As the temperatures drop, furnaces and fireplaces are firing up across the northern hemisphere. In addition to checking chimney flues and furnace flames, now is the time to install new smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, and to test those already installed. The following tips can help you better safeguard yourself, your family and your property against losses.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. If you sleep with your bedroom doors closed, consider having a qualified electrician interconnect your smoke alarms.
• Smoke rises, so alarms should be mounted on ceilings or high on walls. Wall-mounted units should be between four to twelve inches from the ceiling.
• Don't install alarms near windows, doors or air ducts where drafts may interfere with their operation.
• Test smoke alarms on a regular basis and change batteries at least once a year. Use the switch to daylight saving time as a reminder to change batteries in the fall.
• Never disable an alarm or borrow a battery from an alarm.
• Establish at least two escape routes from your house, practice using them, and have the whole family agree on a place to meet outside.
• Have your heating system inspected and serviced by a qualified HVAC technician annually.

1. Clear the area around the fireplace and chimney. Debris too close to the fireplace could cause a fire. Check the flue for obstructions like birds' nests, and trim any overhanging branches or large trees near the chimney.
2. Always use a fireplace screen.
3. Never overload the fireplace with too many logs. Don't use the fireplace as an incinerator, and never burn garbage, Christmas trees, or piles of paper.
4. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and place smoke detectors throughout the house. Test the smoke detectors and batteries regularly. See that the extinguisher is in good working order and that all family members know how to operate it.
5. When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace, preferably on a grate.
6. Never leave fire unattended. Be sure the fire is extinguished before you go to bed.
7. Keep wood stacked, covered, and out-of-doors, away from the house and off the ground. Bring in only as much as you need for one evening to prevent insects that may be in the wood from entering your home. Manufactured Firelogs, which are packaged to eliminate insects and mess, can also prevent this problem.

1. Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned annually by a National Chimney Sweep Guild Certified chimney sweep. A dirty fireplace can cause chimney fires or contribute to air pollution. Your local NCSG-certified chimney sweep will diagnose your fireplace and recommend what it needs in order to burn cleanly and safely.
2. Choose the right fuel. In general, hardwood firewood (oak, madrone, hickory, ash, etc.) burns cleaner than softwood firewood (fir, pine, cedar, etc.). Independent tests (conducted by Shelton Research Labs, Santa Fe, NM) have proven that manufactured firelogs burn much cleaner than firewood.
3. Use seasoned wood, wood with a moisture content of less than 20 percent, burns much cleaner than green (high moisture content) wood. Check with your cordwood supplier to make sure that the wood you purchase is seasoned.
4. Burn smartly. Good fireplace habits can decrease fuel consumption in the home while maintaining the same level of warmth. Make sure the fire gets enough air to burn properly. Close the damper when the fire is out to keep warm room air inside.
5. Minimize creosote buildup which causes chimney fires. Creosote is the black tarry or flaky substance formed in chimneys during the wood burning process. While firewood leaves flammable creosote and carbon deposits on chimney wells, tests show firelogs leave significantly less creosote accumulation than wood.
6. Make a fire that fits your fireplace. A fire that's too large or too hot not only wastes fuel, it can crack your chimney.
7. Keep your fireplace in good working condition. If you notice any cracks in the chimney, and any loose mortar or brick, have your chimney repaired. Have the chimney liner inspected for cracking or deterioration.
8. Read and follow the label when using firelogs. Use one firelog at a time, starting it with a fireplace at room temperature. Don't poke or break manufactured logs. This will cause them to crack apart, releasing their energy at a high rate and resulting in a shorter burn time. Firelogs perform best when burned on a supporting fireplace grate with a maximum of three to four inches of space between support bars.
9. If your fireplace is equipped with glass doors, leave them open while burning a firelog to allow proper draught and cleaner burning. Once you're sure the fire is extinguished, close the damper and glass doors to retain warm air inside the house.