Summer is usually the off-season for most fireplaces. Due to the heat provided by the sun, most people don’t bother with heat from the chimney. While you won’t be using your fireplace much during summer, it doesn’t mean that you should ignore it. There are plenty of things recommended by chimney repair professionals that you can do to keep your chimney in top shape. Some of these things include:
Cleaning
Since the unit isn’t in active use, this is the best time to clean it. You can do it on your own or hire a chimney sweep to help you out. Use a dustpan or vacuum to sweep up the ashes. When cleaning, pay particular attention to the lower part of the chimney. Carefully clean it and remove all the soot that might be there.
To remove the ashes, debris, and wood chips, use a fireplace shovel. After removing as much as you can, use a vacuum to remove the rest. Once you are done, use clean water to clean the face and hearth area of the fireplace. This is to remove all the soot. If you have the time, also use water to clean the top, sides, and floor of the firebox.
Inspection
In addition to cleaning the fireplace, the offseason is also the best time to undertake chimney inspection. After cleaning the unit, take your time to go around it and try and identify any problems it might be having. For the open fireplace, check the unit for cracks or any other signs of damage. If there are small cracks and chips, you can easily fix them on your own with fire cement but if the damage is extensive, hire a masonry contractor to help you out.
If you are using a stove, check the door gaskets and ensure that they are airtight. The best way of telling how good the door gasket is using the paper test. A malfunctioning door leads an inefficient fireplace. To maintain your fireplace in top shape hire a chimney contractor to fix it as soon as possible. A gas fireplace is highly sensitive; thus you should be keen when inspecting it. Carefully go through all the areas and ensure that there are no leaks.
Conclusion
These are some of the best chimney practices during the offseason. To have an easy time, work with a reputable chimney company that will not only help you in maintaining the unit, but also give advice on how to do it right.
