Winter is finally coming to an end. Temperatures are beginning to rise! If you are like most homeowners, your fireplace doesn’t get much use during the warmer months. Often, families find that they spend their summer days out and about. They enjoy the heat and sunshine, and there is simply no need to run the fireplace.
If this sounds all too familiar, then it’s time to perform some end of the season maintenance on your fireplace and chimney. Going through this simple checklist will help your chimney stay healthy. In addition, it will ensure you are well prepared when fall comes back around.
Schedule an Inspection and Cleaning
The CSIA recommends having your chimney swept at least once per year. Soot, debris, creosote, animal nesting, and more have likely accumulated a lot over winter. So, it is always best to get all of that out right away to minimize any risk of deterioration.
On top of this, leaving your fireplace uncleaned all summer leaves you at risk for developing nasty odors from all the build-up in your chimney. Not only do these materials eat away at your mortar joints and chimney liner, but their smell easily creeps into your home. Consequently, leaving a stubborn stench for weeks. Definitely not an ideal way to spend your summer!
Lastly, schedule your inspection at the end of the season, rather than the beginning. It gives you more freedom in picking a time slot that works best for your schedule. During fall, chimney sweeps book up fast! Scheduling your maintenance earlier in the year allows you the opportunity to get it out of the way at a time that works conveniently for you.
Check For Repairs
There’s no doubt that chimney repairs are best done during spring and summer. The materials used to fix up mortar and brickwork will be given the chance to properly cure in the warmer temperature range. This way your sweep will feel much safer working on your roof when it isn’t windy and icy. It also guarantees you plenty of time to take care of any problem you may have, without having to cram in appointments last minute.
What Else?
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, be sure to close the damper. This is so your air conditioning doesn’t constantly escape through your chimney. You will also want to ensure that all of the ash is removed. While having a thin layer of ash is ideal for lighting regular fires, you won’t want it sitting on your fireplace floor during long periods of disuse.
And if you own a gas fireplace? Turn off the pilot light! This light stays on when you use your unit on a regular basis. However, if you don’t plan on turning it on anytime soon, why waste the energy and money? Switch it off to save yourself some cash on your next energy bill.
Count On Mason’s Chimney Service!
Call us today for more information about our services. We look forward to helping you out!