The weather is getting colder, and now is the perfect time to start preparing for warming your home. If you are a homebuyer looking at new homes in Atlanta area, a fireplace is certainly an enticing feature. Many home builders offer indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and while they can be great for gathering around, fireplaces must be used with caution. Here are some fireplace safety tips for families to stay safe and warm during the fall and winter months.

• Repair any cracks that appear in your fireplace.
• Hire a chimney sweep to clean and inspect the chimney each year.
• Use a fireplace screen to keep sparks and debris from flying or falling into your living room. This also keeps children and pets at a safe distance away from the fire.
• Avoid using gasoline to start a fire. There are lots of firestarters on the market that are much safer options. Dryer lint and newspaper are both good options.
• For outdoor fireplaces, keep a fire extinguisher, water supply or sand bucket close by and be sure that the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• Watch wind advisories when using an outdoor fireplace. Make sure cinders aren’t going to travel and catch something else on fire.
• Keep combustible materials at least three feet from your fireplace.
• Never leave fires unattended and watch children and pets carefully to avoid accidents.
• Stay at least three feet away from the fireplace for safety.

With these fireplace safety tips in mind, you and your family can enjoy sitting by the fireplace in your new home.