Do Fireplaces Really Need Maintenance?

“Fireplaces are maintenance free!” This is a very common misunderstandings about fireplaces that homeowners have. Your fireplace is not invincible, and should be inspected annually to ensure that your structure is free of damage.

Having your fireplace cleaned and inspected, not only prevents smells from occurring, but also prevents chimney fires, water penetration and heat transfer issues.

Why Fireplaces Must Have Maintenance

Fireplaces offer a nice ambiance, with look nice at the same time. They are also a great focal point that can add to any home. But that beauty is also responsible for funneling gases away from the interior of your home and into the outside air. Without regular care, this job will become more difficult for the fireplace, and could leak to performance issues, or issues with smoke coming back into your home.

One particular section of a fireplace that needs regular care is the damper, which opens and closes the fireplace to the flue. A rusty or stuck damper can turn into a significant danger and make your fireplace essentially unusable.

Then there is the problem of creosote. Creosote is the unburnt wood energy that will begin to coat the fireplace and the flue, and it will increase in a fireplace that is dirty and not allowing combustion product to easily escape. Creosote is easy to spot: a shiny, tarry black substance. Aside from looking unattractive, creosote is highly combustible, and this leads to the most serious safety concern for a fireplace: chimney fires.