Why Should I Care About My Chimney and Fireplace During the Summer?

If there is one thing that Chicagoans use extensively during the long winter months, it is their fireplaces. Northern Illinois residents can suffer through an extended winter full of heavy snow, freezing temperatures, and near-constant wind off the lake. 

Summer offers us the opportunity to avoid the fireplace and chimney as much as possible because we simply do not need them. However, it is during the summer months that you can prepare your chimney and fireplace for next fall and winter and practice fireplace safety. Here are some things you may be able to do during the summer to prepare for the winter season and adhere to fireplace safety.

I Don’t Use My Fireplace During the Summer, So Why Should I Worry About It?

You may not think you’ll use your fireplace during the summer months, so fireplace safety isn’t necessary.  However, there may be times when it is necessary. Early summer in the Chicago area means lovely warm days interspersed with cool, windy days that can chill you in June or July. You may want to use your fireplace on these chilly days rather than turning on your heat. 

Also, the Chicago area is not immune to severe storms. These storms can knock out electricity to your home, which means you may need a way to cook, provide light, and heat your home. Fireplace safety is very important, even during the summer. Because northern Illinois is so prone to summer storms, as well as cool, breezy summer weather, it may be worth your while to get your fireplace looked at over the summer months. 

Also, having your fireplace cleaned and inspected during the summer means you can schedule an appointment when it is convenient for you without the fall and winter rush of calls. You will prepare for winter early and have any fireplace safety concerns taken care of!

First, Clear and Clean Your Fireplace

Your first step in getting your fireplace prepared for the incoming fall and winter is to clear your fireplace of debris from the previous winter’s fires. All fires in the fireplace contain paper, ash, and wood residue that needs to be cleared away. You also need to move any fireplace tools, extra wood, and the fireplace screen so you can easily access your fireplace. 

Next, you will want to clean your fireplace. If you have gas logs for your fireplace, you need to wipe them down. Otherwise, you need to wipe down the log holder where you stack the wood with a damp cloth. 

You also need to wipe down the floor of the fireplace as well as the sides. You need to be careful if you use anything in addition to water. Whatever you use should not contain a lot of toxins or chemicals because the dangerous fumes may fill your house. Also, many cleaning products are flammable and should not be used with a fireplace. 

This is also a great time to check your fireplace gasket. Fireplace gaskets keep fumes out of your home and remove any excess oxygen from the fire. Not all fireplaces have a gasket. If you do have a fireplace gasket, you can wipe it down as well. While you are checking your fireplace and surface cleaning it, this is also a great time to replace the batteries in all of your carbon dioxide detectors and smoke detectors so you know they are fresh and ready for the upcoming season. 

Time to Check the Flue or Chimney Cap

Once your fireplace is clean, it is time to take a look at your flue cap or chimney cap, an essential part of chimney care. These caps are located at the top of your chimney and help keep rain, insects, and animals out of your chimney because these elements could cause water damage or a fire hazard. If you have your chimney cap checked, and it is rusty, or you do not have one at all, it is time to have your chimney cap replaced so that debris and dirt do not make it down your chimney flue. 

Now, You Need to Inspect the Flue

The flue is the tunnel that funnels the smoke up your chimney. Now that it is clean, you need to check it for cracks, bricks that are loose, or mortar that is chipped or cracked. All of these issues with flues are common in the Midwest because the area undergoes huge temperature swings. 

For example, it is not unusual to have a temperature change of 40 to 50 degrees in one day. These large temperature swings mean that your chimney expands and contracts all the time, which can cause loose bricks, cracks, or loose bricks. 

About the Damper

Dampers help regulate the level of airflow inside a chimney. If you do not regulate the airflow, your fireplace fires may burn heavily and become a hazard, creating smoke throughout your house, or the fire may not ignite. 

All fires need oxygen to thrive. If you are going to use your fireplace, you will need to open the damper. Be sure the damper is closed when you are not using your fireplace. If your damper is not opening or closing properly, it is time to have us come out and take a look at it. 

Are There Services I Cannot Handle Myself?

As people in the Chicago area use their fireplaces constantly, it is really important to have your entire fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected once a year. All fireplace walls contain leftovers from burning wood or gas, such as soot and creosote. These elements can become hazardous due to the fumes and can also become a fire hazard. 

Professional chimney sweeps have the tools and materials that you need to make sure your fireplace is perfectly cleaned and ready for the upcoming winter. Summer is also the perfect time for a fireplace inspection. It is important to have your fireplace professionally inspected each year, and there is no better time to have the inspection than during the summer when your fireplace is not being used. 

A professional chimney sweep can get your fireplace in perfect working order before next winter comes. If it has been a while since you had your fireplace cleaned and inspected, it is never too late to reach out to us at Valley Chimney. Why not give us a call today and let us schedule you for a fireplace cleaning and inspection? We can handle all of the grimy and dirty work, so you do not have to. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment and ensure your fireplace safety.