How Should You Be Preparing Your Fireplace This Fall

As the changing colors of fall sweep across Wisconsin, most residents in the Greater Milwaukee area shift their focus to preparing for the long, cold winter ahead. This busy season typically means pulling out winter coats, winterizing vehicles, and planning trips to local ski resorts. While you’re busy planning for the upcoming snow season, it’s easy to overlook your fireplace and chimney. Here’s how you should be preparing your fireplace this fall:

Schedule a Professional Chimney Inspection

Whether you have a wood-burning, gas, or pellet-fueled appliance, a professional chimney inspection is the single most important step. This inspection looks for hidden dangers, such as cracked flue liners, crumbling mortar, and water damage that may have occurred since your last inspection. It is essential for identifying minor issues before they develop into major structural failures or fire hazards.

Sweep the Chimney

Sweeping the chimney is another vital step in preparing your fireplace this fall. Combustion creates creosote, which builds up inside the flue. It becomes increasingly more volatile as it hardens. Sweeping removes this flammable material, which is the leading cause of chimney fires in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. It is also essential to clean out any nesting materials, which are also combustible, left by birds, squirrels, or other critters to ensure an unrestricted path for smoke and dangerous carbon monoxide gas to exit your home at the top of the stack.

Check Damper Function

Ensure your damper opens and closes with ease. It is critical because it must be open to allow the smoke and contaminants to vent outside; when closed, it prevents conditioned air from escaping (or outside air from entering). A sticky or faulty damper must be repaired or replaced to maintain heating efficiency.

Clean the Firebox

Some sweep professionals, like Smoke Stacks, will do this for you; otherwise, you will need to clean out the firebox yourself. Use a shovel to scoop out all remaining ash and debris and dispose of it in a metal container outside your home. Sweep the hearth and clean the firebox walls with a stiff brush to remove residual creosote and soot. If you notice any cracks or gaps in the firebrick or mortar, contact Smoke Stacks or your local chimney sweep before igniting the fireplace.

Ensure Your Chimney Cap is Secure

The chimney cap is your stack’s first line of defense against the elements and neighborhood critters. A missing or damaged cap leaves the flue vulnerable to moisture intrusion, which damages interior walls and rusts components. Replace a missing or damaged cap to protect your flue for the upcoming winter storms.

Stock Up on Seasoned Wood

Now is an excellent time to stock up on a supply of seasoned (dry) firewood. Dry hardwoods, such as ash, hickory, and oak, burn cleaner and hotter for longer periods. Seasoned wood’s more efficient combustion reduces creosote buildup, improves air quality, and provides hours of warmth. Freshly cut or “green” wood, on the other hand, results in incomplete combustion, which produces excessive smoke, low heat, and burns more quickly due to its high moisture content.

Professional Chimney Inspections Near Me

Preparing your fireplace is a job best left to certified experts, like Smoke Stacks. Whether you have a wood or gas-burning fireplace, a professional chimney inspection is essential for preparing your heating system this fall. Smoke Stacks is proud to be the leading chimney sweep providing inspections, cleaning, repairs, and new installations in the MKE Metro area, including South Milwaukee, Merton, Pebble Valley, and Germantown.

Beat the winter rush and call Smoke Stacks today to schedule an appointment with a certified chimney professional.