The luminous days of summer are coming to a close. Soon, the blustery days of winter will be here. For many homeowners, this means – literally – firing up the fireplace. And if yours isn’t properly maintained, you can literally be sending your dollars right up in smoke.
Following are some tips for getting your fireplace ready for Old Man Winter – and saving money at the same time.
Clean It Out: This is simple to do and should be done for maintenance reasons, as well as aesthetics.
Inspect It: You should do this during the light of day. Take a flashlight, open the damper and look up your chimney. Be sure to put on gloves and goggles first, as falling dust and debris can get on your hands and into your eyes.
What you’re looking for is anything that can clog the chimney. You’d be surprised at what Mother Nature can throw your way, eg, bird nests, wayward tree branches, clusters of leaves, etc. Remove anything that you find.
It is advisable to call in a professional to handle a job like this because clogged chimneys are a fire hazard.
Seal the Damper: Many homeowners complain of feeling cool air from their fireplace when it is not in use in the winter. This is likely due to the fact that the damper is not sealed correctly. So make sure that it is sealed properly.
Another thing you want to make sure of is that the damper is always closed when there is no fire going. If you don’t, cold air seeps in, sucking up existing heating and raising your energy bill.
A fireplace provides not only bodily warmth; it promotes family togetherness, hence, emotional warmth as well. Get yours ready so you can enjoy the pleasing flames of a flickering fire with your loved ones.
