Maintaining your wood burning fireplace is important if you are going to keep your house safe from harm. A dirty fireplace and chimney will lead to a fire or cause smoke damage- so it’s good to stay on top of maintaining them. Even if you can’t find time for it, you should find someone else who can.

If you have just bought a house, make sure that you get the chimney inspected before buying it. The only sure way to keep updated on the status of a wood burning fireplace is to either have it installed yourself or have a professional evaluate one you have obtained in a house sale. There could be cracks, holes, or structural damage you’ll need to look out for.

First thing to check is the chimney cap. This cap is responsible for letting out the harmful smoke that comes as a result of burning wood. At the same time, it will keep out any animals that are attracted to the dark chimney. Everything from bats to squirrels can take up their residence in a chimney if you don’t have the cap installed properly. In some extreme cases this might block your chimney entirely.

You can elongate the period of time between inspections and cleaning schedules by only burning the right types of wood. Make sure you only burn wood that has been properly aged and dried. Otherwise the moisture from premature wood will collect on the insides of your fireplace and chimney. This will lead to a hard buildup that is also flammable- and that could easily lead to an accidental fire.

The black soot and nasty residue that is left behind in your chimney could easily be routed into your home if there are any complications with the chimney. Obviously this would lead to a messy clean up and even potentially cause health problems. Some things to check for would be a blocked chimney or a loose grate. Solve the problem or have a professional look at it. Until fixed, try not to use the fireplace unless absolutely necessary.

The costs of running a wood burning fireplace can be too much for some families. You have to buy good wood, and also maintain the fireplace periodically. If that doesn’t seem like something you could do, you might instead install a vent free fireplace. These fireplaces can still provide a warm atmosphere, but they are more clean and won’t require near as much attention from you in order to run.

Final Thoughts

A fireplace is a job in maintaining, but they are prized for their ability to create a warm atmosphere and warm your house. Just remember to clean and inspect your wood burning fireplace regularly so you aren’t putting your family or your house in jeopardy.

Learn more about fireplaces and wood burning fireplaces.