Fall Is Here! Here’s How to Prep Your Fireplace for the Cold Season

Now that the cooler weather is settling in, you need to make time for fireplace prep in Wausau, WI. Whether you have a wood-burning or gas-powered unit, and whether it’s inside or outside, you need to be sure your fireplace is ready for the fall season! Here are some tips to get your wood-burning or gas-fueled fireplace ready for regular use.

Wood-burning fireplaces

If you burn wood or manufactured fire logs in your indoor fireplace, then there are certain care and maintenance steps you need to follow. Maintenance goes beyond simply scooping out the ashes before each use. Annual preparation should include checks, inspections and necessary hardware replacements, all of which contribute to a safer fireplace season:

• Have the chimney swept: Burning wood produces a lot of smoke and debris, and all of it has to go somewhere. A fireplace that’s functioning properly will let the smoke escape, but otherwise, smoke will come out of the fireplace and spill into your home. For this reason, schedule professional chimney sweeping before lighting that first fire in your fireplace this fall. Chimney sweeping ensures better airflow and removes accumulated creosote deposits that could cause a chimney fire.
• Check fireplace hardware: The gaskets that seal the fireplace doors, the damper and the ash dump need to be inspected for wear and damage. Replace these parts if needed. It’s important to check the fireplace hardware, because if any gaskets are not creating an airtight seal, excess air can leak into the firebox and create a hazardous condition. More damage can befall your chimney over time.
• Replace damaged brick: Most indoor wood-burning fireplaces (and wood-burning stoves) are constructed of brick in whole or in part. As such, look for any broken or damaged brick lining in your fireplace and replace it. If the brick lining has deteriorated beyond repair, call a fireplace expert to evaluate the situation. You might need to replace the entire fireplace.
• Check smoke alarms: Fall is a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Don’t forget to test them afterward. If you have 10-year devices, perform tests on all of them for efficiency.

Gas-fueled fireplaces

Another type of fireplace is powered by gas. Gas-fueled fireplace maintenance in Wausau, WI is just as important as that for wood-burning fireplaces:

• Schedule service: Hire a certified gas technician to check your fireplace. They will check that the airways of the pilot light and main burners are clean and working properly.
• Clean the blower: If your gas fireplace has a blower, make sure it’s clean. There’s no filter to protect it from dust and debris buildup, which makes the bearing susceptible to wear. Also, the motor can seize up from dust clogs.
• Replace smoke detector batteries: Replace and test the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Invest in new devices to replace any that are malfunctioning.

Before you light your first fire this fall, call Marcell’s Specialties Inc. to schedule professional fireplace maintenance in Wausau, WI!

Categorised in: Fireplace Maintenance

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