When the summer is at its best levels, our hands and thoughts tend to turn away from the wood fireplace and focus more on other activities. However, that doesn't mean you should forget about it because it will soon serve you when the cold season strikes. Preparing your wood fireplace ensures high functionality and efficiency.
Follow the best tips to prepare your wood fireplaces. You'll be guaranteed great warmth all season. However, it can be challenging to clean a fireplace all by yourself from top to bottom, and that's where professional cleaners come in. Just ensure you hire the most experienced for more outstanding results.
Therefore, below are various wood fireplace preparation tips to help you through.
Clean the Fireplace
Since your wood fireplace isn't in use, it doesn't mean that it shouldn't get cleaned. Cleaning helps eliminate dust particles that would negatively impact its functionality when the cold season starts. Ensure to keep the wood fireplace clean, as it also elevates the visual appeal of your living room.
Examine the Chimney for Damages
Imagine lighting your wood fireplace after months only to discover the chimney has cracks. Instead of waiting for the inconvenience, you should examine the chimney for damages early enough, even if the fireplace isn't in use.
That way, you'll identify cracks or water damage and repair them before an upcoming cold season. Fireplace chimneys should be repaired by a professional to prevent defects that would cause poor air circulation.
Collect Wood and Keep It Dry
Another way to prepare your wood fireplace for usage is to collect enough wood and keep it dry. When winter comes, it might be difficult to find wood due to the high market demand.
Even if you do, they are usually highly priced during such seasons. So, it'd be wiser to collect enough for your fireplace and keep them away from excessive moisture or rainfall.
Keep Suitable Fire Starters Nearby
You can prepare your wood fireplace for usage by keeping the proper fire starters nearby instead of waiting until you need to use them. Lacking adequate and appropriate fire starters might make you embrace unsafe DIY options, increasing the risks of fire accidents. Have enough for your wood fireplace, and you'll experience long-lasting and safe burning fires.
Work on the Fire Detectors and Alarms
Another best way to prepare your wood fireplace is to examine the fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors before you can use them again. This move ensures the safety of using your wood fireplace when the time comes.
It's not advisable to assume that the alarms have been functioning well since the last time you lit your wood fireplace. Even better, you can test them by lighting the fireplace for a few minutes before turning it off.
Check the Damper
A damper is a plate that regulates airflow within the chimney. This accessory works through a push rod, which allows it to open and close. As part of preparing your wood fireplace for usage, it's crucial to check the damper to ensure it functions as required.
You should keep it open when you wish to start a fire to evaluate if it closes appropriately as the fire burns. A faulty damper should be repaired early enough before you get your fireplace into regular use again.
Schedule an Inspection
Like other fireplaces, scheduling occasional inspections for your wood fireplace is essential even when it's not under use. This step ensures that everyone in the house is safe from fire accidents and related misfortunes whenever you resume using it again.
Hence, it would help if you planned for a professional inspection of your fireplace, chimney, and related essentials to determine any underlying issues and solve them accordingly.
Re-learn the Safety Rules
Another ideal way to prepare your wood fireplace for usage is to re-learn the safety rules. They might be so simple and difficult to forget, but it's essential to refresh your mind for more safety.
Even better, you can engage your dealer regarding the latest wood fireplace practices that enhance the safety of the users. Otherwise, you might find that you're just practicing the old ways when there's a lot to keep your family safer.
Elevate the Ventilation
You can prepare your wood fireplace for usage by elevating your ventilation. It often applies if you experienced slight stuffiness or discomfort in your living room the last time you used your wood fireplace.
Be sure to add or expand the windows in size while working on your chimney before you start using the fireplace again. That way, you'll enjoy uninterrupted warmth throughout the cold season.
Prepare the Firewood and Test It Before Actual Use
Preparing the firewood adequately before the upcoming cold season is advisable. If you're cutting wood alone, you should split it into smaller pieces that align with your fireplace.
Ensure to choose the appropriate sizes when you purchase readily prepared ones, but you can still split them further. Testing the firewood before the actual usage lets you understand where to improve for more desirable results.
