A fireplace is the region beneath a chimney which is often used to light a fire to provide alternative heating and warmth. It also gives a sense of comfort to a house apart from supplementing the beauty that the house has.
However, for those that use wood as fuel, the ashes that remain after the fire has burnt off are less of a beauty point but more of an eyesore. The smoke also leaves soot all over the walls of the fireplace, hiding the paint or stone workmanship. The soot and ashes may be responsible for health complications that the residents may experience at some point. Fireplace cleaning in Chesapeake VA is then necessary to restore the safety, the glow and the glamour of the house.
The services provided by fireplace cleaning companies take into account the materials that make up the fireplace, the period over which the fireplace has been operated over and its current condition. Care is also taken to use the right tools and elements during the cleaning process to avoid any damages to the fireplace.
As part of the overall cleaning process, the fireplace should be inspected annually for any damages or possibility of fire hazards. Bird’s nests within the chimney should be removed and any required repairs carried out. The chimney should not have anything restricting air movement and smoke from the materials being used as fuel.
Fireplace cleaning professionals have several suggestions on how best to maintain a fireplace:
1. Wood used at the fireplace should not have its ends hanging way past the fireplace opening. This reduces the risk of contact with any combustible object resulting in a fire.
2. A screen to prevent soot and cinder from setting fire to any flammable material.
3. The wood used as fuel should be dry enough to prevent excessive smoke. Wet wood is known to give off too much smoke that may fill up the house, which is undesirable. Wood that has been dried over a year or more is often best suited for this task.
4. Only non-toxic materials should be used as fuels. Knowledge on the types of materials that can be utilized as fuels is therefore important.
5. Once a fire has died down, the ash should be gotten rid of.
6. The ventilation should always be left open when the fireplace is in use. This is how the smoke was meant to be discharged. Closing the ventilation will have the room be filled up in smoke, which is not a good thing.
7. Annual inspections have to be done on the fireplace irrespective of how it may appear to be.
Having the qualified fireplace cleaning professionals in Chesapeake VA attend to the fireplace, inspect it, clean it and perform any overhaul is pivotal. If suggested, setting about a complete overhaul of the fireplace will be worthwhile.
Overall, taking good care of one’s fireplace and contracting qualified fireplace cleaners will prove to be a boon for any homeowner.