Fireplaces
Use a fireplace and save money? How is this possible? Maintaining your fireplace can be as tiresome as it can. You even go for the edgiest tool you can use so you can clean the whole thing yourself. The idea is that maintaining your fireplace doesn’t suggest that you will not spare some cash. Although you have the right tools and not seek professional help, the beneficial effect of proper fireplace maintenance can help save you bulks.
Do not use fireplaces as addition to your furnaces. Even more do not use it as a furnace alone. Fireplaces are not meant to spread heat all around the house. If you believe that a fireplace radiator can help such, you would be frustrated as fireplace will only increase energy consumption of your heater.
Seal chimney flue if fireplace is not used. This way heated air produced by your radiators will not escape.
Fire it for less than five hours. The glass in the fireplace must be kept open in its flaming duration as it will allow air to be carried upwards to cool the chimney. Sparks jump out of the burning fuel thus keep that fire place screens attached to it so it will not ignite your carpet.
Do not leave your fireplace unattended especially when children are around. Even with adult supervision, kids must not be allowed near the fire. Children can become really creative when it comes to fire.
When heaters are not in use, open windows to allow unnecessary smoke to get out. Do not worry about the air coming in from the windows as it be discharged up in the chimney.
To start a fire, proper steps should be observed. Open the glass doors first, pull the screen curtains aside, place the kindling, newspaper and the logs inside if your using wood fireplace. Then open the damper and window for a few inches. To see if the chimney is drawing smoke upwards, try lighting a match and observe if the smoke rises.
Keep the damper closed during winter unless there is fire. If the damper is open in an idle fireplace will only disperse the warm air needed to keep the people alive inside during winter.
Check the sealing on the damper and make it as tight as possible. Make use of grates of metal tubes that are shaped like letter C to attract cool room air into the fireplace and flow warmer air back into the room,.
Always use a non-flammable rug that can be purchased at your nearest fireplace supply. This will catch that entire jumping sparks and protect your floorings, especially if they are carpets, from burning.
Make use of chimney caps to get rid of water entry, nesting of bird and falling debris that may hinder the escape of smoke and may lead to a catastrophic suffocation of carbon monoxide inside the house. Spark arresters are commonly found in fireplace shops that will catch sparks coming from below to escape out of the chimney and could trigger fire in roofs and trees.
To clean glass doors make sure they are cooled especially in gas fire places. Applying water to clear a hot glass will only break it. Stains caused by charred wood and smoke can be hard to remove so use razors to rake them off. Use a dishwasher detergent to soften the stain and finish off with a newspaper.
If you are using coals, be careful when removing them retained heat can still produce fire of up to three days, even when they are not in flames. Wear a face mask when removing them and try to see if the damper is open so the dust of the ashes will go upwards.
Do not place TV above fireplace.
Maintaining your fireplaces can spell big savings in energy and money. A well-maintained fireplace will help keep clean air inside the house, prevent energy loss, and will spare your house from potential blaze.