Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Want to Breath New Life into Your Home? Invest in a Fireplace!

Does your home’s interior leave you feeling uninspired? Are you looking for a way to add resale value without breaking the bank on a remodel? If so, it may be time to upgrade or replace your fireplace!

Fireplaces are one of the most valued features in real estate. In addition to helping your home stand out from similar listings, they can add significant value. One survey found that 40% of potential buyers would pay more for a home with a fireplace. Fireplace upgrades or additions also give homeowners a high return on investment. This means the value they add to your home is close to the cost of the project.

Whether you have an existing fireplace that is out of date, an older hearth that you don’t use, or want to add a completely new chimney system to your home, the experts at Clean Sweeps of Michigan can help.

Upgrading an Existing Fireplace

There are a number of reasons why homeowners do not fully utilize – or love – their fireplaces. Two of the most common are that the fireplace is out of date or does not fit their style, or that the fireplace or chimney are damaged and cannot be used.

Fireplace Facelift

If your fireplace is stained, out of date, doesn’t meet your heating needs, or stands out from your style, it may be time to invest in a fireplace facelift. Making over your existing fireplace is a cost-effective way to get back to using and enjoying your fireplace.

Because all fireplaces are unique, our team will create a custom plan just for your home. Therefore, this allows you to personalize everything from the materials, colors, size, style, and accessories. The project can be as big as completely refacing the masonry or as small as replacing a mantle or adding new glass doors.

Upgrading a fireplace is an excellent time to consider switching fuel sources. Fireplace inserts can be installed into existing hearths; these EPA certified heating appliances are available in gas, wood, and pellets, making it easy for every homeowner to find the perfect fireplace for their home.

New Fireplace Construction

There is nothing quite like spending an evening in front of a fire. If your home doesn’t have a fireplace, it is still possible to add one! Our team of masons and chimney sweeps can help construct a chimney system that not only looks beautiful but is safe, functional, and will last for years to come.

Summer is a great time to upgrade your existing fireplace or add a new chimney system to your home. Working on your fireplace now ensures that it will be ready to go when cooler temperatures arrive. For more information on updating an existing fireplace or to ask about new chimney construction, contact the experts at Clean Sweeps of Michigan today!

Burn Properly Seasoned Wood This Holiday Season

Enjoying time together in front of a roaring fire is a part of the holiday traditions for many families. This year, ensure you are getting the most out of your fireplace by burning only seasoned firewood. Enjoying time together in front of a roaring fire is a part of the holiday traditions for many families. This year, ensure you are getting the most out of your fireplace by burning only seasoned firewood.

What is seasoned wood?

Seasoned firewood is wood that has been cut into logs, stacked, and left exposed to the elements to dry. The seasoning process typically takes a minimum of six months. Seasoning wood can last for up to a year or longer. Importantly, the seasoning process removes moisture from the wood. Fresh cut firewood, also known as green wood, has a moisture content of as high as 50%. This much water in the wood makes it difficult to burn; green wood is hard to ignite, burns at a low temperature, produces more smoke, and can create more creosote in the flue.
Seasoning the wood can reduce the moisture content to between 10 and 20 percent. Seasoned wood is the best choice for use in indoor residential fireplaces; the low moisture content allows the wood to ignite faster, burn hotter, and create less creosote.

What wood is best for my fireplace?

Although seasoned wood is always the best choice for indoor fireplaces, there are a number of different types of firewood. While the kind of firewood you choose to use often comes down to personal preference. Trial and error can help you find the perfect wood for your home.

– Hardwoods. Hardwoods are dense, heavy woods with leaves that change colors with the seasons. Maple, oak, ash, and birch are all popular varieties of hardwoods. Hardwoods are often the most popular for use in indoor fireplaces; in addition to being inexpensive and readily available in most areas, hardwoods create fires that burn at high temperatures and produce little smoke. – Softwoods. Softwoods are made from trees with needle leaves that stay on year round, such as firs, evergreens, and pines. Softwoods are known for their fragrant smoke and their ability to ignite quickly; because of this, softwoods are often used as kindling or aromatics in larger fires. However, because they produce larger amounts of smoke and burn at lower temperatures, they may not be ideal as a primary wood source.

What not to burn

During the holidays, it can be tempting to use the fireplace as a way to dispose of wrapping paper, boxes, and other packing materials. However, burning these things in an indoor fire can quickly lead to disaster. Paper products can ignite quickly to create a burst of flame; while this can be useful when lighting a fire, adding large amounts of paper to a burn can quickly cause it to get out of control. Likewise, burning printed wrapping paper can release toxic chemicals from dyes and inks into the air.

This year, get the most out of your fireplace by choosing seasoned firewood. For more information on how firewood choice can affect your fireplace, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today.