Getting Your Fireplace Ready For Use:
All fireplace types (wood, gas, electric, etc.) should undergo annual maintenance by a professional. For a gas fireplace, maintenance tasks include checking fan, pilots, and burners. Wood fireplaces require an inspection and chimney cleaning to remove creosote, which can build up and cause chimney fires. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
Homeowners should also take a few proactive steps on their own to ensure greater heating efficiency and safety, and to prolong the life of the unit. Here are some tips:
Gas fireplaces:
Vacuum the firebox and heat exchanger regularly (when the fireplace is cold) to keep efficiency and air quality high.
Use a soft brush to remove dust or spider webs from gas logs. Make sure to position logs properly after cleaning to avoid sooting.
Use glass cleaner made for gas fireplaces to clean the glass front – never use oven cleaner or abrasives.
Consult a professional to clean the pilot assembly, purge trapped air from the gas supply line, and then test-fire the fireplace.
Wood Burning fireplaces:
Check the chimney or vent before the season’s first fire to see if birds or animals have built nests in it, or if leaves or other debris have accumulated.
Clean out the firebox at least every week when using the fireplace regularly, but leave an inch of ash in the bottom to act as insulation.
NOTE: Never use a vacuum to clean out the firebox as coals can stay hot for several days after extinguishing a fire.
Before removing ash, open the damper so loose ash is drawn up the chimney rather than out into the room.
Remove all ash during the months the fireplace is not in use.
Burn only seasoned or hard wood in the fireplace. This will help minimize creosote buildup in the chimney. Burning small, controlled, hot fires rather than smoldering fires will also help keep creosote under control.
Install a carbon-monoxide alarm in the same room as the fireplace and another one near bedrooms.
Electric fireplaces:
Clean the firebox and control compartment with a brush and vacuum.
Never use glass cleaner to clean the back of the glass, use only mild soap and water. Remove dust particles from glass by simply buffing lightly with a clean, dry cloth.
Replace the light bulbs every two to three years or when the flame and/or ember bed is dark on one side.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions or consult a professional on cleaning the heater system to extend the fan’s life.
