June 14th
Fireplace Maintenance With a Chimney Liner and Brush
Having a fireplace can be a great thing. Nothing beats curling up in front of a crackling fire on a cold winter’s night. Once you stock up on logs, you probably figure you are all set for a winter full of cozy fires, right? In reality, that is only partly true. It takes a lot more than a few reams of fire wood to keep the fireplace going all winter.
Fireplaces don’t come with instructions. Not many people talk about fireplace maintenance but ignoring the matter can result in serious consequences. A lot of people buy older houses that already have fireplaces, stock up on wood, and don’t give the matter another thought. However, maintaining the fireplace is absolutely critical if you want to ensure its longevity as well as the safety of your family and home.
The first thing you should do before starting to use the fireplace is get it inspected. Only an expert has the right tools to examine the inner workings of your chimney and ensure that everything is in full working order. Inspectors know exactly what to look for and can make recommendations about how to improve the functionality and safety of your fireplace. Even if the home was inspected during the sales process, it is a good idea to have a specific chimney inspector come out and take a look.
Even if your fireplace does pass its inspection with flying colors, your job is not done. If you use the fireplace regularly, it is up to you to take the steps necessary to keep your fireplace in good shape. That means cleaning the fireplace doors and cleaning up the ash regularly. Always wait a few days after burning a fire to clean up the ash to ensure that it has cooled entirely.
It is also a good idea to clean your liner every year using a steel brush. Although you can do this yourself, it involves purchasing the proper tools and going on the roof, so most people prefer to enlist the help of a professional chimney cleaner. Professional cleaners usually have a large collection of chimney sweep brushes which means there is a good chance they will have one that is the exact size and shape to clean your liner thoroughly without damaging it.
A chimney liner is not something you want to install and then forget about. Neglecting it can hurt your home and even your family. Maintenance is imperative to keeping your chimney in good, safe working order.
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