If you are like other homeowners, you actively use your chimney during winter. This means that the chimney lies idle in most of the additional months of the year.

As much as you aren’t using the chimney now, it’s bound to get dirty. Animals and birds might colonize the area, preventing smoke and air from passing through.

Chances are also that you haven’t cleaned your unit since the last heating season.

To be safe and have peace of mind that the fire will burn efficiently in your chimney, you need to prepare it for the winter season. How do you do it? Here is how to go about it:

Have the chimney cleaned by a chimney sweep

Hiring a professional chimney sweep is necessary to ensure that the inside of your chimney is completely swept and free of soot and debris. Doing this will ensure everything is done correctly and safely.

When hiring the chimney sweep, don’t hire the first one you come across; chances are you won’t hire the right one.

Instead, you should take your time and find a reputable one who knows what they are doing.

When many people hire contractors, they usually go to the search engines and key in their area. They then contact the first contractor appearing on the first page.

While nothing is wrong with this, you shouldn’t hire the first contractor. This is because appearing on the first page doesn’t mean they are good at their work.

The best thing to do is to interview a couple of those contractors and only hire the best ones.

When hiring, consider their experience with the type of chimney you have in your home. You also should consider the tools they have.

Their personality is also important. If you don’t want to keep hiring, you want to keep your contractor for as long as possible, right?

This calls for you to hire a contractor who has plenty of things in common with you. This way, you can keep your relationship for as long as possible.

Do your part of the cleaning.

Just because your chimney has been professionally cleaned doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your part. You still have to maintain your end of the stick.

Some of the things you should do include:

• Clean the brickwork, stone, or tiles around your fireplace to remove soot and grime.
• Clean the glass on your wood burner to improve flame visibility.
• You also should sweep the inside of your stove or fireplace to remove old ash and grime.
• Dispose off ash as domestic rubbish or repurpose it in a compost heap or soil patch.
• Clean your fireplace accessories to ensure they are fresh and ready for use.

Fireplaces and stoves may get dusty quickly, so cleaning them regularly during winter will keep them looking good for years while ensuring a healthy fire.

Gather the right wood.

When preparing a chimney for winter, ensure you have sufficient wood, presuming you are permitted to burn wood in your area.

When deciding on the ideal type of wood for your fire, avoid burning damp, treated, polished, varnished, or oiled woods and waste woods like pallets, furniture, or fencing.

Instead, go for good-grade hardwood species, such as ash, oak, beech, or birch, that will burn the cleanest and longest, producing a bright flame. Also, avoid softwoods like pine, fir, and cypress, as they burn too quickly and emit more smoke.

If you’re cutting your firewood rather than purchasing pre-cut logs from a source, be sure the logs fit exactly into your stove or fireplace.

If you find your own firewood to dry, cut it into 25cm lengths, divide it into 5-15cm diameter pieces, and keep it under cover with sufficient airflow.

Drying time for ash is 12-18 months, whereas oak takes closer to three years. Before burning, use a moisture meter to ensure the logs are under 20% moisture.

Properly store the logs.

Whether you want to build a bespoke log store outside or are searching for wood burner ideas with built-in storage, being creative with your log storage ideas may help you stay organized while establishing an eye-catching focal point and design feature in a room.

Logs can be stored in a variety of ways, both within and outside the residence, including baskets, crates, and custom-constructed wall niches.

Having a larger log store outside and smaller, decorative storage facilities within the home alongside the fireplace strikes the ideal mix between appearance and functionality.

If this is the first time you are setting up the storage, work with experienced contractors who will provide you with the right guidance on how to do it.

Decorate the chimney

After you’ve swept your chimney, cleaned your fireplace, and gathered your logs, add some last ornamental and comforting finishing touches to create an even cozier atmosphere.

From mantel design ideas to soft blankets, cushions, and candles, these simple additions can assist in creating a soothing and pleasant atmosphere when sitting around the fire.

The fireplace or stove area is frequently the natural, leading focal point in a room, so when designing your warm room ideas, using this space to be creative with displays and ornaments will only make the area surrounding your fire more eye-catching and personal.

You can do the decorating yourself, but if the creative juices aren’t flowing, consider getting a professional to help you.

Parting shot

Preparing your chimney is vital for maintaining a safe and healthy fire in your house.

Booking an annual clean and inspection – or two – and cleaning your fireplace and its surrounding areas regularly will ensure that your stove and fireplace are in good working condition and you have an easy time cleaning them for winter.

If you have to hire chimney contractors Upper Marlboro, don’t hire just any contractor. Take your time to find experienced professionals who know what they are doing. This way you are sure that they will do a good job.