How to Keep Hot Ash From Going Out of the Top of the Fireplace

Fireplaces enable you to enjoy the warmth and pleasing glow of a crackling wood fire, but can be dangerous if the top of the chimney is not properly protected. For example, hot ash can travel up the fireplace flue and potentially catch your house or surrounding trees on fire. Keep your home safe by installing a spark arrestor, available at any hardware or home improvement store, which prevents the hot ash from going out of the top of the fireplace chimney.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy duty work gloves
• Ladder
• Spark arrestor cap
• Self tapping sheet metal screws
• Drill

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Put on heavy duty work gloves to protect your hands.

   • 2

     Climb to the top of the chimney for the fireplace. Use a ladder if necessary.

   • 3

     Place a spark arrestor cap on top of the chimney pipe. Select a cap that fits the chimney pipe -- either 6 or 8 inches.

   • 4

     Screw the spark arrestor cap in place using self tapping sheet metal screws using a drill.

   • 5

     Use the fireplace as normal. The spark arrestor will trap any hot ash or embers at the top of the chimney.