Log holders are functional fireplace accessories. They also provide an aesthetic visual cue for our hearths. However, once we’ve purchased and positioned them, we don’t often give them much thought. Nevertheless, the log holder, like any fireplace tool, presents some dangers of which we must always be aware. Here are eight log holder tips to keep your family safe and protect your home.

1. We often need to clear areas for small children. If there is something dangerous to access, like a log holder, they also manage to find it. Consider moving them out of the living room or den when the children are playing.

2. Before you move that log holder, consider what type of handle it possesses. Many log holder handles are for show only, and they can’t support the weight of a full load. If the handle breaks, then the load could fall onto your foot or injure those nearby.

3. Just as you clean your fireplace once per year, clean your log holders regularly. A build up of wood chips can present an unexpected danger. Get in the habit of emptying the log holder of debris each time you use the last log.

4. It’s important that the fireplace area is clear when a fire is burning. A log holder positioned too close to the fire presents a great deal of risk especially if the wood is particularly dry. Be aware of its positioning at all times.

5. Keep a fire extinguisher somewhere where there is easy access from and to the fireplace area. Have a plan in place on how you will handle a log holder whose contents are ablaze.

6. Most log holders allow the stockpile to be stacked tightly so that there are no loose logs. However, always check after stacking the wood that the stockpile is tight. In addition, ensure that weight distribution is even if you have a tall holder that could tip.

7. When we get accustomed to tending fires, we get lazy. Never snatch logs from the holder and place them in the fire. It’s always better to be safe. Use a tong to select the log and place it gently into the fire.

8. If you’re stacking wood in a log holder outdoors, make sure it stays dry, but it also requires good circulation. Stacking wood against a home is never a good idea because it inhibits circulation, and it presents a fire hazard as well as attracts pests.

Always keep these safety tips in mind, and make certain that your family is aware of them as well. A log holder does not present a great deal of danger until the moment that we forget it’s there.