Home Maintenance

While iron fireplace doors are very attractive and durable but keeping them clean can be difficult and time consuming. There are certain things you can do to keep the iron clean. Keeping iron...

Sooty, dirty and grimy fireplace stove pipes are fire hazards. If left alone, deposits in the chimney stove pipe can become overheated to the point that they ignite. After only a few moments, the...

Many people use ammonia to clean their chimneys and fireplaces, although it is important to remember that cleaning a chimney can be very dangerous and most fireplace manufacturers, construction...

The start of fireplace season varies in different climates, but most homeowners are nervous about chimney fires during the first few burns of the year. Following appropriate steps can prevent...

As winter approaches, we look forward to a cozy home with a fireplace burning brightly. No matter if you're burning fake logs or real wood, many hazards are associated with fireplaces. Keep your...

Everyone likes to save money on energy bills. For many people, that's the main reason they are using a fireplace to begin with. Although a fireplace can produce a lot of heat for a home, there can...

Bricks add a nice touch to a home in whatever form they may take, whether they are in a fireplace or otherwise. They are generally easy to maintain, but sometimes they still need to be cleaned....

A gas fireplace is a convenient way to lower heating bills without dealing with the mess of logs, but just as with any appliance, you must maintain gas logs. When dealing with ventless logs, you...

A chimney is a tube connected to a heat production unit that carries exhaust from the inside to the outside air. You might think of bricks when you think of a chimney, but modern chimneys can be...

Although a cozy fire in the fireplace is pleasant on a cold winter's evening, chimneys gather soot, creosote, dust and debris that can present a fire hazard. The buildup can also interfere with...

If you have a fireplace made of natural stone, one of your priorities is to prevent smoke and soot from creating permanent stains in the stone. Although natural stone such as granite or slate...

A wood burning fireplace has several uses, including reduced heating costs and familial enjoyment like watching the glow of a roaring fire, or roasting marshmallows. Soot is a sticky substance...

Most old homes have at least a fireplace or two. However, these fireplaces are often considered "non-working" because they do not meet current fire codes. Using a non-working fireplace...

Fireplace screens provide that finishing touch many homeowners are looking for to cover that large hideous opening in an otherwise beautiful focal point in their room. Besides providing...

Gas fireplaces are essential to keeping your house warm during the winter. If you use your fireplace frequently or occasionally, then you should know how to maintain it to keep it clean and...

Creosote buildup is a by-product of burning wood in stoves, fireplaces and chimneys that can cause chimney fires. Although it can't be prevented, a good rule of thumb is to burn adequately dried...

Brick fireplaces give any room a warm, cozy feeling no matter what the season. However, if you use your brick fireplace regularly, then the front can become grimy and the bricks may get dark with...

Cleaning fireplace bricks is another do-it-yourself project you can do with items around your home. Any type of bathroom cleaner will work – brand name or generic. It will require some time and...

A Fireplace is both a beautiful focal point in a room and a money saving energy source for cold weather. A fireplace is a great place to curl up in front of on a cold winter night. In order to...

Professional chimney cleaning of your fireplace chimney is just one of the many preventive maintenance projects that you as a homeowner need to have performed to keep your home safe and in...

Steps on how to turn on and operate a gas fireplace.

Chimney cleaning is a must for any homeowner. In a report filed by the U.S. Fire Administration, heating fires were the second leading cause of house fires in the country. Chimneys, vents and...

Cleaning buildup from your chimney should be done once a year. The fall seems to be the ideal time for this, especially if you use your fireplace often in the winter. Soot and creosote deposits...

A common practice for people with a recreational fireplace is to purchase a face cord of wood, and then use it over the course of the next few years. Be careful when storing firewood, however, as...

Fireplace heat reflectors will maximize gas and wood use, and protect your firebox from heat damage. Brick and mortar fireplaces are susceptible to the constant heating and cooling from fires....

There is nothing like a cozy, warm fire on a chilly night to soothe the nerves and create a romantic mood. However, there is a lot more to using a fireplace than just lighting a fire and enjoying...

If the fireplace is brand new, you may smell a strange smell when you turn it on. This will last up to 24 hours, and it is entirely normal. Just air out the house until the smell disappears. If it...

A fireplace damper is designed to allow the smoke to move up the chimney, causing a movement of air that feeds the fire and allows it to burn more efficiently. When the fireplace is not in use, an...

Creosote, a flammable, oily buildup and natural byproduct of wood fires, will coat the inside of your chimney the more fires you burn in your fireplace or stove. A layer of creosote and soot forms...

Opening a fireplace damper depends on the model of the fireplace, but generally there is a lever that slides back and forth to open and close it. Make sure the damper opens and closes completely...

A fireplace draft is a metal plate that regulates the flow of air into and out of a fireplace via the chimney. Another important function of the draft is to prevent heated air from escaping from a...

The logs in a gas fireplace can become pretty dirty if they haven't been cleaned in a while. This will show you a couple of ways to clean them.

Knowing what is on the surface of fireplace brick is important to the cleaning process. There are two types of dirt typically found on fireplace brick--smoke and soot. Smoke embeds into the brick...

Burning wood in a stove or fireplace causes creosote buildup in the chimney. Creosote burns, and this means the more creosote accumulation you have in your chimney, the higher the possibility of...

If your fireplace sees a lot of usage, you may have noticed your formerly shiny brass fireplace insert has gotten dirtier and dingier with each fire that you light. Cleaning it, however, is easy...

If the soot and smoke hasn't been allowed to sit for too long, it is possible to clean it off using modeling clay or children's play dough. Press the clay or dough firmly against the soiled or...

Before you start cleaning, it is critical you turn off the gas and make sure the valve is shut tight. You do not want flammable cleaning solvents to come into contact with gas.

Fireplace drafts can cause a chill in your home as well as in your pocketbook. In addition to allowing cool air to infiltrate your living space, the source of the draft is likely to be sucking out...

If you want a roaring fire in your gas fireplace, forget about chopping wood. Most gas fireplaces are easy to light by turning on the gas and igniting the fire with a long match. If your fireplace...

A gas fireplace is a welcoming sight after a long day in the winter cold, but you must carefully maintain it. After the winter season is over or if you will be away for an extended period of time,...

A long cold winter can leave your fire place looking not so hot. The residual build up of smoke dust, ashes, and moisture in the air settles onto the bricks to create what is known as soot. Here...

Learn how to visually inspect a fireplace to insure it's overall condition, performance and functionality.

It doesn't take a chimney cleaning company to clean a fireplace chimney. What it does take is a little time, a few tools and careful footing.

I always wanted a home with a fireplace, however once I got one I didn't know how to care for it. After finding out I was doing all the wrong things, I figured out the proper way to clean a...

We all love a nice fireplace to cozy up to in cool weather but the stains can be a real nightmare to deal with when the winter season comes to a close. You don't have to hire someone to clean up...

When the cold season comes around, curling up in front of a crackling fire with blankets and cups of hot cocoa is the best thing to do. All fireplaces come with cleaning precautions that ensure...

The cold chills of winter are here, and so are those cold rooms and high energy bills. With a few simple solutions, you can obtain a warm house and a lower electricity bill in just a few steps.

Many people think they know how to stop annoying air infiltration into their houses, however, if you are among them, you may be overlooking one large place where even the majority of air...

As you feel that nip in the air, there is no mistaking that winter is just around the corner. However, before you grab that mug of cocoa and curl up next to the fire, you’ll need to get your...

However inefficient and impractical a fireplace is as a heating device, it is such an important symbol of home and comfort, even though some people have no fireplace. The fireplace works by...