It’s time to take out the ashes. Be careful though!
It’s when you have a dirty fireplace that is filled with ash that you open doors to bigger problems like fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Both equally deadly situations. We can all agree that this is something that should not be underestimated. We all want to make sure we do all that we can to help you have less worry about your home.
We from The Mad Hatter are here to guide you on the things you can do to prevent fires from happening. If you want, we can even do all of the maintenance steps for you because our licensed CSIA sweeps are more than willing to help you maintain your heating systems’ functionality.
Don’t Leave It Half-Full
The system is composed of the fireplace and chimney so it’s a two way process of keeping both in good condition. If you only take care of the most visible areas, it’s like taking out the trash but leaving it half-full. Maintaining the stability of your chimney by inspecting and sweeping is something that should be done on an annual basis. Ash and soot in your fireplace should be regularly removed as well.
Cooling Time
When you attempt to clean your fireplace after a long day of burning wood and keeping warm, make sure that you let the ash cool first. While waiting for it to cool, you can prepare the things that you need like a broomstick, a metal dust pan, and a metal trash bin. The reason for using metal is in case tiny pieces of coal hidden in the ashes have not yet burned out completely. It is extremely important to take caution in doing this seemingly simple task as many house fires have occurred just because of a stray piece of coal.
How to Remove the Ash
To get started, you need to clean out the firebox first. Clean it properly and using a rag, wipe it clean until there’s no dirt anymore. Now for the main process, after the ash has cooled down, sweep it properly and carefully into the dust pan. Make sure that you’ve checked all areas are already ash-free. After that, carefully transfer the ash to the metal bin and place it outside of your house far from any flammable materials. You can do this at least once a week.
Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions. We have been serving people of Indianapolis and surrounding communities for many years. That’s why we can tell our customers, “Let our years of experience go to work for you.”