Essential Fireplace and Chimney Care Advice

Make sure your fireplace and chimney are in good shape before starting a fire in the hearth. While it’s always important to appreciate the luxury of a contemporary heater, many people use fireplaces in the winter to heat their homes cheaply or to create cozier holiday gatherings. Whatever the cause, bear these suggestions in mind before lighting your fireplace for the season.

1. Contact A Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep will do a visual assessment of your fireplace and chimney to look for obstructions and creosote, a substance that resembles tar. Creosote can cause chimney fires if overlooked. Before lighting the first fire of the season, perform an annual inspection of the fireplace with the help of Local Chimney Cleaning River Pines experts.

2. Leaving Some Ash
Even though it’s advised that you clean the firebox once per month while burning fires, it’s a good idea to leave around an inch of ash behind. This will make it simpler for the coals from a new fire to keep heat. When you gather the remaining ashes, take great care to set them outside because they can stay surprisingly hot for a long time after a fire has been put out.

3. Damper Should Be Closed
Just above the fireplace, a damper is a hinged flap that regulates how much air is allowed to enter through the chimney. It’s a good idea to leave it open while a fire is burning, but you should close it once the flame has died down to stop heat loss and cold air exchange.

4. Maintain a Clear Zone
To prevent sparks from burning upholstery, furniture should be placed a minimum of 36 inches away from the fireplace. Even if you use a fireplace screen to capture sparks, this is still true.

5. Put A Chimney Cap On
If having an open doorway on your home’s roof seems like a recipe for trouble, it certainly is. To stop animals from entering, creating nests, and preventing smoke from leaving the fireplace, chimney caps can partially block the aperture.

6. Use Only Seasoned Wood
Make careful to only use seasoned wood—logs that have been dried out for a year—to kindle a blazing fire. Wet wood that has been outside creating poor fuel and encourages smokey fires. A large grate that allows for spaced-out configurations will not be a good source of heat, so be sure to put your logs closely together when starting your fire.

7. Take A Look At A Fireplace Insert
If your fireplace can accommodate an insert, a steel or cast-iron box with a glass front that traps heat from a gas or wood fire and radiates it into your home like a space heater, consults a local chimney expert. It is the ideal fusion of comfortable and economics.

Although the enjoyment of a contemporary fireplace cannot be understated, maintaining one can provide several difficulties for homeowners. During the colder months, many people rely on their fireplaces for affordable heating options, but for whatever reason, they can also be quite messy if not taken care of properly. If you want expert Local Chimney Cleaning River Pines service, Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning offers both economical sweeping and repair services.

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