Fireplace Chimney Maintenance in Spring & Summer | WI Chimney Sweep
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Why Spring and Summer Are the Ideal Seasons for Fireplace Maintenance

fireplace inspection in dubuque ia / madison wiWinter is the big burning season for fireplaces, so it’s not the best time to be scheduling regular chimney maintenance services like cleaning & repairs.  Spring and summer are the perfect time for fireplace maintenance, and here’s why.

Scheduling issues

People who wait until the fall to start thinking about getting someone out to clean and inspect their fireplaces might be in for a long wait.  Chimney sweeps get very busy in the fall, especially if some of their accounts require significant repair activities.  In the spring and summer, chimney services work crews are less busy and can usually schedule appointments at your convenience.

Time needed for repairs

Even with the best maintenance, fireplace systems eventually need some level of repair or rebuilding.  Until a thorough, professional chimney & fireplace inspection is performed, it’s anybody’s guess what might be happening in areas of the system not visible under normal conditions.

Simple repairs usually can be done at the time of the inspection.  If extensive repair work is necessary, there may be a wait to get it into the service company’s schedule, and then there’s the time spent doing the actual repairs.  Waiting too late in the season to have your annual inspection might result in your fireplace not being ready to use when the first cold air swoops in.

If you’re new to your home

If you’ve bought a new home and have yet to use the fireplace, you really need to have it gone over before you build the first fire.  You don’t know the history of your new fireplace, because different homeowners have different theories on what needs to be done and how often.  With a new fireplace, two important things an inspection will cover are:

  1. Making sure the chimney is the correct size. The overall height of the chimney should be at least 10 feet, and its top should reach at least three feet beyond from where it connects with the roof. Any problems here could result in unsafe operation of the unit.
  2. Making sure the size of the flue is appropriate for the size of your fireplace. Generally, the opening of the fireplace should be, at most, 10 times larger than the size of a square flue opening and 12 times larger than the opening of a round flue. Any larger, and smoke and toxins can back up into the home.  A problem in this area can often be fixed by modifying the size of the fireplace opening rather that building a new chimney.

The damper

lodi wi chimney and fireplace inspection and cleaningA complete inspection will cover all moving parts and areas of a fireplace system, but the damper is one part that needs to work correctly whether or not you’re burning a fire.  Age, water damage and soot buildup can cause dampers to not close completely, which lets cool air escape the home during hot summer months.

Of course, chimney cleaning is a major part of fireplace maintenance that should be performed annually, preferably during the off-season.  By having a thorough inspection, necessary repair and a complete cleaning done in spring or summer, you’ll be ready to get rocking with your fireplace come winter.

Chimney Specialists of Highland, WI, provides a full menu of inspection, cleaning, repair and maintenance services for all types of fireplaces and stoves.  Give us a call to schedule an appointment, or to get your questions answered: (608) 929-4887.

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