Safe Removal of Fireplace Ashes

For people who regularly burn a fire in their fireplace or wood burning stove, removal of the ashes is a frequently performed task.

Removing the ashes often not only helps prevent the smell of ashes in your home, but it can also enhance the performance of your fireplace. The following paragraphs will discuss the safe removal of ashes from your fireplace, as well as the importance of a proper ash container.

When ashes build up in a fireplace, they can hide small pieces of hot embers. These embers can go dormant for weeks before dying out. This can cause a fire hazard, because when these hot embers are exposed to higher oxygen levels, they can re-ignite, causing an unexpected fire in your fireplace or ash pail. This is why it is so important to understand the safe removal of ashes from your fireplace.

The first thing to consider in the safe removal of fireplaces ashes is "when" you decide to remove them. It is always best to remove old ashes before starting a new fire. This way the ashes have had some time to cool before their removal. Remember, hot coals can hide themselves in ashes, so mix the ashes around before removing them, to help eliminate any hot embers from the ashes themselves.

Next, when you are removing the ashes from your fireplace, you should put them into a proper ash container. There are ash containers available that are specially designed to hold fireplace ashes. These ash containers are most commonly metal, and have a lid that fits tightly on the top. The bottom should be elevated, so only the edge of the container touches the ground. This will help prevent any fire caused by any hot embers that could make the ash container hot.

Once the ashes have had a chance to cool, they can safely be disposed of. Many people use the cool fireplace ashes as garden fertilizer, or food for their house plants.



 

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