Many Greater Chattanooga, TN, and Upper West Georgia homeowners enjoy a fireplace’s comfort and ambiance on a chilly day. However, chimney leaks, liner cracks, critters, and creosote buildup can become dangerous. It could cause extensive repairs, structural damage, and even a fire! To protect your home and family (including pets), here are Chimney Solution’s five tips for maintaining a safe and efficient fireplace.
Have Your Chimney Inspected and Cleaned AnnuallyWe can’t stress enough the importance of having your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once a year. When our Certified Chimney Sweep® arrives at your home, they will check your chimney for creosote buildup, cracks, and other damage. We also clean the chimney, venting system, and attached heating appliances, like your fireplace or stove, to remove flammable creosote and other debris to prevent a chimney fire.
Seasoned firewood is wood that has been dried for at least six months. It burns more efficiently and produces less smoke than unseasoned wood. Unseasoned wood also produces more creosote, which is a fire hazard. You can source seasoned firewood split and stored indoors in Chattanooga, TN, Alpharetta, Cummings, and the north Atlanta area in Georgia.
The damper is a metal plate that covers the top of the fireplace. Although the damper must remain open while a fire is burning, many folks forget to close it when the fire burns out. Closing the damper will prevent heated air from going back up the chimney. It will keep your home warmer longer and is more energy-efficient, too. Here’s another safety tip: Remember to extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
Many folks love an open wood fire, especially during the winter holidays when they can toast marshmallows and make s’mores. However, it is vital to ensure safety while enjoying the warmth of the fire. A fireplace screen is an effective device that can help prevent sparks and embers from flying out of the fireplace and landing on your carpet or pets. Even pets can get burned if they get too close to the fire. Therefore, it is crucial to keep pets and small children safe by installing a fireplace screen.
Dispose Ashes ProperlyAshes from a wood-burning fireplace can stay hot for several days. Be sure to dispose of ashes properly in a metal container with a lid. Please do not put them in a plastic container. It can reignite and cause a fire.
A fireplace insert is a self-contained metal box designed to fit inside your existing fireplace. Its purpose is to improve the heat efficiency of your fireplace and reduce smoke emissions. Many Atlanta and Chattanooga homeowners choose to install fireplace inserts as a cost-effective way to convert their traditional masonry wood fireplace into a gas fireplace or vice versa. Chimney Solutions is a trusted provider of high-quality fireplace inserts with professional installation services.
Ensure your fireplace is a safe and efficient heating appliance this winter with a professional chimney inspection and cleaning by certified experts from Chimney Solutions.
Call us today in the Atlanta area at 770-255-1300, or in the Chattanooga area, call 423-551-9912. You can also complete our easy contact form to schedule an appointment.
