FIREPLACE | CHIMNEY MAINTENANCE and INFORMATION
While most of us won’t use a fireplace as a main source of heat, the extra warmth and flickering glow are
delightful on a cold winter’s day. However, issues with your fireplace can be costly and can render your fireplace
unusable. Some of the most common problems with your fireplace are due to:
- Smoke buildup (creosote)
- Birds and animals
- Tree debris
- Improper use of the damper
- Poor-quality firewood
- Lack of regular maintenance and cleaning
Knowing the parts of your chimney and fireplace will make it easier to explain any issues that you are
experiencing to a home inspector, chimney sweep or fireplace specialist.
1. Annual Inspection – Call a professional chimney sweep or certified inspector. Your report should provide you
with information on any evidence of creosate, blockages, deteioration, etc. An annual inspection is necessary to
minimize chimney fires and material deterioration.
2. Separation – Keep furniture and igniting upholstery a minimum of 36″ away from the fireplace opening.
Whether you have a spark screen or glass doors, this is a good practice for you home and families safety.
3. Ash – Clean our your ash dump at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the burning season.
4. Verify Operation and the Damper – The damper is the hinged flay just above the fireplace that controls the
amount of air that passes through the chimney. At the beginning and end of each burning season, operate and
inspect for proper funcation. It should be open durning burning season, but should be closed when not in use to
prevent air loss.
5. Verify that your chimney has a cap! – When a cap has deteriorated or missing, this can allow for improper
venting (smoke | soot) and allow animals to climb in (Along with the weather).
6. Use Proper Wood to Burn – Use Seasoned Wood in your wood burning fireplace. Wet wood smokes and new
wood does not burn throughly (can create a ash mess). Also use the proper grate to allow properly spacing of
wood logs for optium burning.
7. Christmas Stocking – Yea… better not hang and burn a fireplace. The candy will melt and make a mess and the
stocking can ignite with the flick of a spark! Santa will understand!
8. Modifications – Whether an insert, a gas starter or venter stove, always hire a professional, certified fireplace
and chimney professional. Smoke from fires is one of top causes for house deaths in America.
No matter what the season is, fireplace and chimney maintenance should be on your to do list. Sweeps and
professionals get back up in the early fall, so schedule your maintence accordingly… In the summer.
Dave Park
Advantage Home Inspection Raleigh NC
Your “Home Inspector Near Me“
advantagenc.com
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