Stay both cozy and safe this winter season

With the winter season getting started families are going to be looking to their fireplaces to keep things warmed up. But lighting your first flame of the year can be dangerous if you haven’t looked at the state of your chimney lately.

Chimneys need to be cleaned each and every season. As you burn fire it creates a flammable buildup within the chimney called creosote. This substance can not only light your chimney ablaze but can also clog the path which smoke is trying to take out of your home. This can create a carbon monoxide problem as well!

Over the past decade chimney fires have been responsible for more than 20,000 house fires every single year. These figures have stayed remarkably stable because people think their chimneys should simply work forever with no maintenance. This is, sadly, untrue.

A professional chimney sweep is extremely important to massively lower your risk of a chimney fire. They know what to look for and how to use the latest and greatest tools in fireplace safety. While it may seem like a hassle to bring in a chimney sweep each year it is extremely important to keep your home safe and warm.

Alternatively, if all that chimney cleaning sounds like too much work and money it may be time to switch to an electric fireplace. Electric fireplaces make heating your house much cheaper and safer. While they don’t put off nearly as much heat as a wood burning fireplace they are a small fraction of the hassle.

So whatever you do, think before you burn this season. There are so many ways to stay warm there is no reason not to choose a safe one for you and your family.