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When the days get longer and the weather begins to warm, your fireplace will likely see less and less use. The hottest months of spring and summer are on their way, and it\u2019s important that you don\u2019t simply ignore your fireplace without properly closing it. If you\u2019re not sure how to close a fireplace for spring or summer, read on to learn tips that will help you do it safely and without damaging your fireplace or its accessories.<\/p>\n
The first step to closing your fireplace for the season is to handle some of the basic cleaning.<\/p>\n
If you have firewood sitting in your fireplace that hasn\u2019t been used, don\u2019t just leave it there. Your firebox is a safe place to burn wood \u2013 but not necessarily the ideal place to store it. The biggest risk is that it will attract pests. Termites in your home can be an expensive problem, and having easily-accessible wood will encourage them to move in.<\/p>\n
The best thing you can do is simply use the wood. If the weather hasn\u2019t completely warmed up yet, have a brief springtime bonfire and enjoy the last bits of the winter season. Some of your excess wood can be left for another season but remember that while it\u2019s bad to burn green wood, excessively dry wood can be problematic too!<\/a><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t frequently clean your fireplace throughout the season, you will undoubtedly have a pile of ashes left all over the firebox. Ashes aren\u2019t only a nuisance if you breathe them in, they\u2019re also corrosive. It\u2019s damaging to your fireplace to leave them in \u2013 which is why you should make a habit of cleaning them after a fire.<\/p>\n The key to cleaning your ashes is to be careful and take it slow. If you try to sweep them up quickly, you\u2019ll send them flying and create a mess. For safety reasons, never try to clean ashes until they\u2019re completely cooled. Even hours after a fire, some remnants of a flame can exist, so be very careful!<\/p>\n If you have a shop vac that\u2019s designed to handle substances like ashes, it can be an easier way to completely clear the base of your firebox.<\/p>\n While this will help you get your fireplace nice and clean, it\u2019s no substitute for a professional chimney sweep. Without the tools and expertise to clean the entire firebox and flue, your chimney could have dangerous creosote deposits<\/a> or other corrosive materials left in it. Schedule a chimney cleaning from a CSIA-certified expert!<\/p>\n In addition to the firebox, any accessories you have in your fireplace should be cleaned. This will help remove any deposits of corrosive byproducts from them and keep them looking spotless for years.<\/p>\n Cast iron is a common type of material for fireplace grates. If you have cast iron, it will have been treated with iron paste that protects it from moisture damage. For this reason, you don\u2019t want to actually clean your grate with typical household cleaners and wet cloths. You can use a show brush or similar dry brush to clean away as much of the debris as possible.<\/p>\n Like your fireplace and flue, it\u2019s easy to make mistakes and damage your accessories or expose yourself to harmful chemicals. Unless you know what you\u2019re doing, this is another step that is best left to the professionals!<\/p>\n When you\u2019re finished cleaning, you can take a quick look over every easily-visible area of your fireplace to identify potential concern areas. You may notice sections with high corrosion, damaged brick or other signs of damage.<\/p>\n You may check for leaks all over your home and still skip the most important one: your fireplace. While doors and windows are common places for leaks to spring up, your fireplace can also let moisture into your home.<\/p>\n Moisture in a fireplace can be more problematic than in other places of your home. For starters, the tall flue is difficult to access for those without chimney tools or experience. At Doctor Flue, we use specialized cameras to inspect the deepest reaches of your flue system \u2013 something most homeowners won\u2019t have access to.<\/p>\n Additionally, leaks in your chimney can allow mold to grow<\/a> for weeks or months before you notice it. If you keep the glass door closed, or don\u2019t use the room with your fireplace that often, the mold may grow out of control before you identify the symptoms.<\/p>\n Spring and summer will bring plenty of rain around the Great Lakes region from Toledo<\/a> to Detroit<\/a>, so now is a good time to find and repair leaks that your chimney may have.<\/p>\n Another potential concern with your chimney is that, over time, the brick or lining can become damaged. Unlike leaks that may have obvious visual indicators, damage to your chimney can be harder to find.<\/p>\n The easiest places for you to identify damage, are visible when looking directly into the firebox: the backing, the base and the visible walls. If you notice common masonry issues like spalling bricks or deteriorating mortar, it\u2019s important that you get them repaired.<\/p>\n Beyond those problems, you\u2019ll need chimney sweep to do a more thorough inspection up the chimney itself. Damage to your chimney is a serious matter \u2013 it can lead to dangerous risks like chimney fires<\/a> or poor airflow that can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.<\/a><\/p>\n The damper in your fireplace helps you control the flow of air when your fireplace is being used or not. When you have an active flame going, you want to leave the damper open so the smoke can escape through the flue. But when you aren\u2019t using your fireplace, leaving the damper open can allow warmth out and cold air in.<\/p>\n Because you won\u2019t be using your fireplace for a few months, make sure you close your damper. If you don\u2019t use your damper often. This is usually easy to do and involves using either the lever or a pull chain, depending on the type of damper you have.<\/p>\n For those with gas fireplaces, one common question is whether they should turn off the pilot light for their gas fireplace during the warmer months when it will see no use. There are a few benefits to turning off your pilot light, assuming you know how to safely disable it and reenable it during the winter again!<\/p>\n #1. Save Money \u2013<\/strong> Depending on your gas source, a pilot light does cost you some money even if you never turn on your fireplace. This cost can range up to nearly 25 dollars per month at its highest, but for most homes will not be that high.<\/p>\n #2. Safety \u2013<\/strong> An active flame, no matter how small, is always at least a minor risk. While gas fireplaces that have been correctly installed are extremely safe, it never hurts to reduce that risk by turning off an unnecessary pilot light.<\/p>\n #3. Reduce Sulfur \u2013<\/strong> Leaving your pilot light on can allow a small sulfur build-up over time on the glass doors of your fireplace. This film can etch into the glass if not regularly cleaned. Turning off the pilot light prevents this from happening.<\/p>\n #4. Unnecessary Heat \u2013<\/strong> A pilot light generates heat, even if only a little. During the hottest days of the year, the last thing you want is your favorite room feeling even one degree warmer.<\/p>\n CSIA-certified experts know how to close a fireplace for spring or summer in the safest way \u2013 checking for every potential sign of damage, leaks or potential concerns. Even if you don\u2019t often use your fireplace, it\u2019s important to allow a professional to inspect and clean it at least once per year to keep your home safe.<\/p>\n The cost of a chimney inspection is far less than the potential damage from mold and moisture or invading critters!<\/p>\n The CSIA-certified experts here at Doctor Flue offer\u00a0chimney services and products in Michigan and Ohio<\/a>\u00a0and can inspect your chimney and help close it for the season.\u00a0Contact us today<\/a>! We\u2019ll get you set up right away so you can have peace of mind.<\/p>\n Call Us: 1-800-438-3583<\/p>\n Email Us:\u00a0office@drflue.com<\/a><\/p>\n Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm<\/p>\n Contact Us<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Request A Quote<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Connect with Doctor Flue on Social Media<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google +<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When the days get longer and the weather begins to warm, your fireplace will likely see less and less use. The hottest months of spring and summer are on their way, and it\u2019s important that you don\u2019t simply ignore your fireplace without properly closing it. If you\u2019re not sure how to close a fireplace for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2765,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[193,341,340],"tags":[368,366],"class_list":["post-2753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chimney-inspection","category-faqs","category-seasonal-tips","tag-fireplace-tips","tag-seasonal"],"yoast_head":"\nClean Any Ashes<\/h3>\n
Clean Your Grate\/Andirons<\/h3>\n
Inspect Your Fireplace & Firebox<\/h2>\n
Check for Leaks<\/h3>\n
Check for Damage<\/h3>\n
Closing the Damper<\/h2>\n
Should You Turn Off Your Pilot Light?<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"http:\/\/www.doctorflue.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/doctor-flue-gas-fireplace-closed-for-season.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHire a Professional Chimney Sweep<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.doctorflue.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/DRF-CTA-1-e1520950671133.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nContact Doctor Flue for Help Closing Your Fireplace!<\/h2>\n