Summer is just around the corner, and that’s pretty exciting. Sunny days and long walks along a wooded path on a warm summer night. Don’t forget hot dogs and marshmallows roasted over a firepit! These days are long and sweet and should be cherished. That’s why it’s a good idea to get some of those summer jobs off of your checklist early. This way so you don’t have to worry about them when you could be enjoying lazy summer days and nights! One of those jobs should be closing out your fireplace and chimney for the season. Nothing beats your annual chimney inspection and cleaning. However, there are some things that you can do to make sure that your chimney is cleaned up before you get this done.
Clean it Up
The first thing that you will want to do is to get the ashes cleaned out. This is an easy job to do whether you use a chimney broom and dust pan or a hand held vacuum. The ashes tend to be lose and hard to control. So, one thing to do to help with this is to sprinkle the ashes with used coffee grounds to hold them down before sweeping them up. If you don’t drink coffee, simply use a spray bottle with water in it and give the ashes a quick spritz before you sweep them up.
Are the bricks of your fireplace are looking a bit dingy? If so, go ahead and spritz them down with a little water and give them a scrub, too. This should freshen up the look of the room. If your fireplace is new, as in built in the last 40 or 50 years, there are hearth cleaners made specially for cleaning your bricks. Having said that, you will want to read the label. This is so you don’t damage the bricks. You can also use a hearth cleaner to shine up your glass fireplace doors.
Dampers
The dampers in your chimney play an important role in your fire burning – in fact, they play a double purpose. One thing they do is to keep the cold outside air from flowing down the chimney and into your home. The opposite is also true – your air conditioned air is kept from flowing up your chimney as well. Your chimney can also harbor some odors, and that’s the second thing that dampers can do. They keep those odors out of your home! It’s really important that you make sure that your dampers are shut tight.
Special Consideration for Gas Fireplaces
If you own a gas fireplace, there’s one thing you need to make sure you’ve done: turn the pilot light off! This pilot light will use energy, so that means a bigger energy bill if you don’t turn it off.
Call in the Pros!
Of course, nothing can replace your annual inspection and cleaning, so your next step is to give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service a call. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, not only does a thorough inspection and cleaning help protect your home from a chimney fire, it can also protect your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Chim Cheroo Chimney Service is CSIA certified. They can offer expert advice and excellent service. Schedule your chimney inspection and cleaning today!