It’s that time of year again, the air is getting colder and the days are getting shorter, so why not go by a warm fire sit back and relax, but before you start that you should consider having a check-up to make sure it’s up to date, clean, and to make sure no animals made it they’re winter hideaway.
Chimneys are dangerous when they’re not kept clean, and one of the main places to check before starting up your first fire of the season is to make sure the Ashes are cleaned out. It’s important to clean out the firebox. You’ll know when it’s time to clean it out when the ashes reach the grate but all you have to do is just sweep or vacuum it up. But do make sure the ashes are cold because some ashes and coals can stay hot up to THREE DAYS! so it’s found to be best not to clean it up until it sparkles and also remember to wear a mask and eye protection, Safety is always first.
Another thing that should be checked is the Damper, the Damper is a movable plate that sits above the fireplace before the flue like a door. You should always check the damper before lighting a fire to make sure it’s clean and close. If it’s not clean or closed, this smoke can build up and fill the room, which is highly dangerous. So it’s good to clean it with a wire brush and use a lot of elbow grease but it’s recommended to call a
professional.
Finally with one of the more dangerous problems is that when it gets cold, animals are looking for a place to stay for the winter but this can cause damage, this is dangerous for both you and the animals inside the chimney. One of the signs that you have an animal infestation in your chimney is the noise activity, you can tell what is going on by the sounds. If the sounds are frantic then the animal can be stuck and you should contact animal control as fast as possible. Things you can do to prevent this from happening is to close the chimney with a chimney cap that covers the top usually made out of stainless steel or copper mesh which also keeps debris and leaves from entering.
Now that we know this, we can enjoy the holiday season, safe and relaxed next to a warm fire and having a good holiday.
Season Greetings
