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Maintaining Your
Fireplace
The most
vital step in fireplace maintenance is keeping
the chimney and fireplace clean.
Many people see fireplaces as just another thing
which will require constant maintenance. In
fact, to keep a fireplace in good condition
doesn't require much time, and isn't expensive.
When you compare the money you save on heating
bills when you regularly use your fireplace,
you'll realize its cost-effectiveness.
The most vital step in fireplace maintenance is
keeping the chimney and fireplace clean.
Chimneys should be cleaned at least once a year,
which should be handled by a professional
chimney sweep. However, if you have the correct
tools, you can clean your chimney yourself. You
can find numerous fireplace accessories and
tools online to help keep your fireplace clean.
When purchasing a quality set of fireplace
tools, ensure that the set contains a small
shovel and brush so that you can scoop the ashes
from your fireplace. Many people place their
ashes in a paper bag for disposal, before doing
so, ensure that the ashes are cold before
placing them in the paper bag to avoid catching
the bag on fire. Because of the threat of fire,
I prefer using a metal ash bucket, or coal
carrier.
Creosote Remover
In order to maintain a safe environment, you
have to keep your fireplace clean. Clogged and
blocked flues and chimneys can lead to smoke and
CO backing up into your home. This can be more
than just an annoyance it can also be a health
issue. In addition, soot and creosote deposits
can build up inside your chimney that can lead
to chimney fires, which are extremely difficult
to extinguish and can cause permanent damage to
your home.
Creosote is a yellowish to black oil, which is
deposited on the walls of your chimney as a
byproduct of normal wood burning. When creosote
is highly flammable and can burn at temperatures
as high as 3,000° F. If a creosote fire ignites
inside your chimney, you have to call the fire
department immediately. You will not be able to
extinguish the fire yourself.
Creosote deposits build up over a period of time
so using your fireplace a couple of times will
not cause enough of a deposit to put you in
danger. However, after a whole season of use,
it's strongly suggested to have your chimney
professionally cleaned. Between cleanings, you
can purchase bottles of creosote remover, which
will help remove creosote deposits from inside
the fireplace itself. Creosote is an extremely
sticky substance that requires a special cleaner
to remove it.
Chimney sweeps generally only clean your chimney
therefore by having some creosote remover on
hand will be useful in keeping your fireplace
system clean. Creosote will also build up on
other things such as the glass doors inside your
fireplace and andirons. With a bottle of
creosote remover, you can quickly and easily
clean
these items.
Fun categories
to browse:
Tools to use for home improvement projects
kitchen, bathrooms and
lighting
Showers, cabinets and
mantels
Decor and home improvement
ideas
Furniture ideas
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