Closing Out Your Fireplace and Chimney for the Season
The warmer days of the spring season are just around the corner. So, now your fireplace will be ready to take a break for a few months. Closing out your fireplace for the season is a recommended maintenance task. This will make it easier for you to get your hearth ready to be used again in the fall. The task can be simple if you know how to do it. To help you with closing out your fireplace this spring, Ace Chimney Sweeps would like to share with you a few steps you will need to follow.
Schedule an appointment for your annual chimney maintenance services.
After working all winter, your chimney is ready for its annual professional sweeping. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified sweeps at Ace Chimney Sweeps can remove all of the creosote and soot from inside the flue. We will also take a close look at your chimney to see if it has suffered from any cold weather damage. You can trust us to make sure your chimney will be ready to use again in the fall.
Remove the ashes from the firebox.
You will want to wait for at least 24 hours after the last fire of the winter to begin this cleaning chore. In addition, you will need a metal shovel and a metal bucket that has a fitted lid. Also, you might also want a pair of rubber gloves and a breathing mask to wear. A helpful hint from The Maids Blog? Sprinkle coffee grounds over the ashes to keep them from flying around as you scoop them up. Once you have placed the ashes into the bucket, you will close the bucket by tightly screwing on the lid. Place the bucket outside on a noncombustible surface. This prevents an accidental fire. If you wish, you can vacuum up any remaining ashes, as long as you are certain there are no smoldering ashes left behind in the firebox.
Clean your glass fireplace doors.
Over the winter, your glass fireplace doors can become very dirty with a buildup of soot. Thus, you never want to clean these doors with cleaners that contain harsh abrasives or flammable chemicals. The Maids Blog recommends using oven cleaner. Also, a soft clean cloth for this task as it is made to remove tough grime from glass and other surfaces.
Once you have followed these three steps, your fireplace and chimney will be clean for the spring and summer months. This will make it much easier for you to get them ready to be used again in the fall. Contact us at Ace Chimney Sweeps to schedule an appointment for your annual chimney sweeping and inspection today!