Cooler weather is on the way, and your home’s fireplace may be put in service to set the stage for holiday gatherings.
Before you light the first logs of the season take some simple steps to improve the safety and efficiency of your wood burning fireplace.
Annual chimney maintenance removes flammable creosote, the major cause of chimney fires, and identifies other performance or structural problems.
Cracks, voids, and breaches on the inside of a chimney or chimney liner can allow heat in the smoke chamber to pass through and ignite the home’s wood frame structure.
If you haven’t had the chimney cleaned in a few years, or burn more than one cord of wood a year, start with a Level One inspection by a chimney sweep or fireplace professional. The inspector will look inside the fireplace for cracks in the masonry, obstructions or creosote buildup, and tell you if you need a sweep.
The typical cost for inspection and sweep should run around $200. ALevel Two inspection is more detailed with video scanning of interior surfaces, and roof, attic and crawl space inspections-- probably not necessary unless you have experienced an earthquake, or are making major changes to your fireplace.
Gas-burning fireplaces also need regular maintenance to ensure the chimney isn’t transferring heat or gases like carbon monoxide through spaces between the walls into the house.
Inspect glass doors for cracks or latch issues and check that gas logs are in proper position. Ignite the fire and look for clogged burner holes. Gas lines need to be cleaned of dust, lint or spider webs, and valves and connections may develop leaks over time.
Aresidue of fine carbon soot can build up inside the chimney depending on the placement and condition of the logs and the efficiency of the gas burner openings.
Have a chimney cap installed to prevent objects, varmints or rain from falling into your chimney, and act as a spark arrestor to block hot embers from landing on the roof. Remove any tree limbs or branches above or near the chimney.
Inspect the flue damper to make sure it opens, closes, and seals properly. Get your flashlight out and check the flue for combustible material or other foreign objects such as animal nests. You should be able to see daylight at the top. And always have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors installed in your home.
Adriana Donofrio deasypennerpodley Glendora (626) 926-9700 adonofrio@dppre.com
