Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Family Fun In Front Of The Fireplace

A roaring fire is a natural gathering place for many families. This year, make plenty of holiday memories by having family fun in front of the fireplace! The following are just a few ideas from the staff at Clean Sweeps of Michigan.

Get the most out of your fireplace this holiday season!

1.  Use the right firewood.
   Prevent coughs, watery eyes, and keep smoke from flooding the room by using the right firewood. Seasoned firewood is wood that has been cut into logs, stacked, and allowed to dry in the elements for at least six months. Doing this removes the majority of moisture from the wood, allowing it to burn hotter and produce less smoke. Using seasoned firewood can keep your fires burning brightly all winter long.
2. Think beyond s’mores!
   Roasting marshmallows in front of a fire is a fun way to bring the outdoors in. However, there are a number of ways you can cook up fun on your fireplace! Popping popcorn or roasting chestnuts are just a few festive treats the whole family can cook together. Cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens can also be placed right over the embers of a fire. This allows you to seriously expand your indoor cooking options. In addition, avoiding foods with a lot of fat can help reduce smoke and keep your flue clean.
3. The stockings are hung, but not when the fireplace is in use.
   Stockings hanging in front of a burning fire may be an iconic image – but it is not a safe one. When the fireplace is in use, remove stockings and other hanging mantle décor. This is order to prevent accidental fires! Also, furnishings and decorations should be at least three feet away from the fireplace when it is in use.
4. Create snuggly seating.
   Invite family and friends to sit back and stay a while by creating comfortable seating areas around the fireplace. Don’t want to completely rearrange your furniture? Then put some over-sized pillows and cozy blankets on the floor in front of the fireplace to encourage cuddling!
5.  Add fun to your fire.
   While relaxing in front of any fireplace is enjoyable, there are several ways to add a little extra fun and flair to your fires. Create a pleasant aroma by adding citrus peels to your fire. The oils in citrus peels make them natural fire starters – in addition to releasing a pleasant citrus smell. Likewise, specially treated pine-cones can change flames colors such as blue or green. This will put on a fun and unique show for the whole family to sit back and enjoy.
6.  Make safety a priority!
   The best way to enjoy your fireplace. A fireplace screen can help keep popping embers or coals off of your carpets and furnishings. Also, it protects little hands from getting too close to flames or hot fireplace components. Plus, although it may seem tempting to burn excess wrapping paper or boxes in the fireplace as gifts are being opened, don’t!  Wrapping and packing materials are better off in the recycling bin.

Don’t Be On Santa’s Dirty List!

Christmas is just around the corner. It’s only a matter of days until St. Nick himself is ready to slide down your chimney to deliver presents. This year, make sure you don’t get put on the naughty list for having a dirty chimney. Get your chimney swept before Christmas arrives!

How often should my chimney be swept?

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, or CSIA, all chimneys should be swept at least once per year. This guideline applies to all fuel-burning heating appliances. Including gas fireplace and appliances, wood and pellet stoves, and inserts. Chimney sweepings help remove any buildup of soot, ash, and creosote in the fireplace and flue. They also check for blockages in the flue and any signs of damage or deterioration to the chimney structure.

Annual chimney sweeps should still be done even if your fireplace is only rarely or infrequently used. In fact, sweepings in these situations can even be more important! If a fireplace is only used a few times per year, many of the performance problems that indicate a chimney issue may not be immediately noticed. Because of this, an annual sweep can help determine if there are any blockages, problems, or damage to the fireplace or chimney.

If your home’s fireplace or stove is used as a primary heat source it may need to be swept more often. As a general rule, a chimney should be swept any time there is 1/8th of an inch of soot accumulation in the flue. Under normal conditions this amount of buildup is caused by burning, on average, a full cord of wood. If you are using more than a cord of wood each burning season, you may need to have your chimney swept again mid-winter.

Benefits of a swept chimney:

An annual chimney sweeping is about more than just keeping Santa’s red suit clean. The following are just a few of the benefits of having a swept chimney.

1.  Improve venting. A buildup of soot or other debris in the flue can prevent proper venting. This causes smoke, ash, and other byproducts of combustion to back up into your home.
2. Avoid chimney fires! Creosote, a highly flammable byproduct of fuel burning fires, can accumulate in the flue over time. If not removed, it can be accidentally ignited by stray sparks or embers from the chimney, leading to a damaging chimney fire. Creosote ignition is the leading cause of chimney fire – and is entirely preventable with regular chimney sweepings.
3. Prevent chimney damage. Creosote does more than just cause chimney fires. It can also damage your chimney liner and flue. Regularly removing creosote and soot, as well as having the exterior of the chimney structure inspected, can help prevent chimney damage. In addition, it can extend the lifespan of your fireplace system.

Don’t get on Santa’s naughty list by having a dirty chimney this year. Instead, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to schedule your chimney sweep – before Christmas arrives!