A cozy fire on a chilly night is one of life’s greatest pleasures. However, if you’re not careful, your cozy fire could turn into a dangerous situation. Chimney fires can happen when you least expect, if you’re not familiar with the right protocol. When creosote, a highly flammable byproduct of burning wood, starts to build up in the chimney, the slightest spark can lead to a disastrous fire.

The great news is that a little maintenance and a few smart habits can keep your cozy fire cozy and keep disaster at bay. Here are some helpful tips for reducing the risk of chimney fires.

Keep Up With Cleaning

Think of your chimney like a car. Just like your car needs routine maintenance to keep running smoothly, so does your chimney. Over time, the creosote will start to build up on the chimney walls, and without removing it it will light fire.

That’s why you need to have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year. This won’t just help reduce the risk of a fire, but it will also help your fireplace to be much more effective in heating your home.

Burn The Right Wood

Not all firewood is created equally. Otherwise, everyone would burn just about anything in their fireplaces. Wet or unseasoned wood can produce more smoke and leads to faster creosote buildup, not to mention that it smells terrible.

The best option is dry seasoned hardwood like Oak or Maple. It will burn hotter, and leave less residue behind, making your fires much more efficient, and ultimately, your chimney is safer.

While you may be tempted to break up old furniture and burn that as firewood in an attempt to save a few dollars, you should know that furniture finish is very toxic when burned, and it’s not at all a good idea to breathe in. Only buy wood from verified sources, from businesses that promise what they’re selling is safe and don’t produce excessive amounts of smoke and build up.

Look For Warning Signs

Often, we can see a fire coming before it gets to the point of being too big to extinguish. If you start noticing a thick, dark smoke and a strong burning smell, these are signs of creosote buildup or a chimney fire just starting. If anything seems off or you notice more loud cracking or popping sounds than usual, stop using your fireplace and get it checked out by our professional as soon as possible.

Avoid Overloading

Sometimes, we may be in a hurry, or we may be anxious to warm up our house quickly. As a result, we may be tempted to throw in a few extra logs to get a roaring fire going, but overloading your fireplace is a recipe for disaster. You want a calm and steady fire instead of a roaring blaze, as you will significantly reduce your risk of chimney fires.