Whether you have a gas, wood burning, or freestanding fireplace, you’ll want to inspect it regularly. There are many reputable fireplace professionals you can hire to inspect your fireplace and chimney for you. An inspection will include the following items: burner operation, proper ignition and combustion, venting, fan operation, and chimney condition. If you are familiar and comfortable performing these inspection tasks, you can do them yourself.

Cleaning your chimney each year can reduce or eliminate a potential fire hazard as creosote can accumulate on the inside of your chimney and ignite causing a fire. Make sure you “sweep” your chimney and clean the damper annually. If you use your fireplace a lot, you may want to inspect and clean your chimney two or three times each season. You can hire a “chimney sweep service” to do this for you or you can purchase the recommended tools at your local hardware store. Be sure you take all necessary safety precautions when you choose to clean your chimney yourself and when climbing on your roof.

You will enjoy your fireplace for many years with proper care and maintenance. Here are a few fireplace safety tips:

 

Maintaining your fireplace will help ensure your family’s health and safety and will give you many cozy days and nights inside when it’s blowing and snowing outside!

Insight Home Preservation offers professional maintenance management solutions for home and property owners.   For more information and details on Insight’s Professional Maintenance Solutions, visit: www. insighthomepreservation. com.

Elaine Williamson has over 18 years in the home maintenance and remodel indsustry. Her company, Insight Home Preservation, provides professional maintenance management solutions for home and property owners in the Denver Metro and surrounding areas. Insight is also the Regional Office for Pro Home Manager – developers of home maintenance management software solutions for home owners, property managers and real estate professionals.