How to Prep Your Fireplace for the Cold Season
With temperatures dropping, and winter underway, now’s a great time to prepare your wood-burning or gas fireplace for the fall. Most of the simple inspections and cleaning can be done by the average homeowner, however, if you have any doubt at all, contact your local fireplace installer or chimney sweep. We’ll cover both wood-burning and gas-burning fireplaces, as your prep and safety tips will be slightly different depending on the type of fireplace you have.
Wood-burning
Have the chimney cleaned before starting your wood-burning fireplace, stove, or insert. The leading cause of fires from wood-burning appliances is the result of creosote (unburned fuel) that has accumulated in the chimney.
Have any gasket material inspected and replaced as required, such as the gasket sealing the door, the door glass, and in some cases the ash dump. If an airtight appliance is operated without these gaskets effectively sealing the openings, excess air can leak into the firebox, creating an over fire condition, which may permanently damage the appliance.
If your wood-burning appliance has a blower, clean it. Unlike your furnace blower, these blowers do not have a filtering system to prevent the buildup of dust and hair on the blower.
Replace any broken or deteriorated brick lining in the wood-burning appliance. While cracks in the lining are not a concern, if the brick lining has deteriorated to the point that the steel body is exposed, the heat from the fire can cause permanent damage to the appliance.
Replace the batteries and test any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors you have in your home to ensure these defense monitors are operating properly.
Gas-burning
Have a qualified technician service the appliance, including having the airways of both the pilot and main burners cleaned to ensure they are operating correctly.
If your gas burning appliance has a blower, clean it. Unlike your furnace blower, these blowers do not have a filtering system to prevent the buildup of dust and hair on the blower. As the dust accumulates on the blower blades, the balance of the blower will change, causing premature wearing of the bearings. The dust also insulates the motor; preventing it from being cooled, and can eventually cause the motor to cease up.
Replace the batteries in any optional remote transmitters and in some cases, in the receiver as well. Even when not being used the power held in a battery is slowly depleted.
Replace the batteries and test any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors you have in your home to ensure these defense monitors are operating properly.
