Winter is on its way which means it is almost time to use your fireplace. Ensuring that all parts of your wood burning fireplace or stove are in good working order and that there are no major faults in any area is the first step in using your fireplace safely. You can do much of this yourself, however, these steps are not meant to take the place of having your fireplace inspected and cleaned by a professional Barnegat chimney service.
Interior
- Make sure the firebox is in good condition. Ensure there are no cracks or major gaps and there is no sign of water inside the box indicating a defective chimney cap. If there are any signs of failure to the interior of your fireplace, call in a professional.
- Check that the flue damper is functioning properly. Confirm that it makes a good seal when closed and that it opens fully.
- Open the flue and look up into the chimney with a flashlight certifying that there is nothing foreign in the chimney. Look for signs of animals or nests, blockages, or obvious failure anywhere in the chimney. Confirm that you can see daylight with the flue open.
- While examining the chimney, look for obvious signs of creosote buildup. You may not be able to appropriately identify or determine if there is an abnormal amount, so it is best to contact a company to inspect your chimney properly.
- Look for smoke stains around the fireplace. Any signs of smoke stains could indicate a crack somewhere in the firebox or chimney or an improperly functioning flue. If you do see signs of smoke on the interior of your home it could be a big warning sign for a major problem.
- Clean out old ash from the fireplace prior to each use.
- Check your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in working order. This doesn’t have to do entirely with your fireplace, but does have everything to do with having and using your fireplace safely.
- Check that the top of your chimney is clear of tree limbs, branches, or other alien objects like nests. They can restrict air flow and be a fire hazard.
- Visually make sure the chimney cap is standing properly, that it is not tilted, and looks to be in good condition. Use binoculars to do this and if you see anything questionable about the cap, call an expert.
- Examine the exterior of your chimney for cracks and crumbling bricks or mortar. Cracks in your chimney could be a sign of major chimney failure. Crumbling bricks or mortar on either the chimney or the chimney crown is something that needs to be addressed immediately.
There are certain steps you can take yourself to make sure your fireplace is safe and ready for use before each season, but the best thing you can do to keep your chimney safe, is call in a professional Barnegat chimney service.
Without the proper tools and knowledge, only using your visual inspection as a gauge for fireplace safety could result in a catastrophe. Professional Barnegat chimney service inspectors and cleaners are able to correctly examine your fireplace for any safety concerns and clean it accurately to ensure safe usage.