Safety
Carbon monoxide, kids and pets, overnight burning, and every other safety question.
carbon monoxide
- Can a gas fireplace cause carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Do ventless gas fireplaces give off carbon monoxide?
- Do vented gas logs produce carbon monoxide?
- Do electric fireplaces produce carbon monoxide?
- Can a wood-burning fireplace give you carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Can a direct-vent gas fireplace leak carbon monoxide into the house?
- How can I tell if my gas fireplace is leaking carbon monoxide?
- What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning from a fireplace?
- Why is my carbon monoxide detector going off when my fireplace is running?
- Can a blocked chimney or flue push carbon monoxide back into the house?
- Does a standing pilot light produce carbon monoxide?
- Can snow or debris blocking the outside vent make a gas fireplace dangerous?
- What happens if a direct-vent fireplace's vent pipe comes loose or leaks inside the wall?
- Is it safe for gas logs or a gas fireplace to share a chimney flue with a furnace or water heater?
detector requirements
- Do I need a carbon monoxide detector if I have a gas fireplace?
- Where should a carbon monoxide detector go in a room with a gas fireplace?
- Do I need a carbon monoxide detector with an electric fireplace?
- Is a low-level carbon monoxide monitor worth it over a standard alarm?
- Why does my fireplace keep setting off the smoke detector?
- Do I need a smoke alarm in the same room as my fireplace or wood stove?
oxygen depletion
ventless controversy
- Are ventless gas fireplaces safe?
- Why are ventless gas fireplaces banned in some states?
- Are vented or ventless gas logs safer?
- Is it safe to use a ventless fireplace as your main heat source every day?
- How many hours at a time can you safely run a ventless fireplace?
- Are today's vent-free fireplaces safer than the older ones?
- Can you put a vent-free fireplace in a bedroom?
- Can you put a vent-free fireplace in a bathroom?
- Does the smell from a ventless fireplace mean it's unsafe?
glass burn hazard
- How hot does gas fireplace glass get, and can it burn you?
- How long does fireplace glass stay dangerously hot after the fire is turned off?
- Why do newer gas fireplaces have a mesh safety screen in front of the glass?
- Can I add a safety screen to an older gas fireplace that didn't come with one?
- Does the glass on an electric fireplace get hot?
- Do see-through fireplaces get dangerously hot on both sides?
glass breakage
kids and pets
- How do I childproof a gas fireplace?
- Is it safe to have a gas fireplace with a baby or toddler in the house?
- Are electric fireplaces safe around kids and pets?
- What kind of safety gate or barrier works best around a fireplace hearth?
- How do I baby-proof the sharp edges of a raised hearth?
- Can my dog or cat get burned by fireplace glass?
- Are wood stoves safe with small children in the house?
- How do I lock the fireplace remote or wall switch so kids can't turn it on?
- How do I keep kids and pets safe around a fire pit?
overnight and unattended
- Can you leave a gas fireplace on overnight while you sleep?
- Is it safe to leave a gas fireplace running when you're not home?
- Is it safe to leave vented gas logs burning overnight in an open fireplace?
- Can you leave an electric fireplace on overnight?
- Is it safe to go to bed while a wood fire is still burning in the fireplace?
- Is it safe to let a wood stove burn overnight?
- How do I safely put out a fire in the fireplace before going to bed?
- Can you leave a gas fire pit running unattended?
- Is it safe to turn my fireplace on from a smart-home app when I'm not in the room?
pilot light safety
gas leaks
- What should I do if I smell gas near my fireplace?
- How do I check my gas fireplace for a gas leak?
- Can a gas fireplace explode?
- Why does my gas fireplace make a boom or loud pop when it lights?
- Is propane more dangerous than natural gas for a fireplace?
- Who should I call about a suspected gas leak — the gas company or a fireplace technician?
- Where is the gas shutoff valve for my fireplace, and how do I turn it off in an emergency?
- What should I do if my gas fireplace won't turn off?
- Is a gas fireplace safe to use after it has been flooded?
gas smells
burner warning signs
- Is black soot on my gas fireplace glass or logs a warning sign?
- Should gas fireplace flames be blue or yellow, and when is the flame color a danger sign?
- Is it dangerous to rearrange the logs or embers in a gas fireplace?
- Is it safe to add my own fire glass, rocks, or lava rock to a gas fireplace or fire pit?
damper and doors
backdrafting risk
vent cap safety
recalls and standards
TV above fireplace
indoor clearances
- How close can furniture be to a fireplace or wood stove?
- How far should curtains and drapes be from a fireplace?
- How far does a wood stove have to be from the wall?
- Can a heat shield reduce how much clearance a wood stove needs?
- Do I need a hearth pad under a wood stove, and how big does it have to be?
- How close can a wood mantel or shiplap be to the fireplace opening?
- Why does my mantel get hot when the fireplace is on, and is that a fire hazard?
- What does zero-clearance fireplace mean — is it really safe to build wood framing around it?
- Can an electric fireplace safely go inside a cabinet or against any wall?
- How close can firewood be stacked to a wood stove or fireplace?
- Is it safe to dry clothes or shoes near a fireplace or wood stove?
mantel and decor
- Is it safe to put candles on the fireplace mantel?
- Will heat from the fireplace damage photos, art, or decorations on the mantel?
- Is it safe to hang stockings and garland on the mantel while the fireplace is burning?
- Is it safe to put the Christmas tree next to the fireplace?
- Is it safe to burn candles inside an unused fireplace?
fire pit safety
- Do gas fire pits give off carbon monoxide?
- Is it safe to use a gas fire pit in a garage or other enclosed space?
- Can you use a gas fire pit under a covered patio, pergola, or screened porch?
- How far away from the house should a gas fire pit be?
- Is it safe to put a fire pit on a wooden deck?
- Can a gas fire pit explode?
- Is it safe to store the propane tank inside the base of a fire pit table?
- Are propane fire pits safer than wood-burning fire pits?
- Is it safe to use a fire pit when it's windy?
- Can I use a gas fire pit during a burn ban?
- Is it safe to roast marshmallows or cook food over a gas fire pit?
outdoor fireplace safety
pregnancy safety
chimney fire
- What causes a chimney fire?
- How do I know if I've already had a chimney fire?
- What should I do if my chimney catches fire?
- Can I use my fireplace again after a chimney fire?
- How often should a chimney be swept to prevent a chimney fire?
- How much creosote buildup is dangerous?
- Is a bird's nest or animal in the chimney a fire or carbon monoxide hazard?
what not to burn
embers and ashes
chimney condition
insert safety
wood stove safety
wood burning safety
conversion safety
electric fireplace safety
- Can an electric fireplace catch fire?
- Can you plug an electric fireplace into an extension cord or power strip?
- Can an electric fireplace overload a circuit?
- Do electric fireplaces have overheat protection and tip-over shutoff?
- Is it safe to put an electric fireplace in a bathroom?
- Can you use an indoor electric fireplace outside on a covered porch?