The temperatures are starting to drop, which means that you need to think about how to keep the place warm. With Autumn blowing through, you need a cozy home in the evenings when you are settling down with a good book after work. The one dreamy scenario is sitting by the roaring fire, book in one hand and hot chocolate in the other — except you have kids, and kids and fire just do not mix!
The good news is that you do not have to BBQ the children if you want a fireplace, and nor do you have to compromise on what it is you want the most. If you want those cozy nights by the fire, you just need to know how to keep your fireplace as safe as possible. You already know that a beautiful fireplace is worth it for your home, but it is a risk with the kids around. So, here are some of the best things that you can do to enjoy your fireplace and keep the kids whole and healthy:
- Safety First. The very first thing that you have to do when you want a fireplace, is protect it — and the kids. These gorgeous wood burning fireplace doors are going to keep the fire safely away from the kids and contained, so that you can enjoy it safely without worry. With fireplace doors, you get everything you need.
- Open The Flue. Before you even start a fire, you need to make sure that the flue (or damper, whichever you have) is open and it has to stay open until the fire goes out. It will draw the smoke out of the house, so that you do not have to worry about backdraft.
- Speak To The Expert. You should, before lighting the first fire of the year, have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a professional. You may not burn the kids, but you also do not want to cook a poor squirrel nesting up there. Any blockages could stop any smoke from escaping, and you will end up dealing with a smoky house if so!
- Do Not Let It Burn Alone. You may be loving the fire being on, but if you have the kids around you need to stay in the room with the kids. If you leave the room, they leave the room. You need to also make sure that the fire is 100% out before you go to bed, so that you do not have to deal with any fires in the night!
- Out Of Reach. Any tools for stoking the fire, any logs you may have, and any lighters to get things started should be up on a high shelf where children cannot reach. You do not need an accident starting!
- Install New Alarms. Replace your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or at least the batteries inside them before you light your first fire. The last thing that you want is something going wrong and it be because you did not think to check. It is paramount for your safety.
- Keep Fire Safety Gear Handy. You may have fireplace doors across your fire, but that does not mean that you should not have a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher to hand.
These tps will keep you and your children safe as the cold season approaches!
