close to the top of the chimney.

When you burn firewood, make sure you choose the right type. Only use wood that has been split for at least 6 months to one year, and stored in a covered and elevated location. Also important, never use flammable liquids to start a fire. Instead use small pieces of wood and twigs or use a commercial firelighter.

By the way, do you have a fireplace screen? Well, you should! This will catch flying sparks that could burn holes in the carpet or flooring, or even worse, ignite a fire! You should also have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house, and of course, remember to check the batteries at least once a year.

Finally, remember to never leave a fire unattended, especially if you have children and pets in the house.

So in order to be safe and warm, get your chimney inspected by a CSIA Professional. Give Weststar Chimney Sweeps a call today.