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Get Fired Up with These Fireplace Maintenance Tips
Gathering in front of the fire is one of cold weather’s greatest perks, if you’re lucky enough to have a place to light it. Whether you have an indoor or outdoor fireplace or fire pit, these key maintenance tips will ensure that you remain cozy until warm weather forces you to retire from the hearth.
Fire Safety First
Fire Safety First
Always make sure the gas has been turned off before performing any maintenance on a gas fireplace and keep a chemical fire extinguisher on hand. If it has a pilot light, turn it off during seasons when it is not in use. For wood-burning fireplaces and fire pits, never sweep or vacuum ashes until at least three days have passed from your last fire. Believe it or not, embers can take that long to die out completely. When clearing out old ashes, either sweep and shovel the ash or, better yet, use a shop vacuum.
Clean out built-up ash and either discard it or keep it in a metal, fire-safe container away from wood floors, carpet and other flammable materials. This should be done about once a week when in use. It’s also a good idea to use a particle mask when cleaning up ash.
Chimneys should be examined at least once a year or after 80 fires. Burning wood will eventually lead to soot, tar and creosote buildup in the flue lining. Using creosote sweeping logs will help loosen it. Once it has fallen, you’ll be able to measure the buildup and determine if a professional cleaning is needed. If the acumulation reaches a thickness of one-eighth of an inch, you’ll want to schedule a chimney sweep. Anything thicker and you should stop using the fireplace until it has been properly cleaned by a professional or you could risk starting a fire.
For a Clean Burn
Once you have swept, shoveled or vacuumed the ashes from wood-burning structures, consider sprinkling these ashes over any bald patches on your lawn to act as a fertilizer. Leave about an inch of ash in the fireplace as insulation. This will help coals heat up faster. When retiring a fireplace for an extended time, clean it out completely until you are ready to fire it up again.
Beautiful slate hearths deserve a nice luster and can be wiped down with lemon oil every six weeks. For outdoor mantles and hearths, use a brush with stiff bristles and a mixture of warm water and dish detergent. For heavy-duty cleaning, commercial fireplace cleaners are available.
In the case of gas fireplaces, give your ceramic or other faux fire logs a good cleaning with a mild soap and water about once a month to prevent buildup. Use a soft cloth to clean gas burners and a gentle bristle brush for burner openings.
For a Clean Burn
Keeping the Fire Going
Keeping the Fire Going
Whether it’s a gas or wood-burning fireplace or fire pit, these structures are not built to be used like furnaces. It’s a good rule to extinguish all fires after five hours of continuous use. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to snuggle up by a fire fit for your home any time it strikes you.
