Have you felt the crispness of fall in the breezes yet? Even if you haven’t, you know it’s on the way – and now is the perfect time to get prepared. Mid to late summer is a great time to turn your attention to the cozy cornerstone of our homes: the fireplace. But getting your fireplace clean and ready to use is more than just another seasonal task…it’s also about ensuring warmth, safety, and that irresistible autumn ambiance.
How can you get your fireplace in tip-top shape, so your household can relax or enjoy a good book by the fire? Most of the work is really just making a phone call to your local chimney experts – that’s us!
Book an Inspection & Sweeping
First things first – book your annual chimney inspection. Appearance and ambiance are important, but safety and functionality come first. Before you can cozy up by the fire, you need to make sure your chimney is in good shape. Think of it as giving your fireplace a back-to-school check-up, and call in the professionals for your annual inspection and a chimney sweeping. We can check for blockages, note signs of deterioration in the chimney or its components, and sweep away hazardous creosote.
A clean chimney is essential to prevent chimney fires and allow good ventilation, and an inspection can identify maintenance needs that are best addressed earlier, when they’re usually easier to take care of.
If your inspection does uncover any issues, get them taken care of as soon as you can. If your professional says they need to be remedied prior to using your fireplace, scheduling sooner will help prevent delays when you want to be enjoying fires. Nothing says “autumn anxiety” like discovering mid-season that your fireplace needs urgent repairs.
If concerns are present, remember – we’re here to help. We’ll work to keep you and your home safer, and to help ensure your home is the cozy haven you want it to be.
Gather Your Supplies
The squirrels are storing up for cooler days, and so should you.
- If you have a wood-burning fireplace, stock up on dry, well-seasoned firewood. Good firewood will burn best and clearest. Be sure your firewood is stored in a well-ventilated area, and make a plan to rotate it, so seasoned pieces are always close at hand.
- Speaking of supplies, this is a good time to check out your fireplace accessories. There’s definitely a decorative component here, since people have been embellishing accessories for centuries…but functional pieces should also be in good repair. Brushes, shovels, and ash containers should be sturdy and in good shape. If they aren’t, secure replacements before fall.
- There are some accessories that can seriously improve your fireplace experience and safety, as well. These can also be upgraded for functionality or aesthetics if desired, or put in place if you don’t have them. Things like fireplace grates promote circulation, screens keep errant sparks and embers from entering your room, and firebacks channel warm air back into your living space.
- Other supplies are simply about bringing in the beauty, design, or drama. While not fireplace accessories, fireside decorations can bring the feel of the season inside and enhance the inviting appeal of your fireplace. A beautifully decorated fireplace can include lanterns, seasonal artwork, and fall colors – just be sure it also includes a three foot clearance between combustible materials and your fireplace.
- And be sure to check (and replace, if needed) your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Are they spaced and placed according to manufacturer recommendations? Have they been tested recently? Do the batteries need to be replaced? Detectors are something we always hope we don’t need to use, but they are absolutely invaluable when we do.
Plan for Upgrades
If your fireplace is in need of a makeover, setting the process into motion during the summer makes it more likely your stunning upgrade will be ready when you want to use it for fall.
There are many motivators for upgrades. You may want to boost efficiency, gain a greater degree of control over heat output, switch up ambiance, improve safety, or create a new look in your living space. Whatever you’re after, call us today and let our professionals help you assess the best ways to meet your home improvement goals.
Ease Your Way Into the Season With Us
Make the transition to fall smoother by getting your fireplace ready before the fall rush. It’ll help you avoid potential delays or last minute surprises, and scheduling inspections and repairs early means you’ll be able to light your first fire without any worries. Best of all, if you’re in Memphis, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.
Embrace the fall season with a fireplace that’s as ready for the cool reprieve of cozy fall nights as you are. With everything in place, you can look forward to those crisp evenings by the fire, making memories by your (well prepared, lovely) fireplace. Call or book online now!
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