Fireplace Maintenance

Fireplace Maintenance

The Basic Home Maintenance Series

Check for Buildup

Regular fireplace maintenance is a critical safety concern. Creosote and soot buildup are extremely dangerous to homes with a fireplaces and can lead to chimney fires that can severely damage your home.

How often? Every 30 Days during the burning season

When? Winter

Estimated Cost? $0.00

Time Commitment? 1 Hour

This quick safety check is a must for preventing fires — even if you haven’t planned on starting any fires soon.

Take a flashlight and peer up into your chimney’s stack. Look for debris, soot, or white streaks. If it’s clear then you’re all done. If you do see buildup, this is a great time to call a professional. It can potentially be cheaper to hire a chimney sweep in the offseason as well.

If you use the fireplace, clean your wood burning fireplace’s interior, including its floor. Sweep out or vacuum up cold ashes. Wear a dust mask and gloves when cleaning the fireplace.

Yearly Cleaning

Have your wood burning fireplace inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year and more often if creosote builds up on the chimney walls rapidly. Depending on where you live, this can cost anywhere from $100 to $200.

How often? Yearly

When? Summer

Estimated Cost? $150.00

Time Commitment? 1 Hour

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