A fireplace can bring comfort and warmth into your home. It can also bring tragedy and devastation if you are not careful with this fabulous feature. Our REALTORS® wish you and your family many memorable gatherings and happy holidays around the hearth which is why we strongly recommend adhering to these six fireplace safety tips.

1. Professionally Clean & Service the Fireplace
   Chimney fires are a leading cause of home loss. Professional chimney sweeps will remove the creosote that causes chimney fires. This byproduct of combustion sticks to the chimney walls and requires special tools and training to remove effectively. Further, make sure that the fireplace is well-maintained. Promptly repair any damaged flues, doors, or other components that could pose a hazard to the home.
   
   
2. Keep Combustibles Away & a Fire Extinguisher Nearby
   Don't store wood, newspaper, and other combustible materials beside the fireplace. One spark is all it takes to ignite these and spread the fire throughout the room. It's best to store these near the fireplace and within a container that shields these materials from sparks and flames.
   
   What you should keep in an easily accessible location near the fireplace is a fire extinguisher. Make sure to position an ABC extinguisher in a conspicuous location beside the fireplace. This will give you an opportunity to extinguish carpets, couches, drapes, etc., quickly, that might ignite if an errant ember or ash escapes the fireplace. It's also a good idea to install a smoke alarm and CO alarm in the room.
   
   
3. Don't Burn Trash in the Fireplace
   If it isn't wood or paper, it has no business burning in your fireplace. Plastics and other combustible materials can emit toxic fumes as they burn. Moreover, some combustible materials and gases can explode and quickly spread the fire onto carpets, couches, and other items near the fireplace.
   
   
4. Burn Seasoned Firewood
   Green wood and wood that hasn't properly cured can create considerable amounts of smoke and creosote. Ensure that you use seasoned firewood as this burns easily and creates plenty of heat in the process. 
   
   
5. Put it Out Before You Go to Bed or Leave
   It would be best if you never left a fire burning when you go to bed or leave home. Hot ashes and embers can spill out while you're asleep or away and create a significant hazard to your home. When you're ready to go to sleep or need to leave, please wait until the logs have turned to embers and then extinguish them with a little bit of water.
   
   
6. Build Your Fire Slowly
   You don't need to fill the fireplace with logs to fill the room with light and the home with heat. Build your fire one log at a time until it reaches the size you desire. Because different woods burn differently, this will help you get a better feel for how much wood you need to create the atmosphere you desire. It will also give you a better idea of how long it takes the fire to burn down so that you'll be able to plan your evenings in such a way that you won't have to wait all night for the embers to cool.

Some amazing Beavercreek homes for sale now have some truly stunning fireplaces for your family to enjoy. We invite you to contact Wright-Patt Realty, and our real estate agents will be happy to show them to you.