A Beginning Season Fireplace Guide for Your Fireplace and Chimney
We’re heading in that time of year where homeowners are opting for hot chocolate over an iced tea. The sound of a crackling fireplace becomes more and more desirable as the cool nights settle in. Nothing is better than the sound of a warm, cozy fireplace. As you want to get the fireplace started, you’ll want to take a few steps to keeping the fireplace in “ready for use” shape. Let’s take a closer look.
Fireplace and Chimney Inspection
According to the Chimney Safety Institute, homeowners need to have their chimney and fireplace swept and inspected each year. This ensures not only a worthy place to start a fire, but also efficient. For instance, a heat shield can increase the heat in your home by 20%. Where else would that heat go? Out. Outside of your home and into the chilly air where it will not do any good. That 20% increase in heat can help reduce your energy bill saving you money.
Sweeping the Chimney
There are a few reasons to sweep the chimney. When the weather gets chilly, our little critter friends get cold. Just because they live year round outside, doesn’t mean they don’t get cold. And when they do, they are going to look for a nice warm place to stay. How about your chimney? No wind, nice and cozy, a perfect place to set up shop and sleep for the night. How do they get in? One of the best places is your exterior chimney when the chimney cap is missing or even loose. If you can move it, so can our little friends.
Don’t forget about debris! Wind and the changing of the seasons is a great way to sneak debris into the chimney. If it isn’t swept, then the animals and / or debris can be ignited by the spark of the fire and cause damage to your fireplace, chimney and home. Best not to take that chance!
Flue Damper and Heat Shield
One of the best ways to keep heat in your home and stop it from escaping is the damper and heat shield. We just discussed the importance of the heat shield, let’s talk about the damper. When the damper doesn’t work, it allows for heat to escape. Now this isn’t when the fireplace is ON, this is when the fireplace is not burning or OFF. The damper must be in good working order as the damper needs to be open when a fire is burning in the fireplace. The allows the smoke to leave the home and keep everyone from being smoked out (and dangerous fumes, of course.)
Checking for Damages
A fireplace and chimney inspection will work to identify any cracks in the fireplace firewalls as well as cracks on the exterior of the chimney, namely the chimney crown, mortar and any ‘spalling’ on the bricks. Any cracks can cause moisture to enter into the chimney system and encourage the deterioration process and damage. By getting the cracks identified and repaired, will keep any big repair bills at bay.
Contact Superior Chimney today and schedule your fireplace and chimney inspection. Call 877-244-6349.
This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net
