If you have a fireplace in your home, you more than likely look at it or walk past it every day. But are you maintaining it as you should?
The first thing to know about maintaining and servicing your fireplace is that different types of fireplaces have different service intervals. Here, we’ll cover each type of fireplace and when you should get them serviced.
What is involved in a chimney cleaning?
A chimney sweep will remove creosote, soot, and blockages from chimney liners, fireboxes, smoke chambers, and dampers. Keeping your system clean is essential to the operation & life of your chimney system. A chimney that isn’t maintained can become a fire hazard or deteriorate to the point of extremely costly repairs.
Certain types of wood can cause far worse build-up than others. For instance, untreated wood is full of moisture and doesn’t burn clean. Pinewood can also cause creosote in the flue to build up rapidly, making it an undesirable type of wood to burn.
How often should a wood-burning fireplace be serviced?
The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) handbook for chimneys & fireplaces is a government-adopted manual on fireplaces. It outlines that a wood-burning fireplace should be inspected once a year to see if it needs to be swept out and to check for any defects.
Defects may include any damage or cracks that should be repaired. It can also include any blockages caused by an animal or bird. Defects or blockages can lead to house fires, so it’s critical to have a professional check your chimney annually.
A chimney should be swept when the amount of creosote build-up is ¼ of an inch for masonry fireplaces or ⅛ of an inch for metal or factory-built fireplaces. Build-up can vary from top to bottom, so it’s important for a CSIA (Chimney Safety Insitute of America) certified chimney sweep to inspect the system and make sure that it is properly operational.
How often should a gas fireplace be serviced?
There are a few different types of gas fireplaces: vented gas logs, ventless gas logs, and direct vent.
Vented gas logs are a very attractive option, but they put off little heat. They go into a fireplace that is capable of burning wood. Soot gets built up on the blogs, so it’s necessary for them to be cleaned yearly. Rarely do vented logs build up so much soot that the chimney needs to be cleaned, but the logs can get a good amount of build-up on them.
Vent-free (or ventless) are the most common type of gas logs in the United States. They aren’t as attractive as vented logs but they produce a lot of heat. A downside to them is that they also produce an odor and moisture. This type of log is the most critical to get checked annually. It’s not vented to the outdoors, so if it malfunctions or produces soot or carbon monoxide, the gas will enter your living space – which can be potentially fatal. We recommend that any home that has gas to it has a carbon monoxide monitor that is less than 5 years old.
The last type of gas fireplaces, direct vent, are most notably distinguished because they are most likely to have permanent glass between you and the fire. Direct vent gas fireplaces offer the best of both worlds, meaning they are very attractive and put out a lot of heat. The glass can get a white film on the inside that needs to be cleaned and the controls & burners need to be inspected to ensure they continue to operate properly.
Learn more in our guide to gas fireplaces!
How often should an electric fireplace be serviced?
Unless they break, there’s almost no need to have an electric fireplace serviced. Higher-end models of electric fireplaces have an air filter in the back that could need to be replaced, cleaned, or inspected on an annual basis.
Do pellet stoves need to be serviced or inspected?
Pellet stoves have a unique set of maintenance requirements, so you should refer to your manual for maintenance instructions on them.
What if my fireplace is rarely used?
Even if your fireplace is rarely used, the NFPA recommends that all chimneys be cleaned and inspected annually to avoid a fire hazard.
Fireplaces are a wonderful asset to any home, and an annual cleaning & inspection is the best way to preserve their integrity. To schedule an annual inspection, please contact our team of professionals to help!
