When you live in an area that gets snowy winters, there are some things you do to prepare for it. If you have the good fortune to own a sports car, you might consider winterizing it, putting it in the garage for the winter, and letting your four wheel drive vehicle handle the ice and snow. You’ll want to make sure there’s a survival kit in all your vehicles. You should also buy a few sweaters to round out your wardrobe. But did you know that there are also some things you should do at the end of winter to get ready for summer? One thing that you should take special care to do is to close out your fireplace for the summer months.
Get It Inspected and Swept
Every responsible fireplace owner knows that it’s important to call a highly qualified, CSIA certified chimney company like Chimney Doctors of Colorado to schedule a yearly inspection. Call us early so that we can fit you in the schedule at your convenience.
Other Things You Can Do
There are some things you can do in order to close out your fireplace until we get there. The first thing you’ll want to do is to clean out the firebox. You should get the ashes out after every two or three burns, but when you’re done using your fireplace for the season, you can do a deeper cleanout. First, wait three days or so after burning a fire to be sure there’s no hot spots left. Then, gather the tools you’ll need to do a good cleaning. Sprinkle some used coffee grounds over the ashes; this is to weigh them down and avoid flyaway ashes all over your living area. Use a fireplace shovel to get out as many of the ashes as possible. Place these in a metal can or a ceramic flowerpot to prevent spills. After this, use a handheld vacuum to suck up any remaining ashes, or use a fireplace broom to get those last ashes out. You can also use a stiff bristled brush to clear any remaining ash or soot.
After you have the firebox cleared out, use a glass cleaner to clean the glass door of your fireplace. There are many paste glass cleaners made just for fireplace doors, and these work best for the tough soot stains that you’ll probably be working on. Rub some on the doors with a paper towel, let it sit a minute, then wipe clean with a clean towel. If it still looks a little smoky, just repeat the process.
You’ll also want to wipe down the exterior of your fireplace with a clean cloth dipped in water. Be careful not to use strong cleaners, as these could damage the bricks, especially if you own an older fireplace. After this, step back and enjoy your clean fireplace!