Tips for Maintaining Your Fireplace in Time for Winter

During the cold seasons, households significantly benefit from their fireplaces because they provide warmth and comfort and keep families from experiencing the drop in temperatures. If you want to guarantee your fireplace is running during autumn and winter, it’s essential to maintain the excellent condition of your fireplace.

Your chimney should be handled by a professional once a year so that they can perform the necessary cleaning procedures needed to eliminate any buildup of soot and ashes. Removing flammable particles from your chimney can prevent accidents and keep your family safe throughout the chilly mornings and evenings.

If you want to find out how to take care of your fireplace and chimney, keep reading below.   

Assess Your Fireplace For Potential Damages

You should make a habit of observing your fireplace for any noticeable cracks and loose bricks and assess the exterior of your masonry for any potential damages. For the best results, call for brick repair services right away, as managing the repairs on your own will only lead to more problems and additional expenses.

Examine Your Chimney

Your chimney has a fireplace damper that works to keep the warm air inside your home and the cold outdoor air from entering your house. You have to ensure that it’s working correctly at all times and doesn’t have anything preventing it from opening and closing as expected. Your chimney cap should also be fitted in place and contain a protective screen to prevent hindrances from slipping into your chimney.

Remove Any Obstructions

When it comes to maintaining your chimney, any obstructions you see near it will cause trouble in the future. If any tree branches have grown around your chimney, it’s best to chop them down to avoid risks of fire and damages from occurring.

Clean Ashes To Prevent Buildup

If you want to avoid being surprised at how much ash your firebox can accumulate, it will help to clean it out thoroughly at least once a week. You should also be careful when you’re doing it because coals tend to stay hot even three days later! Before you work your way around your fireplace, make sure everything is cold, so you can sweep away or vacuum the ashes without any problems.

Utilize A Heatproof Glass

If you want to learn how to save energy and reduce your electricity bills, you can invest in a heatproof glass door to improve the efficiency of your fireplace. It also works to keep sparks from the fire to end up damaging your interior, especially your floors. You can also easily clean a glass door by using a paper towel and a glass fireplace cleaning solution.

(For Brass Fireplaces) Learn To Sanitize

Brass fireplaces require maintenance too. It can be cleaned by applying a tomato-based paste on it and leaving it for an hour before washing it off with hot water mixed with soap.

You can also use a brass polish with a soft cleaning microfiber cloth, which offers the same results. Take note that you shouldn’t use any harsh material, including metal bristles and steel wool, to avoid scratching the surface of your fireplace.

Conclusion

If you want to have a good time during the cold seasons, it would be best to prepare your home and your fireplace so that you won’t encounter any problems. Remember to check your fireplace and chimney for potential damages, remove any obstructions, and clear up ashes. If you have the budget, you can also utilize a heatproof glass, and remember to sanitize your brass fireplace if you have one. You can also rely on chimney repair services for more complicated situations that need immediate attention.   

Are you looking for Toronto masonry services to help manage your home’s fireplace? Red Robin Masonry is dedicated to becoming the most respected and trusted masonry company in Ontario by providing reliable services to the community. Get in touch with us today to request a free quote!