Snuggling up in front of a fire on a cold winter night is hard to beat — fingers, toes and nose thawing out in front of a real flame. But if the right precautions aren't taken with the fireplace and chimney, things go wrong quickly.
Chimney Safety
Start by keeping the chimney clean and clear of debris. Have it professionally cleaned at least once a year before the first fire of the season, and inspected thoroughly at the same time to confirm it's in good working order.
If you choose to inspect it yourself — which isn't recommended — bear in mind a professional has cameras and tools for examining the chimney liner and flue that you don't. Look for cracked or missing mortar joints and bricks, and make any repairs before lighting a fire. Check the chimney cap is intact and the netting isn't clogged with creosote.
Check the Draft
A chimney clears smoke and harmful gases using draft. Warm air rising in the liner meets cold air outside, and that pressure difference pulls fresh replacement air into the fireplace.
If airflow inside the chimney is restricted, the draft won't be strong enough to carry smoke and gases all the way out — and there's only one other direction for them to go. Plenty of things affect draft, creosote buildup inside the liner among the most common. If you suspect a draft problem, get a chimney professional to look at it.
Carbon Monoxide
The most serious risk from poor draft is carbon monoxide poisoning. It's odourless, and the symptoms resemble flu closely enough that diagnosis is often delayed — meaning people carry on living in the same conditions for weeks.
Sometimes the warning comes too late, after permanent brain damage or worse. Whether your chimney serves a furnace or a fireplace, make sure it's venting smoke and gases properly.
Fireplace Safety
Cleanliness matters here too. Creosote builds up inside the fireplace as well as the flue, particularly in the upper areas you can't easily see, such as around the damper.
Once it's clean, check the masonry for cracked or missing mortar joints and bricks. A firebox takes extreme temperatures, and brick and mortar lose structural integrity over time. You don't want bricks crumbling into the fire and throwing sparks.
Use a Barrier
Keep a barrier in front of the fireplace while it's in use, especially with children or pets around. A metal screen stops them getting too close. Even with glass doors fitted, use a screen as well — the glass gets extremely hot and the doors can be opened. A screen also catches sparks that escape the firebox, which would otherwise land on the carpet.
Build the Fire Properly
Stack the wood so it collapses inward as it burns rather than rolling out of the fireplace. Simple, but it's the difference between a contained fire and logs on your floor.
Follow these basics and your fireplace and chimney will give you an excellent, relaxing heat source through the coldest days of the year without incident.