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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Deon Melchior | Posted under Home Improvement
General tips for safety when using a wood-burning fireplace or stove
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This can be a tricky question, since the word “hazard" is so loaded. Certainly, anything that involves flame is to be considered a safety concern, but if proper precautions are taken to ensure the responsible burning of fuels in a fireplace or stove there is no reason that your fireplace or stove should ever need to be considered a hazard. Do remember, though, that the responsible burning of fuels means you should never leave a fireplace or stove unattended for any real length of time. Of course, it may be necessary to leave the room from time to time, and there is no reason to chain yourself to the fireplace to catch every spark that escapes, but follow a few rules of common sense to make it safer. Certainly don't leave a fire burning in an open fireplace unattended for any real period of time. Even fires in airtight stoves should be checked on periodically to reduce risks of house fires. When it comes to open fireplaces, it is even more important to be vigilant; at most, consider leaving the room for a few minutes or less. If you have young children, they should never be left in the room with the fireplace; take them with you when you go, even if you will only be out of the room for a minute. Nobody knows better than a parent how quick children are when it comes to getting into things that just aren't good for them! How can I make my open fireplace safer for my children and pets? A good first step is never to leave small children or animals unattended with a fireplace or even with a wood stove, since young children could too easily approach the open fireplace, and they have no concept of the dangers posed by a hot stove. Certainly, no caring parent will ever let a small child find out the hard way that a hot stove burns little fingers if he or she can possibly prevent it. The same goes for pets; train them to stay away from the stove if at all possible. If your cat seems inclined to sleep on top of the stove, either construct a barrier that makes it impossible for her to reach the stovetop, or consider investing in an insulating pad to protect her from the searing heat. With open fireplaces, a fire screen is crucial. Even if you are in the room with your pets and small children, and even if you are reasonably confident that you can keep them from reaching the fireplace, sparks can still escape and leap an amazing distance. These little cinders can singe pets' fur or burn babies' faces, so the simple addition of a fire screen will make it much safer for all concerned; keeping sparks in where they belong. It is also wise to consider that some young children and certain pets are especially sensitive to wood smoke; pet birds are especially sensitive to many aromas, and should not be kept in the same room as an open fireplace if it can be avoided. Furthermore, if your children seem to have difficulty breathing when the fire is lit, you may want to check for allergies to smoke, and investigate airtight alternatives. How to find helpful insight to keep your home safe. You will find helpful insight at EPA websites or anywhere that stoves and fireplaces are sold. Take advantage of the free information so that you get the most of your product. About The Author: Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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