Get matched with top fire pit installation pros in North Reading, MA

Depending on who’s doing the estimating, about 22,000 to 25,000 chimney fires happen each year in the United States. Given the fact that millions of Americans have fireplaces (and chimneys), that means chimney fires aren’t exactly common—but they’re not rare, either. Since they’re so dangerous, it’s important to take precautions to prevent them.

There are several tools available to help prevent electrical fires. First, ensure that you have GFCI outlets installed in necessary areas, along with an AFCI, which is a circuit breaker that can help prevent arc-faults. Investing in surge protectors is also wise, as they can safeguard your appliances and other items against power surges that may overload your outlet and cause sparking.

If you plan to put a fire pit on a grassy area, be sure to put compacted paver sand down first to help level out the ground and add better heat protection. If you’re placing a fire pit on hardscaping, like a concrete patio, consider placing a fire pit mat down first. This can add more protection from the heat and also protect the look of your hardscaping if you choose to remove the fire pit in the future.

Yes, you need to leave your chimney damper open when burning a creosote log so that smoke and other debris doesn’t waft into your house as it’s burning. You’ll need to make sure your damper is fully open, even when the log continues to smoke, until it’s completely out and cold.