Keeping your fireplace in top shape is easier than you might think! Just like other home appliances, fireplaces, wood stoves, and gas stoves need a little regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly.
Before winter’s chill hits Flagstaff, make sure your fireplace is ready to keep you cozy by scheduling a professional inspection and cleaning.
From preventing chimney blockages to ensuring your gas fireplace controls are working properly, taking these steps now will help you enjoy a warm and safe season ahead.
Want more tips? Check out the full guide and video from our HomCo expert, Jason!
Get Fireplace Maintenance Once a Year
Every year, fireplaces must be inspected and swept before they can be safely used, no matter how much or little use they saw the previous winter. During a fireplace inspection, a professional will survey your fireplace and chimney inside and out and recommend any necessary replacements or repairs.
Fireplace Chimney Sweep
Even if your fireplace and chimney don't require repairs, you should have an annual fireplace chimney sweep. Soot, creosote, and other debris that builds up in your fireplace pose a significant safety risk. At best, the buildup can keep your fireplace from working its best. At worst, it can lead to a chimney fire.
Gas Fireplace Service
Gas fireplaces require annual servicing and inspection. During a servicing visit, a professional will inspect your gas fireplace for gas leaks, ensure proper combustion, and ensure everything functions as intended, including the system's switching devices and remote controls.
Wood Fireplace Prevention
There are several steps homeowners should take before winter weather arrives to ensure their fireplace is safe to operate:
- Remove any clutter that has accumulated near your fireplace
- Trim the branches from nearby trees
- Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- If you can see your chimney and chimney cap from the ground, perform a visual inspection and note any signs of potential damage
- Open and close the damper to ensure it's still working
- And finally, schedule your annual fireplace inspection and cleaning
Wood Fireplace Inspection
You should schedule a fireplace inspection with a trusted local professional at least once yearly. They will inspect your fireplace and chimney for signs of damage and provide a report detailing their findings and any necessary repairs.
They will examine your fireplace system inside and outside your home. For example, they'll look for signs of roof leaks or moisture in your fireplace or chimney, test that your damper is working, examine your chimney caps for signs of damage, inspect the gasket and blower (if your system has them), look for obstructions in the flue, and more.
Wood Fireplace Sweep
Completing your annual chimney sweep is essential if you have a wood fireplace. Even a minute amount of creosote glazing can pose a fire hazard. In addition, a sweep can also alert you if your chimney has suffered any damage during the off-season.
Fireplace Blockage in Flue
Blockages in your chimney flue create a significant risk of a chimney fire or even carbon monoxide poisoning. Leaves and twigs from nearby trees, nesting animals, and creosote buildup can block your flue or flue liner. If a flue blockage is observed during your annual inspection, it must be cleared before you can safely use your fireplace.
Gas Fireplace Prevention
Though gas and wood-burning fireplaces burn different fuels, they require annual maintenance and inspection. Regular cleaning and inspection of your gas fireplace will identify any problems with your system and ensure the ventilation system and electronic components are in safe working order.
Gas Fireplace Inspection
An essential element of gas fireplace maintenance is scheduling your annual inspection. When a professional inspects your gas fireplace, they'll look for worn parts, gas leaks, and other issues that could cause loss of function or create a safety hazard. Then, after carefully examining the firebox, ventilation system, chimney, and other components, they'll provide you with a report that includes recommended or necessary repairs and maintenance.
Gas Fireplace Controls
Nearly all gas fireplace remote controls have a transmitter. Transmitters for wireless units operate using batteries. Homeowners often need to be aware that the receiver (the part attached to the appliance) also requires batteries. If your gas fireplace remote control stops working, you can often remedy the problem by checking and replacing the transmitter or receiver batteries.
Pellet Fireplace Prevention
Pellet stoves share aspects of both wood-burning and gas-burning appliances. Though wood pellets fuel them, they also have many electronic components. Due to their hybrid nature, pellet fireplaces can experience problems similar to traditional wood and gas stoves.
Pellet Fireplace Inspection
You should have your pellet fireplace inspected and cleaned yearly. Like other wood-burning appliances, pellet fireplaces can develop dangerous creosote buildup within the flue or the firebox. When your pellet fireplace is inspected, a professional will examine the system's firebox, terminations, motors, sensors, piping, and exhaust for damage, debris, or blockages.
Pellet Fireplace Controls
Remote controls or other electronic issues are common reasons for pellet fireplace service calls. If your remote control stops functioning, you may be able to restore it by replacing the batteries in the transmitter, receiver, or both.
Schedule Your Annual Fireplace Inspection
Annual fireplace maintenance is essential to get the most out of your fireplace and ensure it's safe to operate all winter. Being proactive about fireplace maintenance means avoiding costly repair bills and protecting your family and home from life-threatening fires. Schedule your appointment and contact the fireplace department at HomCo today.
Keeping your fireplace in top shape is easier than you might think! Just like other home appliances, fireplaces, wood stoves, and gas stoves need a little regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly.
Before winter’s chill hits Flagstaff, make sure your fireplace is ready to keep you cozy by scheduling a professional inspection and cleaning.
From preventing chimney blockages to ensuring your gas fireplace controls are working properly, taking these steps now will help you enjoy a warm and safe season ahead.
Want more tips? Check out the full guide and video from our HomCo expert, Jason!
Get Fireplace Maintenance Once a Year
Every year, fireplaces must be inspected and swept before they can be safely used, no matter how much or little use they saw the previous winter. During a fireplace inspection, a professional will survey your fireplace and chimney inside and out and recommend any necessary replacements or repairs.
Fireplace Chimney Sweep
Even if your fireplace and chimney don't require repairs, you should have an annual fireplace chimney sweep. Soot, creosote, and other debris that builds up in your fireplace pose a significant safety risk. At best, the buildup can keep your fireplace from working its best. At worst, it can lead to a chimney fire.
Gas Fireplace Service
Gas fireplaces require annual servicing and inspection. During a servicing visit, a professional will inspect your gas fireplace for gas leaks, ensure proper combustion, and ensure everything functions as intended, including the system's switching devices and remote controls.
Wood Fireplace Prevention
There are several steps homeowners should take before winter weather arrives to ensure their fireplace is safe to operate:
- Remove any clutter that has accumulated near your fireplace
- Trim the branches from nearby trees
- Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- If you can see your chimney and chimney cap from the ground, perform a visual inspection and note any signs of potential damage
- Open and close the damper to ensure it's still working
- And finally, schedule your annual fireplace inspection and cleaning
Wood Fireplace Inspection
You should schedule a fireplace inspection with a trusted local professional at least once yearly. They will inspect your fireplace and chimney for signs of damage and provide a report detailing their findings and any necessary repairs.
They will examine your fireplace system inside and outside your home. For example, they'll look for signs of roof leaks or moisture in your fireplace or chimney, test that your damper is working, examine your chimney caps for signs of damage, inspect the gasket and blower (if your system has them), look for obstructions in the flue, and more.
Wood Fireplace Sweep
Completing your annual chimney sweep is essential if you have a wood fireplace. Even a minute amount of creosote glazing can pose a fire hazard. In addition, a sweep can also alert you if your chimney has suffered any damage during the off-season.
Fireplace Blockage in Flue
Blockages in your chimney flue create a significant risk of a chimney fire or even carbon monoxide poisoning. Leaves and twigs from nearby trees, nesting animals, and creosote buildup can block your flue or flue liner. If a flue blockage is observed during your annual inspection, it must be cleared before you can safely use your fireplace.
Gas Fireplace Prevention
Though gas and wood-burning fireplaces burn different fuels, they require annual maintenance and inspection. Regular cleaning and inspection of your gas fireplace will identify any problems with your system and ensure the ventilation system and electronic components are in safe working order.
Gas Fireplace Inspection
An essential element of gas fireplace maintenance is scheduling your annual inspection. When a professional inspects your gas fireplace, they'll look for worn parts, gas leaks, and other issues that could cause loss of function or create a safety hazard. Then, after carefully examining the firebox, ventilation system, chimney, and other components, they'll provide you with a report that includes recommended or necessary repairs and maintenance.
Gas Fireplace Controls
Nearly all gas fireplace remote controls have a transmitter. Transmitters for wireless units operate using batteries. Homeowners often need to be aware that the receiver (the part attached to the appliance) also requires batteries. If your gas fireplace remote control stops working, you can often remedy the problem by checking and replacing the transmitter or receiver batteries.
Pellet Fireplace Prevention
Pellet stoves share aspects of both wood-burning and gas-burning appliances. Though wood pellets fuel them, they also have many electronic components. Due to their hybrid nature, pellet fireplaces can experience problems similar to traditional wood and gas stoves.
Pellet Fireplace Inspection
You should have your pellet fireplace inspected and cleaned yearly. Like other wood-burning appliances, pellet fireplaces can develop dangerous creosote buildup within the flue or the firebox. When your pellet fireplace is inspected, a professional will examine the system's firebox, terminations, motors, sensors, piping, and exhaust for damage, debris, or blockages.
Pellet Fireplace Controls
Remote controls or other electronic issues are common reasons for pellet fireplace service calls. If your remote control stops functioning, you may be able to restore it by replacing the batteries in the transmitter, receiver, or both.
Schedule Your Annual Fireplace Inspection
Annual fireplace maintenance is essential to get the most out of your fireplace and ensure it's safe to operate all winter. Being proactive about fireplace maintenance means avoiding costly repair bills and protecting your family and home from life-threatening fires. Schedule your appointment and contact the fireplace department at HomCo today.