Chimney Care 101
As summer dies down and the weather grows colder, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves become the central focus for most Americans that just want a heat source that works without breaking the bank and raising the electrical bill.
Since you’ll probably be using your fireplace for extended periods, it’s important to understand what can go wrong and how to give it proper maintenance. That’s why we’ve developed a beginner’s guide for fireplace and chimney care and maintenance.
The Importance of Chimneys
Chimneys are probably an essential part of any fireplace since it draws the poisonous carbon monoxide out of your spaces, keeping you and your loved ones safe. That’s why it’s important to give constant care and maintenance. If you don’t, these serious issues can occur:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning: to avoid this, it’s important to be diligent about the exhaust
performance of your fireplace. - Chimney fires: creosote is a substance that builds up in the flue area of the chimney and can catch on fire.
- Structure failure: if your fireplace experiences constant fires, there’s a big chance that this will lead to premature structural damage.
General Maintenance Tips
Up next, we go over the most important general tips to avoid chimney fires and keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying the coziness of your home fireplace:
- Clean your chimney periodically: as stated before, this is the simplest way to keep your fireplace working on tip-top shape. A clean fireplace and chimney mean you won’t be at risk of a fire anytime soon.
- Only burn dry hardwood: if the wood you’re burning is not properly cured or if it is a little wet, it will smoke a lot more while also building up creosote in your chimney. Using only dry hardwood prevents this.
- Keep a close eye on chimney sparks: installing a spark shield or wire basket at the top of your chimney should be able to keep sparks away.
- Keep combustible materials away: this is obvious, but it’s important not to have any flammable materials close to your fire.
- Pay close attention to your fire: if you don’t tend to your fireplace, a huge fire may occur, greatly damaging your fireplace and chimney. Always make sure it’s completely extinguished before moving away from it.
Keep Your Loved One’s Safe with Us!
Chimney care is important to keep hazardous gases and prevent fires from happening and putting your family in danger. Periodical chimney maintenance is a must for every homeowner trying to keep their loved ones safe, and sometimes it’s best to leave it to the pros!
At Green & Clean Home Services, we offer comprehensive chimney cleaning and chimney care services that will keep you and your loved ones safe. Don’t wait any longer, and reach out for a consultation!
