Spring is here, and most families are done using their fireplaces until fall rolls around again. Now is the time to close off your fireplace and chimney for the season of warm nights, fresh air, and time spent outside. Rather than just no longer using your fireplace, there are a few steps to make sure it stays in tip-top shape during its off-season.
Close off a fireplace for the season with these 4 steps:
- Clean the Fireplace
It's time for spring-cleaning, so why not add cleaning the chimney and fireplace to the list? You can remove leftover ash from the firebox yourself and use a vacuum hose, so the soot doesn’t get on anything else in the room. A professional chimney sweep can access and clean the parts you cannot reach, ensuring your chimney and fireplace are in their best shape.
- Get Your Chimney Inspected
In addition to chimney cleaning, it’s important to get an annual inspection for maintenance. Proper chimney maintenance relies on this inspection as it checks to make sure your chimney is not damaged. Most homeowners think they only need an inspection if they are burning wood—this isn't true! Whether you burn wood, gas, coal, or another type of fuel, both the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Fire Protection Association recommend an inspection!
Inspections are good preventative measures as even small problems can cause dangers in your home.
- Close the Damper
You should always close the damper after each use of the fireplace. So, this is imperative to do before the two seasons of little to no usage. If the damper is left open, warm air from outside can leak into your home and add to your electricity bill. For even more savings, you can install glass doors to keep warm air out. You don’t want hot air leaking your home during a hot St. Louis summer. If you had a gas fireplace, you don’t need to worry about the damper, as those always stay open.
- Turn off the Pilot Light
For gas fireplaces, you want to make sure you turn the pilot light off to save energy.
Take the time this spring to close off your fireplace and chimney for the season. Call or contact us at Clean Sweep Chimney today to schedule any services you may need!
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