Tips For Maintaining Your Chimney

You're a new homeowner! Congratulations! Now you're thinking about spending those

cozy evenings sitting and enjoying a fire in your new fireplace.

It's never that easy though. You will move in and then next day a raccoon will decide to pay you a visit, via the chimney. You will have to get animal control to evict it. Then, you'll finally be ready to light a nice fire! Only the first time you light a fire, you'll have dark smoke backing up into your living room and covering everything with soot.

About then it will occur to you: this fireplace stuff is harder than you thought. There is more to maintaining and using a fireplace than just piling up logs and lighting them. Here are a few tips to help you maintain your new fireplace.

Start with a good chimney inspection by a professional. Have this done before it is the season for fireplace use if possible. Don't try to be cheap and get up in your fireplace with a flashlight yourself. This won't work, you have no idea what you are looking for.

Hire a chimney sweep. He or she will know what they are looking for, and will be able to recommend what repairs are needed if they do find a problem. You also will need regular cleanings, especially for chimneys that are used to vent wood-burning fireplaces.

Use the damper. Keep it closed when you don't have a fire going, and open it before you light a fire. If you don't use your damper, you lose a third of your heating and air conditioning money right out the chimney. That's not an insignificant contribution to your utility bill!

If you don't have one, have one installed. Just remember to open it before you start a fire!

Having a fireplace is a real treat, and adds warmth and personality to any home. Make sure you do your part to take care of this wonderful feature.

You want to pay attention to chimney maintenance for two reasons actually. The first is to make sure you can use and enjoy your fireplace. But the more important reason is to make sure that you don't risk your home every time you make a fire.

by: Sally Gordon

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