There’s nothing like the coziness of a crackling fire in the fireplace on a cold winter night. However, you need to make sure that your fireplace and chimney are ready for winter before you start using them. In today’s article, Potomac Services, one of the top chimney repair companies in the D.C. metro area, explains how to winterize your fireplace and chimney.
Schedule a Professional Chimney Inspection and Cleaning
The first thing you need to do is to call a chimney cleaning company for a professional chimney cleaning and inspection. Regular chimney inspections allow for early detection of problems that could cause structural deterioration and chimney fires. Our trained and certified technicians can completely clean your chimney and get it ready for winter. We will remove all the soot and creosote.
Clean the Fireplace
As one of the top chimney relining contractors in the area, we recommend cleaning the fireplace before using it. You can remove smoke and soot stains from your fireplace surround by spraying it with water followed by scrubbing it with a mixture of vinegar and water. You can also use a mixture of water and all-purpose cleaner. If the surface is made of marble or stone, then follow the water spray with a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid instead.
Check the Flue Damper and Chimney Cap
Check the flue damper and make sure that you can open and close it easily. Make sure that the fireplace flue is open before your light a fire. Keep the flue closed when not using the fireplace to save energy. Add a chimney cap to prevent debris, snow, birds and other wildlife from entering your fireplace. If you already have a chimney cap, then inspect it for signs of damage.
Potomac Services is one of the leading chimney cleaning and air duct cleaning companies in the area. We are a veteran-owned, top-rated company that provides a wide range of services including chimney inspection, cleaning, repair and more. Call us at (703) 444-5155 to learn more about our services and products or to ask for an inspection.
