Preparing your Fireplace for Winter
Although Charlotte may not be freezing this winter (but we’re still dreaming of a White Christmas!), it is still important to take the proper precautions with all gas and wood-burning appliances in your home to prepare for colder weather. ServiceMaster Quality Restoration believes that the best remedy for fire damage is fire prevention – all of these tips will help keep your home safe when you’re using appliances to stay warm.
Wood-burning fireplace or stove:
- Clean your chimney – this gets rid of all of the grime that could be a fire hazard.
- Inspect all gaskets inspected, and make sure they don’t let in any unwanted air.
- Clean all parts of your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
- If there are any cracks or broken bricks, replace these before using the fireplace/stove heavily.
- Ensure that your smoke detectors have new batteries and are working properly.
Gas-Burning fireplace or stove:
- Let a professional inspect the fireplace or stove.
- Clean the main and pilot burners before heavy use.
- Clean all parts of the appliance, especially the blower.
- Replace all batteries in remotes and receivers (if needed); Ensure that all parts are functioning properly without any leaks or cracks.
- Replace all batteries in smoke detectors and make sure they’re working properly.
We understand that emergencies can happen, even when you follow all of these tips to make sure your home is fire-damage free. If disaster strikes, you can trust ServiceMaster Quality Restoration to respond to your fire damage emergency quickly and efficiently.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Photo by Dan Phiffer.
