Fireplace maintenance is an important part of getting your home ready for colder weather. Before you use your fireplace regularly, take time to check that it is clean, venting properly, and safe to operate.
Some of the tips below apply mainly to wood-burning fireplaces, especially cleaning, chimney care, and what you burn. Others, such as smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detection, and professional servicing, are also important for homes with gas fireplaces.
Use these practical fireplace maintenance tips to help improve safety, avoid smoke and draft problems, and keep your fireplace working efficiently before the first cold spell hits.
Have your chimney cleaned out twice a year. The recommended number varies depending on how often you use your hearth. However, you should have it cleaned every fall to ensure it’s properly vented so that smoke has a way to escape.
Also, you’ll want to make sure that no animals have made their home there over the summer.
Make sure you close the damper when you’re not using the fireplace. You don’t want to make your furnace work overtime because warm air is sneaking up and out the chimney.
If your home doesn’t have a chimney cap, then have one installed. These help to prevent snow, leaves, animals and other debris from falling down the chimney. Caps also help keep downdrafts from gusting into your living area.
A fireplace isn’t the spot to burn your broken chair or ex-girlfriend’s photos. Painted wood, plastic and other treated wood surfaces can release chemicals into the air of your home. Worse, they can coat the interior walls of your fireplace, so you continue breathe them in for the next couple of fires.
If you don’t already have them, mount smoke alarms near your hearth and in every bedroom. Consider installing combined carbon monoxide and smoke detectors if you have a home with a gas-burning fireplace.
Don’t use your fireplace without taking the right precautions. Get it cleaned, and if it’s your first use, then be sure to get it inspected beforehand. Make the hearth in your home the heart of your home by following the tips above to ensure it’s up to snuff this fall.
For our last home tips post check out “Be Energy Efficient This Fall” and make sure the cold weather is not burning a hole in your pocket!
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A fireplace should be cleaned regularly, checked for proper venting, and inspected for safe operation before frequent seasonal use. Key maintenance tasks include chimney cleaning, making sure the damper works properly, checking for animal nests or debris, and confirming that smoke and carbon monoxide protection is in place.
Chimney cleaning frequency depends on how often the fireplace is used, but a cleaning before the fall heating season is a practical step to help make sure smoke can vent properly. Homes that use the fireplace more often may need more frequent service.
A fireplace and chimney should be checked before regular cold-weather use, especially if it is the first use of the season. If there are any concerns about venting, buildup, or overall condition, a professional inspection is a smart precaution.
Yes. While chimney cleaning and firewood guidance apply mainly to wood-burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces still need regular attention. Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detection, and professional servicing are all important for homes with gas fireplaces.
A fireplace may need servicing if it is not venting properly, if smoke enters the room, if drafts are a problem, or if there is concern about buildup or debris in the chimney. It is also wise to have it checked if it has been unused for a long period.
No. Painted wood, treated wood, plastic, and similar materials should not be burned in a fireplace because they can release chemicals into the air and leave unwanted residue inside the fireplace. Burning clean firewood only is the safer choice.
Closing the damper helps keep warm indoor air from escaping up the chimney when the fireplace is not being used. That can help reduce unnecessary strain on the home’s heating system.
A chimney cap helps keep out snow, leaves, animals, and other debris that can block or affect the chimney. It can also help reduce downdrafts that push outside air into the living area.
Smoke alarms should be installed near the fireplace and in every bedroom. If the home has a gas fireplace, combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are a good option for added protection.
The cost of fireplace servicing can vary based on the type of fireplace, the condition of the chimney or venting system, and whether cleaning, inspection, or repairs are needed. Getting a quote from a qualified local professional is the best way to estimate the actual cost.
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