Here’s a topic our blog is taking a shot at covering. We’ve sold A LOT of fireplaces over the years, and we’re on service calls out to our customers’ homes whenever they need us for fireplace repairs, gas log replacements, new fireplace doors, etc. One thing we know for sure – most customers’ fireplaces just sit there and sit there, being used when its cold, until something breaks. How do you maintain a fireplace?
First things first. If you’re dealing with visible structural damage to your indoor fireplace, hearth, flue or chimney itself, you’re going to want to call in professionals before you attempt to use the fireplace again. Also, if you don’t act somewhat quickly, you’re going to see the problem areas deteriorate even more, as once brick or stone starts to have issues it will continue to crumble.
You’re also going to want to pay close attention to the walls around your indoor fireplace or hearth. Stone or crumbling brick is an eyesore, but so is out-of-date or faded paint on the drywall around the fireplace area. It’s a good time to get the whole room’s paint freshened up while you’re already making a mess having the fireplace repaired. We recommend calling in one or two qualified local companies like langspainting.com and checking their rates against an out-of-town firm or two.
So, what should homeowners do on their own regarding proactive maintenance on their fireplace? Well, if you own a wood-burning fireplace, set up a schedule for yourself to deal with the following maintenance and upgrades.
- Clean the Interior Parts of the Fireplace
- Install Carbon Monoxide and/or new Smoke Alarms
- Remove Soot / Creosote build-up
- Check the Chimney and its Cap
- Burn the Right Wood
- Test the Fireplace Before Using It
- Install a Blower and Heat Proof Glass Door
Now, if you own a gas fireplace, a lot of the maintenance and work is easier. You’re also supposed to bring in specialists for some of the maintenance, due to the fact that you’re dealing with the dangers of a gas line.
- Inspect the exterior & clean the glass
- Check the glass or cracks
- Inspect the logs for deterioration
- Check the gas ignition
- Check for gas leaks
- Vacuum the interior of the fireplace
- Check carbon monoxide detectors
- Inspect the chimney
For a gas fireplace that you use all the time, plan on having this maintenance done once a year. If you use the fireplace very sporadically, skip a year and get service by pros every 2 years.
Hope this helps!
