Chimney Maintenance And Cleaning Wood Stoves

More than ever people are looking for a renewable energy source that has less impact on the environment. For these two reasons heating your home with firewood is a good choice and follow up with regular maintenance.

Chimney Fires

Burning firewood creates a creosote buildup inside the chimney which means the surface could ignite and catch fire. The intense heat of a chimney fire can damage the chimney by warping the metal chimney or in the case of a masonry chimney crack the tile liner. Regular cleaning will reduce the chance of a chimney catching fire.

Hire A Professional

You will want to hire a professional when cleaning the chimney. Why? If you have a chimney fire and don’t have records showing a professional has been maintaining and inspecting the chimney annually, it might void coverage due to maintenance negligence.

Here are some tips to help your chimney operate a high level.

• Only burn dry, cured wood — logs that have been split, stacked, and dried for eight to 12 months
• Close your damper when not using the fireplace to prevent warm indoor air
• Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors in your house
• If you burn more than three cords of wood annually, get your chimney cleaned twice a year
• To burn fire safely, build it slowly, adding more wood as it heats and keeping your damper completely open to increase draw in the early stages

Even if you own a high efficiency wood stove chimney, maintenance should be done on a regular basis by a professional. For questions about your wood heating system or if you’re considering purchasing a new wood fireplace in Victoria call us today.