Has the high cost of heating your home made you switch to using a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove?
Using appliances that have not been inspected properly or cleaned can lead to serious fires or carbon monoxide dangers in your home.
Safety tips for using fireplaces and wood stoves:
- Any wood burning appliance or device should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned at least once a year by a Wood Energy Technology Transfer (W.E.T.T.) certified technician, even if it is only used a couple of times a year. Appliances used often may need to be inspected more frequently.
- Do not use appliances that have not been used in a long time until a complete inspection has been done by a W.E.T.T. certified technician. All parts should be inspected including the inside and outside of the chimney and firebox. Age, weather and animals can cause serious damage.
- If you are thinking about installing a new wood-burning appliance, make sure you get a building permit and have the work inspected before you use it.
- Only burn quality, seasoned firewood. Never burn garbage or papers in the appliance.
- Keep combustible material away from the appliance while it is in use.