- PENSACOLA SHOWROOM: 7555 Highway 98 West, Suite A, Pensacola, FL 32506
- DESTIN SHOWROOM: 36054 Emerald Coast Pkwy #100, Destin, FL 32541
Summer’s over, and it’s time to start thinking a little about your chimney. Early fall is a good time to begin getting your chimney in order for the months when you’ll be using your fireplace more regularly.
Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share a simple checklist you can follow to have everything in place when the cooler months roll around.
If it hasn’t already been done, now’s the time to do a thorough firebox cleaning. Sweep out excess ash, vacuum down all the surfaces, and then wipe down the surfaces with an approved cleaner. This will not only make the fireplace look sharp, but it will also let you see if there are any structural issues that need to be addressed. It’s important to have a clean firebox for the next item on the checklist.
Before firing up your fireplace for another season, you should have it inspected by a licensed inspector. The same goes for your chimney. A basic safety inspection will check for signs of damage or malfunction that could be problematic later if ignored now.
Your inspector will examine:
If you report any unique issues, such as drafting problems or unpleasant odors, your inspector will look into them.
The inspection may uncover a few areas that need work. Perhaps some bricks need replacing or crumbling mortar joints need filling in. Components may need to be repaired or replaced. Whatever is necessary, now is the time to get it done.
If it’s been more than a few years since this service was last performed, getting it taken care of in the fall is a smart move. Chimney waterproofing adds a strong layer of material that keeps rain from getting into the chimney’s bricks and mortar. The coating is “vapor permeable,” allowing it to release naturally occurring moisture beneath it.
Nothing’s worse than wanting to get a fire started and realizing you have nothing to start it with. Purchase some or all of the wood you think you’ll need ahead of time. Remember to buy seasoned firewood that’s had about six months to dry out before being used. This will create much less smoke and creosote and burn more efficiently.
Speaking of creosote, early fall is often the last chance you’ll have to conveniently schedule a chimney sweep service to remove flammable creosote. Chimney crews tend to get very busy as fall progresses, often making it difficult to get a crew out to your home.
Chimney sweep technicians use specialized tools and equipment to remove creosote from the chimney flue. Creosote is the #1 cause of chimney fires throughout Florida each year. Chimney sweeping also removes draft-blocking debris and dead animals.
Doodlebuggers provides licensed chimney inspections, all types of chimney repairs and expert chimney sweeping for our Florida customers in the Pensacola and Destin areas. Reach a chimney expert today at (850) 477-1151 in Pensacola or at (850) 243-0154 in Destin. You can also get in touch with our handy contact form.
