Keeping your fireplace clean is an essential part of keeping a safe home. Here are some fireplace cleaning tips from our home builder in East Point.
PRLog - Oct. 30, 2014 - EAST POINT, Ga. -- Tips for Keeping Your Fireplace Clean
A fireplace adds a traditional, warm and cozy touch to any family room. But with this energy-saving heating option comes a certain level of responsibility. In order to warm a home safely and effectively, a fireplace needs to be adequately cleaned and maintained. Here are some tips for keeping your fireplace clean from Southland's home builder in East Point, GA.
Daily and Weekly Cleaning Tips
Fireplaces produce a lot of ash as wood is burned. Sometimes, this ash can make its way outside of the fireplace. This is not only unsightly, but having ash fall outside of the fireplace can actually increase the risk of a fire spreading beyond the fireplace. Therefore, any ash in or around the fireplace should be swept up after each use (after the fireplace has cooled).
Once a week, the fireplace and its hearth should be thoroughly vacuumed to help prevent a build-up of soot and ash. Wait at least 12 hours after using the fireplace before doing this so the embers have had sufficient time to cool.
Annual Cleaning Tips
Every year, you should schedule to have your fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional. They have the tools and materials necessary for removing any built-up creosote inside of the fireplace and chimney. Creosote is a gummy black film comprised of smoke residue that if not removed, will accumulate within the chimney, making it more difficult for smoke to leave the home. In severe cases, the creosote can become so dense that it causes smoke and fumes to escape into the living spaces, and this is not only dangerous for those who live there, but it is one of the leading causes of deadly residential fires.
How to Tell When the Fireplace Needs Cleaning
There are some tell-tale signs that you have let too much time go between fireplace cleanings. These include:
· A burned wood odor in the room when the fireplace is not in use
· Your fires aren't burning as efficiently as they were
· Smoke is filtering back into the room
· The fireplace's damper is blackened
Fireplace Safety Tips
· Never use water to extinguish a fire in the fireplace as this will turn the ash into a sticky paste that will be harder to remove, instead keep a bucket of sand next to the hearth and use the sand to douse the embers.
· Never leave the home (or the fireplace unattended) until all of the embers are fully extinguished
· Avoid using abrasive cleaning agents in your fireplace as they can leave a flammable residue
Alternatives to the Traditional Fireplace
Today's home builders can offer homeowners a range of fireplace alternatives that can give their homes the appeal of a fireplace without all of the mess, cleanup, and maintenance requirements. One of the most economical and popular alternatives is the gas fireplace.
While gas fireplaces were lackluster in design and performance for years, today's gas fireplaces are sleekly designed. And, they come is such a huge array of design aesthetics that it is easy to find the perfect one to go with your interior design. Best of all, these fireplaces turn on with a flip of a switch and they burn clean. This means no more sweeping up messy ashes and no more worries about creosote build-up. When you're done using the fireplace for the night, simply turn off the switch and you can safely go to bed.
Contact Southland Custom Homes Today for the Latest in In-Home Fireplaces
If you want your new home to feature the warmth of a fireplace, but you don't want the risk of burning wood in your home, then let the in-house professional design team at Southland's home builder in East Point GA put their expertise to work for you. Contact Southland Custom Homes today by calling 1-866-56-BUILD or visit their website at www.southlandcustomhomes.com.
About Southland Custom Homes
Southland Custom Homes is one of the top-rated on-your-lot home builders in GA. Since 1980, Southland has helped thousands of people build high quality new homes in metro Atlanta, Macon, and North and South Georgia, while staying true to its mission of building quality, affordable custom homes on the land their customers love. With model centers located in Marietta, Dawsonville, and Macon, the Southland Custom Homes team is your best choice for a Georgia new home builder.
We design high-quality, high-efficiency custom built homes that will fit your lifestyle and budget. Our customers may choose from over 120 beautiful custom home plans, each one customized to suit individual needs. Additionally, customers who have their own house plan can get a free estimate to build from Southland within 48 hours. Southland will also design and build a new home “from scratch” for those individuals who want all of their ideas incorporated in their perfect dream home. Best of all, these custom design services are free to all Southland customers!
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Tips for Keeping Your Fireplace Clean
October 30, 2014 at 11:29 AM EDT
