How to Inspect Your Fireplace
As we are getting closer to the official start of winter, we have already been graced with the cold weather for a few weeks. We have all turned the heat inside our homes on, and those who are lucky enough to have a fireplace have probably used that a few times. Using a fireplace to heat your home can be very helpful in keeping your heating bills down, depending on how much you use your fireplace. Utilizing a fireplace to heat your home is not only a cost effective method, but it can also be relaxing. As nice as using a fireplace is, it is very important to make sure your fireplace is safe to use.
Before using your fireplace it is recommended to visually inspect the outside of it. Sometime in the fall would be best for doing this when it isn’t too cold out yet and you are checking over other aspects of your home.
It is smart to check your chimney cap to make sure it is in good shape. A chimney cap is a metal device that prevents rain, snow, animals, and debris such as leaves, sticks, and other random items from getting inside your chimney. If there happens to be any fallen debris around the top of the chimney you should clear it off to prevent anything from catching fire.
Another visual inspection you should do is to make sure all of the bricks are still intact. Over time, brick can start to wear and crack and the heat of the fireplace can often speed this process up. If you have a brick that is cracked, it would be smart to call a professional to come and fix it because it can only get worse. More often than not, the bricks on your fireplace should be in good shape, but it never hurts to make sure.
After inspecting the exterior of the chimney, looking over the inside of it would be a good thing to do as well. There are ways for the average home owner to look over their fireplace that are rather simple. Just like with the outside, you should check the brick on the inside, especially near the base since that’s where the fire would be. Take a flashlight (the brighter the better) and look around inside to see if any bricks or mortar are broken or look cracked. The inside of the fireplace is more important than the outside, so if you do not feel comfortable, you should consult with a professional and have them do the inspection for you.
A fireplace is a great thing to have in your home, especially this time of year. If you use it often, your fireplace can help you save money on your heating bill, but you have to consider the cost of wood to use in the fireplace (unless it’s gas). Making sure that your fireplace is in good shape is very important and you should inspect both the inside and outside of it every year.
Contact the professionals at Ion Insurance today for an individualized quote suited for your specific needs.
