Heating a Home With a Fireplace

The Air

• Heating your home with a fireplace can boost ambiance and warmth but it can also pollute the air around you. Never burn plastic or pieces of garbage in the fireplace instead of wood. They can fill your home with toxic gases. Those looking for alternative to burning timber could consider artificial fireplace logs, made from recycled wood waste. Make sure the artificial logs do not contain paraffin which is petroleum-bed and will release toxins into the air when it starts burning. Avoid burning charcoal in a fireplace. Inhaling charcoal fumes can lead to carbon dioxide poisoning.

Keeping It Cool

• Fireplaces should always have a screen or glass barrier when they are in use. These fireplace barriers will prevent sparks, flaming logs, and embers from leaping out of the fireplace and into your living room.Be careful with these barriers, especially glass which can heat to more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit. These glass barriers will remain heated for a period of time, even after the fire has been put out. Parents with small children or pets should invest in a gate to place around the fireplace, far enough from the fire to prevent heat up.

Cleaning And Inspection

• Before starting a fire, clean and inspect your fireplace properly cleaned. If you don't know what to look for, hire a professional especially you haven't used in a long time. Debris can build up within a fireplace chimney, and this build-up can lead to poor venting. Fireplaces that do not vent properly can release toxic fumes into the home. Always make sure you chimney is free from cracks and leaks, which can also lead to poor venting.

Safety

• Many people hang items from the mantel over the fireplace at certain times of year such as Christmas. This adds to the overall decor of the fireplace, but it can be quite dangerous. Always remove any hanging items before lighting a fire. It only takes one spark to shoot out from the fireplace to set those hanging items on fire.

  Those who use paper to start a fire should do so sparingly. Too much paper can make the fire out of control and send soot into the chimney. Always open the fireplace damper before starting the fire and let ashes cool before closing it.