With unseasonable weather occurring more frequently, the air outside can go from pleasant to freezing overnight. But before you crank up your fireplace, you'll want to make sure everything is in working order. Here are a few maintenance tips you should implement to make sure that you and your loved ones can stay safe and warm.
1. Call A Certified Chimney Sweep
If you're like most people, you haven't had a professional come out to clean the chimney since…well, it’s been a while. Now is the time to have an expert check the chimney for cracks, missing mortar, creosote buildup, and loose bricks. It's best to call a professional in early fall because winter is the busiest season for chimney sweep companies. Be sure to hire chimney sweeps who have been certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America or who are Fire Certified. Chimney sweep professionals check the chimney stack on the exterior and interior. For the inside, they'll use a camera with a light to make sure there aren't any unsafe conditions inside the chimney, and they’ll clean out all of the soot and debris. While inside the chimney, the chimney sweep will check the damper and chimney cap to ensure rain, animals like birds or bats, and debris can't enter the home.
2. Clean The Fireplace Box Inside Your Home
After your chimney has been cleaned and re-fortified inside and out, it's time to focus on the fireplace. Look for any soot or dirt inside your firebox and vacuum or sweep it out. To do this, remove your grates and andirons to gain access. Use a wire brush to remove soot buildup and rust from the grates. Next, you'll want to scrub the interior walls of the fireplace to remove excess debris. Once the interior is free of debris and soot, use a cleaning solution to wash the fireplace walls.
If you see any gaps in the firebox brick mortar, patch them up with a water-based, sand-filled sealant to provide the right amount of adhesion. After sealing all cracks, replace the fireplace screen and clean the glass with an ammonia-free fireplace glass cleaner. Lastly, take a step back and see how you can spruce up your mantel. Your family and loved ones will appreciate the extra effort you put into creating a cozy atmosphere.
3. Use The Right Type of Firewood
Most people think that any wood will suffice for a good burn. However, trimming trees around the property or using green or unseasoned wood will cause creosote to build upon the walls of your chimney. This is a special kind carbon build-up that can cause smoke and even catch fire if left unattended. You’ll therefore want to use dry and seasoned wood that burns cleanly and efficiently without all of the popping and cracking sounds. If you're burning wood and hearing these sounds, you're more likely to build a smoldering fire and fill your home with smoke.
When preparing your fire, do not overload your fireplace with wood. It's much better to have a small, hotter fire than a raging inferno that could easily turn dangerous. If you have a gas fireplace, check to see that your fireplace has the proper ventilation and that no carbon monoxide is escaping into your home. We highly recommend purchasing a carbon monoxide detector to monitor potentially dangerous levels.
4. Protect The Interior of Your Home
When it comes to your family and loved ones, safety is first and foremost. As a homeowner, you should already know that you need fire extinguishers throughout the home, but you must know where your fire extinguishers are before lighting your gas or wood-burning fireplace. Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher in easy reach when building a fire, and you'll be prepared to handle any potential danger within seconds.
To fortify your fireplace, incorporate further measures such as damper ballons and blowers. Damper balloons prevent cold air from entering the home while the chimney is dormant. They are inflatable and rest against the damper to keep cold air out and can save you tons of money on your monthly utility bills. Blowers help circulate the heat generated from the fire and up and out to your living room. To maximize the protection of your home, get a fire screen to prevent embers from jumping out and causing a potential fire.
5. Ensure the Exterior Of Your Home Is Safe
To ensure you have a streamlined experience when setting a fire in your fireplace, take a look at the exterior of your home for potential barriers. If you see trees overhanging the chimney stack, trim them back before setting a fire. If the screens on your chimney stack show signs of wear, replace them to keep birds, squirrels, and bats out before they wreak havoc or cause a potential fire hazard. And lastly, store your supply of firewood outside in a rack to keep it dry and prevent insects and vermin from infesting your wood.
With these tips, you are well on your way to confidently kicking your feet up and putting a smile on the face of everyone who enters your home. Feel confident that your friends, family, and loved ones will feel safe and enjoy the moment every time they set foot in your house.
