Don’t Neglect Your Fireplace When It’s Time For Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition and it prepares your home for summer’s activities. One of the first things to clean during the spring is the fireplace and the chimney. By doing this thoroughly, you will ensure the safety of your family by preventing chimney fire, and if you make it a habit to clean out the flue and the chimney each spring,you won’t have to worry about it when fall comes back around.

Chimney fires happen because of a buildup of creosote in the stack. Creosote buildup occurs naturally after burning fires during the fall and winter seasons. If you don’t clean your fireplace and chimney before a hot fire, the highly-flammable creosote material will catch fire. A chimney fire can easily spread to the roof and other areas of the house.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends cleaning of the fireplace, vents and chimney whenever one-eighth of an inch of deposit buildup is present or when a glaze appears on the inside of the fireplace and chimney. In fact, the CSIA recommends an annual inspection and cleaning (if needed) as part of a home’s standard safety practices.

Safety-conscious homeowners develop annual schedules to check their smoke detector batteries, fire extinguishers, heating and cooling equipment and more. Add fireplace and chimney cleaning to your annual maintenance and safety list.

For more tips on household maintenance programs, or for information on your HVAC system, contact Blanton’s Heating & A/C today! We’ve been serving Fayetteville-area residents now for over 60 years.