Chimneys need love too! Tips for taking care of your chimney

There are few things more enjoyable than gathering around the fireplace for a cozy night in with the family, or cozying up in front of the fire and getting stuck into a good book.

We all know that taking care of our fireplaces is just as important as taking good care of the rest of the house, but it’s vital to not forget that your chimney needs some TLC every now and again too!

Here are some of our top tips for taking care of your chimney, so it will last and last:

Don’t burn old wood

You should only ever burn well-seasoned wood that’s been cut a minimum of six months prior to use. Wood that’s too old may not burn properly, and if used often enough, could cause damage to your chimney or fireplace.

Don’t use flammable liquids

As tempting as it may be, don’t use flammable liquids to increase your flame. These can give off harmful fumes, which may damage the inside of your chimney if used often. We also strongly advise that you only burn the correct, dry wood – avoid burning papers, Christmas tree branches or food wrappers.

Don’t sweep your own chimney

Unless you have experience, avoid the temptation of sweeping your chimney yourself. DIY chimney sweeping can be dangerous, not to mention messy, if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s best to leave it to the professionals and hire a chimney sweep to do a thorough job for you.

Discard of ashes properly

You’d be surprised at how many people leave wood ashes in their stove and wait for them to build up before disposing of them. We recommend cleaning the ashes out after every couple of uses if possible.

To prevent chimney fires:

• Ensure you have your chimney cleaned regularly by a professional chimney sweep. Visit our chimney sweep blog post for more information on how often you should get your chimney swept.
• Always clean out your ashes, and store them in a tight-fitting container – never a plastic bag.
• To look for indications of a past chimney fire, check for cracks on the outside of your chimney, as well as any warped metal on the damper or metal smoke chamber.