Keep Your Flame Burning
I don’t know where you live (that’s right, you can rest easy) but where I am the crisp fall air is moving in and with it comes football, chili, and pumpkin scents everywhere! That makes this girl a pretty happy camper! Get out your snuggly jammies because you are going to need them in these next few months. However, if you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace you may not need to pull out your flannel sheets just yet.
Our fireplaces exist for a reason other than an excuse for grown men to poke at flaming logs; they can be used to help heat your home! That being said, it would be a good idea to be sure the fireplace is in good working order in these early fall months before it starts to be used more frequently. I came across an article on Bob Vila’s website that lists some items to check. I’ve included a link to this article at the end of the blog post but have included the highlights below:
Step outside and look at the exterior; is your chimney leaning? What about chipped bricks? Cracks? Holes? If you chimney is exposed to your attic be sure to check there too. You will want to look for any signs that would indicate needed repairs. Double check and make sure your chimney cap is in place. Don’t have a chimney cap? Get one. They can save you a lot of headache and repairs in the future. These chimney caps keep rain or snow from getting in your chimney where they can freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw—causing expansion damage. These caps also keep little critters from making a home in your chimney! If you do get nests of wildlife they could do more than just clog the chimney, they could bring fleas, ticks or worms into your home.
From the inside of your home, check for signs of dampness or stains from where water could have gotten in. According to Bob, this could be because of faulty flashing or a damaged flue liner. This is not something to be taken lightly, if you find evidence of these things call a professional! Another job for a professional is cleaning out the flue… like a chimney sweep (think Mary Poppins). If you’d like to investigate, you can use a small mirror and flashlight to see up the flue and check for any soot build up, cracks, holes or separation.
By performing regular maintenance on your fireplace, just like anything else, you are extending the life of it and in return many nights of snuggling by the fire drinking your apple cider or bourbon… that’s what we do here in Kentucky! Happy fire poking everyone!