21Dec
Tips from Experts to Ensure Your Family’s Safety
If you’re like most people, the idea of a cozy fire on a cold day sounds appealing. While gas fireplaces are a great way to heat your home and provide ambiance, they can also be dangerous if not used properly. Before you light up, there are some things you need to know about gas fireplace safety.
When it comes to gas fireplace safety, there are a few things you need to know in order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. We’re going to cover 9 of the most important things you need to be aware of when using a gas fireplace. Keep reading for more information.
1. Get Gas Fireplace Tips From the Experts to Ensure Your Safety
Gas fireplace safety is not an issue you can overlook. Nearly 220 fire-related deaths in Canada yearly. 81% of those fires were reported as accidental.
You want to stay in touch with a licensed contractor after installing your unit for ongoing help. It would help if you trusted a certified fireplace engineer with maintenance and after-sales safety tips.
Are you using a gas fireplace, and you’re not aware of all the safety elements? Here are some gas fireplace safety tips from our experts to prevent incidents.
2. Let a Specialist Install Your Gas Fireplace
A gas fireplace expert becomes your key contact from the moment you install your fireplace. They’ll ensure proper installation of your unit and, as a result, help you avoid potential leaks and fire accidents.
The proper gas fireplace installation is usually the key to stopping recurring safety problems. It’s also a way to prevent emergency maintenance and cut costs.
DIY gas fireplace installation is sometimes an option, but it has risks.
A specialist installs your gas to the mains gas supply and tests performance for optimal safety. A DIY installation is as good as running the risk of voiding your home insurance policy. It’s common for home insurance providers to require homeowners to install gas fireplaces correctly.
3. Have It Inspected by a Specialist Annually
Gas fireplace inspection and maintenance are one of the most critical tasks to ensure your family’s safety. An inspection and maintenance service checks all elements to confirm your unit’s health.
Your specialist will dismantle your fireplace to check all the elements during maintenance. They’ll scrutinize its flame, look for leaks, clean buildup, and ensure your chimney works correctly. Gas fireplace experts recommend an annual gas fireplace inspection and maintenance service.
The service is sometimes necessary when preparing your fireplace for winter. An inspection and maintenance job for your gas fireplace can save costs while ensuring safety. Your specialist can identify problems before they fester into serious gas safety problems.
A safe way to maintain your gas fireplace is to contract the same company for installation and maintenance services. Look for a specialist offering comprehensive gas fireplace services.
4. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Using a gas fireplace comes with the risk of potential exposure to carbon dioxide. Like every fuel-burning device, a gas fireplace may produce carbon monoxide.
The danger of carbon monoxide is that it’s an odorless, poisonous gas. It’s even referred to as the silent killer. Annually, carbon monoxide causes approximately 300 deaths, most of which occurred during winter. So, a carbon monoxide detector is necessary if you use a gas fireplace. Experts recommend installing one for every fuel-burning appliance installed in your home.
Fix your carbon monoxide detector 15cm from the ceiling. And ensure it sits one meter away from the gas fireplace. Consider adding more detectors if you have more fuel-burning devices, such as cookers.
A carbon monoxide detector is one of the best gas fireplace safety tips to implement. It senses the presence of the gas and rings an alarm to warn you.
5. Don’t Forego a Safety Screen
Another essential safety device for any fireplace is a safety screen. A fireplace safety screen is a barrier between the fire and other elements. It protects your home, children, and pets.
An open fire is always dangerous, no matter how comfortable it keeps you. It may emit hot embers into the room, set it aflame and injure people. Its sparks may trigger curiosity in kids and prompt them to touch or play with it. A fireplace safety screen eliminates all these risks and also beautifies your setup. The attractive barrier blocks all embers and prevents children and pets from touching the flames.
You can find a safety screen matching your fireplace’s size, shape, and design. Or your fireplace designer can create a custom one to blend with your decor. This ensures that it fits into your fireplace without fixing or tying.
6. Keep a Safe Distance
Everyone wants to snuggle up to the fire for optimal warmness, especially during the harsh winter. But sitting too near your fireplace can provoke disaster.
It would be best if you kept a safe distance from the fireplace to react promptly in the event of temperamental embers. Plus, with the risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide intoxication, you’re safer keeping some distance. Move your sofa or chair at least 3 feet away from the fireplace.
The closer your sofa is to the fireplace, the higher the risk of fire problems. Most furniture will ignite quickly if a spark hits them since they are highly combustible.
Close interaction between sofa materials and fires increases the risk of toxic emissions. Many sofa makers use synthetic materials that can melt quickly and produce harmful fumes.
7. Don’t Leave Anything Flammable Nearby
Using a gas fireplace, you must keep your space clean and organized.
Remove all flammable elements, such as papers, books, and fabrics, from around your fireplace. Tablecloths and curtains may elevate your decor, but they also increase the potential of gas fireplace risks. Switch to safer materials or rearrange furniture to reduce the risk.
Consider installing flame-resistant rugs if using the standard ones near your fireplace. Flame-resistant rugs could resist heat, crackling, and melting. Fireplace hazards are also likely due to foreign, relatively permanent items near the fireplace. Kids may drop and forget combustible toys near the fireplace.
The best way to contain foreign elements is to maintain optimal cleanliness near your fireplace. Pick any aspect scattered around and keep it in its designated space.
Take Necessary Steps to Ensure Your Family’s Safety
Maintaining a safe home also means adhering to a set of gas fireplace safety tips. Failure to follow the safety tips in this guide is courting fireplace risks and hazards.
Stay warm, happy, and safe by prioritizing gas safety. Contact us to let the fireplace experts in Ottawa ensure your fireplace is correctly installed and maintained.