Santa Clause is not the only person who might use the chimney and fireplace this season! Many families center holiday traditions around the fireplace and hearth. The fireplace is such a popular holiday backdrop that many television channels feature a fireplace channel for the season! If you have the fireplace of your dreams, there are numerous ways you can enjoy it this holiday season.
At Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service it’s our goal for your home and family to be safe and comfortable, and for your fireplace and chimney to be at their most efficient. You can achieve this by practicing safe fire habits as well as keeping your fireplace and chimney properly maintained. This means keeping up with regular maintenance, including chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections. Once you’ve insured that your family, guests, and home are protected this season you can feel freer in enjoying family activities.
Some of our favorite Holiday family activities include:
- Gift Exchanges: You can have the perfect holiday experience with the family when you gather around the fireplace to exchange gifts with loved ones.
- Pro tip: don’t put wrapping paper or trash into the fire. It is best to only use seasoned wood in your fireplace. Paper is so light it can fly out of the fireplace opening and into your room. Keep a waste basket or trash bag nearby to collect trash from the gift-exchange.
- Family Photos: While the family is all together for the holidays it is the perfect time to get them together for that photo that is impossible during the rest of the year. You can decorate your hearth so it is the perfect backdrop for all your family photos (even if you’re the type to coordinate outfits).
- Pro tip: keep decorations securely fastened onto the mantel and far enough away from the fire so that they cannot fall into the flame. This includes a live-cut tree. It should be positioned far enough away that it won’t land near the flame if it accidentally falls.
Holiday Parties
Your fireplace makes your home the perfect place to host a holiday get-together with friends, family, and colleagues. With your fireplace as the focal point, you won’t have to worry about excessive decorating. The fireplace is the show!
Pro tip: use the damper to control the flame. When several people are gathered in one space it can warm up quick. If it gets too excessively hot you can use glass doors to enjoy the sight of the flame, while closing off the heat from the room.
These are just some of our favorite ways to enjoy the hearth during the holidays. There are many things you can do to enhance your holiday experience. We know that the important thing is family, and we want yours to be safe and warm this season. If you’re concerned about your chimney’s safety in the Raleigh area, contact Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service in order to speak with a fireplace and chimney expert today.
