The leaves are turning, the days are getting shorter, and families are getting ready to cozy up by the fire. Is your fireplace ready for the months of cold weather to come? Fall is the perfect season to check-up on your fireplace, whether it’s gas, electric, or wood, with some simple maintenance tasks.
Before turning on your fireplace for the season, check these off first:
- Examine the brickwork around the fireplace. Is there any dampness? Do the bricks look like they’re deteriorating in any way? Are there any black areas creeping in? Dampness could be a sign of bad ventilation, and black spots appearing are most likely due to creosote build-up.
- Inspect the chimney on the outside if it has one. Is it damaged in any way? Are there any obstructions like trees? This could send smoke back into your home if it can’t get out.
- Can you see a lot of build-up on the inside? Typically, wood fireplaces will see more build-up, especially if they were used a lot last winter, but gas fireplaces can still have build-up or erosion happen that can block/damage vents. That could be a risk for carbon monoxide entering the home.
- Clean up debris regularly and especially before you turn it on for the season. For wood fireplaces, clean out the ash regularly, but always at least 24 hours after the last fire went out to avoid embers. For gas fireplaces, clean the glass of residue that could be flammable. For electric fireplaces, clean the inside and outside of the fire to avoid any flammable debris.
- When was the last time you had it inspected and cleaned? Annual inspections are recommended for all types of fireplaces to keep your family and home safe.
- Is it time for a new fireplace? If your fireplace looks like it won’t make it through the winter or you want to upgrade, there are many options to choose from at Brekke Fireplace Shoppe.
We want you to stay warm and safe this season, so make sure your fireplace is safe to turn on before doing so. Our Rochester store can help if you want to a new fireplace with our large collection of gas, electric, and wood options; plus, we offer installation services.