Cozy Fire

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

Although it may be hard to believe, southern California seems like it may actually experience a real winter this year. October has experienced fluctuating hot and cold spells, with the cold spells becoming longer and more frequent. That can only mean one thing for the high desert: fireplaces will be getting some use this winter.

While homes built in California in recent years do not have fireplaces, a large number of the homes in the Chino Valley were built prior to the environmental laws that banned fireplaces and were therefore grandfathered in. While it is nothing short of awesome to curl up with a book next to a raging (controlled) fire, SERVPRO of Chino/Chino Hills has some quick tips we’d like to share with you to make sure you stay safe while doing so.

Per https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/fireplace-maintenance-and-safety, here are some hot tips to make sure you enjoy your fireplace:

• Fireplaces should not be used as furnaces. Use a fireplace for a short-duration fire — no longer than five hours.
• Keep the glass open to allow air to be drawn up to cool the chimney, but keep the screen closed to prevent sparks from jumping onto the carpeting.
• Never leave a fire unattended when children are in the house. Adults, even if near, should not allow children to play near or with fire tools and equipment.
• Open a window when using the fireplace to prevent the room from becoming smoky. The air coming in from the window will go up the chimney.
• Before making a fire, open the glass doors, pull aside the screen curtains, and place the kindling, newspaper and logs inside. Next, open the damper and a window. The window needs to be open only a few inches. You can check to make sure the smoke will go up the chimney properly by lighting a match, quickly blowing it out and watching the smoke to see whether it's going up and out.

If you experience a fire in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Chino/Chino Hills immediately. We are here to help.