Is your Fireplace Ready for Fall?

Summer is slowly coming to an end, and that means Fall is making its way onto our radar. Before we know it, many of us will be heading to our attics and closets to dig out our tall boots, warm scarves, and cozy sweaters in preparation for the colder weather. Although it’s important for us to prepare ourselves for the frigid Fall temperatures that are ahead, it’s also important to prepare our fireplaces.

We know your fireplace has been kept quiet all summer, but before you know it, the Fall and Winter months will sneak up on us, and you’ll be back to using your fireplace again in no time.

Did you know that over 28% of all house fires are due to neglecting to clean the chimney and fireplace before the heating season begins? Actually, The National Fire Protection Association recommends that all homeowners should get a chimney inspection and cleaning before they light their first fire of the season.

So, in order to make sure your fireplace is ready-to-go in advance of the change in seasons, it’s important to hire a chimney sweep professional, like Valley Chimney, to perform the proper inspections/cleanings.

How Valley Chimney will Prepare your Fireplace for the Fall

A professional chimney sweep will be able to perform the kind of detailed chimney inspection service that you may not have the time, knowledge, or tools to perform on your own. The experts at Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration will perform an inspection or cleaning on your chimney to ensure it is in top working condition and ready to embrace the temperature change.

During an inspection, our team will:

• Ask about anything wrong or iffy you’ve noticed about your fireplace or chimney that you’d like us to take a look at
• Inspect the external and internal structure of your fireplace and chimney, and look for signs of damage, deterioration, cracking, and weathering
• Make sure the chimney damper opens and closes properly
• Examine the chimney cap and flashing to make sure they are fitted to the chimney properly to avoid water leaks or animals and debris from entering
• Ensure that anything combustible is at least 18 inches away from your fireplace (curtains, furniture, decorations, etc).
• Teach you how to properly care for your fireplace and chimney including proper ash removal, what types of firewood to burn, signs to look out for, etc.

Once we’ve inspected your fireplace and chimney, our certified chimney sweeps will then decide if you need any repairs or a cleaning. If your chimney is in need of repairs, we will arrange a time as soon as possible to take care of these issues. If you need a cleaning, we will also figure out a day/time that works best. During a cleaning, our chimney sweep experts will lay a giant drop cloth in front of the fireplace to protect the environment around it. They will then bring in the proper tools and equipment needed to clean and remove all signs of soot, debris, and ashes.

If you own a home with a fireplace and still haven’t scheduled your pre-Fall inspection and cleaning, contact Valley Chimney today, and we’ll make sure that you can safely enjoy the comforts of a cozy fire this upcoming Fall season!