3 Key Summer Tasks For A Winter-Ready Fireplace

In the middle of the summer heat, it’s hard to imagine the need to fiddle with your fireplace. But the cool breezes of autumn and frigid winds of winter are only a few short months away. Plan ahead and take care of these three key tasks now to enjoy a winter-ready fireplace later.

Going Beyond Clean

You already know that you need to clean out your fireplace regularly after the end of the cold season. But beyond hiring a chimney sweep and brushing out the accumulated ash in the base, you also need to carefully inspect the brickwork around the inside and outside of your fireplace and chimney.

Crumbling mortar and loose bricks represent a serious safety concern. Should a portion of your chimney collapse while your fireplace is in use, a deadly fire can result. Don’t wait until you’re ready to build your first fire of the season before making your examination. Instead, make sure you have plenty of time to engage masonry services to make chimney repairs far in advance.

Make Early Evictions

Birds, squirrels and other unwelcome creatures may find your chimney an inviting place to call home. You might never see or hear these undesirable guests, but they can leave behind nests and other debris that can both damage your chimney and lead to danger when a fire is lit.

Regular inspections may not be enough to prevent problems caused by the neighborhood animals. Instead, use your fireplace’s off-season to both evict any critters and prevent their return. A screen installed at the top of your chimney can be a great deterrent.

Prepare Your Fuel

Think going out to your established wood pile is enough to fuel your wintry fires? It may not be. Over time, piled wood can rot or become home to various pests like insects and rodents. Prevent in-home infestations and ensure the wood you use is optimal for burning.

When wood has begun to rot, it may not burn fast enough or hot enough to make the best use of your fireplace. In a best case scenario, this would mean that you burn through wood far more quickly than you should be. In a worst case scenario, fires that burn low and cool can lead to the accumulation of dangerous creosote, which can in turn lead to deadly fires. Hot and high fires burn up creosote, keeping your chimney in better shape to support all of your winter blazes.

During the summer, rotate through your wood pile and pull out any logs that don’t make the cut for your winter fireplace. You can use these less-than-prime pieces to fuel your outdoor fire pits and bonfires, but remember to keep them out of your home.

Early preparation can help make your cold-season fires far safer for you and your family. Get a head start now and you’ll be able to enjoy your winter-ready fireplace when temperatures dip.