Having a working fireplace is great if you want to keep your home warm. It doesn’t have to be your main source of home heating, but it provides you with a wonderful way to get warm on particularly cold days. Plus, it’s cozy to sit near the fireplace and enjoy the warmth of the flames while you have a hot chocolate, read a book, or talk to your family. One thing that’s important to remember is that it’s essential to maintain your fireplace and chimney. If you don’t, it can be dangerous when you light a fire. Here are some important maintenance tasks that you need to manage.
Get It Cleaned
Cleaning your hearth and chimney regularly helps to prevent the buildup of soot and creosote. Not only does this make your fireplace look better, but it will also make it safer and more efficient. To clean the chimney, hiring a professional chimney sweep is a good idea. They might not be as common as they once were, and you won’t find them dancing across the rooftops of London, but they are definitely worth the money. They will safely and efficiently clean your chimney. And, crucially, they will do so without making too much mess.
Check for Damage
Any damage to your fireplace or chimney could cause problems for you. Checking your chimney regularly for damage should help you to spot any potential issues that might make it less efficient and perhaps lead to other problems. Be on the lookout for cracks, dents, or rust on your chimney, whether it’s metal or brick. You should check both the outside and the parts that you can see inside to see if there’s any damage. The sooner you spot something, the faster it can be dealt with and repaired to make your fireplace efficient again.
Watch Out for Wildlife
Chimneys can be attractive to some types of wildlife looking for somewhere to build a home. And other animals will accidentally fall down your chimney, finding themselves in a bit of a predicament. Watch out for signs of animals such as squirrels or birds ending up in your chimney. You can find humane squirrel removal services to get rid of squirrelly pests if they’re causing havoc in your home. It’s best to get rid of them as soon as you can if you want to prevent them from damaging anything.
Burn Fires Correctly
To protect your fireplace and chimney, you need to know how to light and burn a fire. Using the right type of wood and burning your fire safely will help to protect you and your home. Seasoned hardwoods are the best choice for burning in your fireplace. The wood needs to be dried properly if you want it to be efficient. Installing a glass door and blower will help to make your fires safer and more efficient. And don’t forget to install and regularly check both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
Look after your fireplace and chimney if you want to be able to light fires safely and have them efficiently warm your home.
