Don’t Forget to Wait Until Ashes are Cooled off to Dispose of Them

The cold weather is here and, for many Atlanta residents, winter is the perfect time of year to take advantage of the fireplace that many homeowners use sparingly during other seasons. If you live in the area, you should be aware that around 36 percent of all residential fires are caused by soot buildup in chimneys and stovepipes, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

To prevent your house from going up in flames, you may want to consider following the tips below as they will keep your abode safe all season long:

1) Don’t forget to schedule a professional cleaning
Every year, you should have your chimney and wood stove looked at and cleaned by a certified specialist. This can help debris from building up and get rid of dirt and grime that you may not be able to see.

2) Stay away from flammable liquids
Using flammable liquids in and around the fireplace is pretty much going to assure you that the fire you start gets out of control, which can be a recipe for disaster.

3) Be responsible when discarding ashes
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends letting ashes cool completely before throwing them away. Never forget to put embers in a covered metal container and make sure that you keep the bin at least 10 feet away from your home and other buildings that are close by.

You should always remember that in the event that a fire does break out inside your house, a working fire alarm monitoring system. If you don’t, consider talking to an Atlanta fire alarm monitoring company that can speak with you about sales and installation.