A fireplace is a beautiful and elegant addition to any room, adding ambience and saving money in the process.
Here at Real Flame, we are leading specialists in all things fireplaces, providing every kind of fire available, including fireplace installation in London.
We know that everyone loves snuggling up in front of a fire, including children and pets. The worry here is that neither children or animals know the dangers that a fireplace can have if appropriate safety measures are not carried out.
Read on for our best tips and advice for making sure that your fireplace is both childproof and petproof.
Supervision
Whilst this is probably the most obvious piece of advice – it’s also the most important. Both children and pets are curious by nature, and will especially be fascinated by a fire burning brightly. This is why it is important that you are aware of their movements when they are anywhere near a fireplace while the fire is in use.
Discuss fire safety as soon as your child is old enough to understand, and do not leave them alone with one until they are 100% able to comprehend what you have told them.
With pets, it’s important that you do not leave then unintended with a burning fire. Pets are fast, and it can have tragic consequences if you don’t watch them closely. Be extra vigilant!
Install a glass door
An easy way to protect children and animals from a fire is to install a glass door. It was stop any hot embers from escaping from your fire, and also act as a barrier against small hands (and paws!) that may curiously reach out unknowingly.
It also prevents anyone from falling into the fire, as children are not known for their great balance.
Just keep in mind that the glass will become hot when the fire is burning behind it, so other security precautions will still have to be carried out.
Use a fireguard
As mentioned, a glass door is not always the safest way to protect children and pets from a hot fire, due to the temperatures that glass can reach. This is why we recommend putting up a fireguard in front of your fireplace, as this will serve as extra protection and keep your children and animals away from the roaring flames.
It’s incredibly easy to find a fireguard that matches your room’s decor, as they come in a variety of different colours and designs. This means there is no excuse as to why you can’t invest in one straight away.
Buy some hearth pads
You can buy hearth padding for the hearth base that will help protect children from falling and hurting themselves on the hard hearth surface.
You can get it for the entire hearth, or just to pad the edges.Whilst it might not be the most attractive feature for your front room, it will help protect your loved ones immensely.
We hope that you have found these tips helpful for keeping your children and pets safe in the home. If you follow our safety advice, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t have a fireplace in your house.
They say that the fireplace is considered an important feature of the home – and we are certainly passionate about them.
If you would like to purchase one of our range of beautiful modern and contemporary fireplaces or stoves, please contact us today. Give us a call on 020 7731 5025 and a member of staff will be happy to help.
Get in Touch with Real Flame for more Advice and Information