While homeowners everywhere regularly consider a few major home maintenance areas during the spring period, such as HVAC, plumbing or other areas, the fireplace sometimes goes under-discussed here. While it may not require the same kind of detailed care that your air conditioner does headed into summer, necessarily, there are a few simple areas you can consider here as you transition from one season to another.

At Comfort Solutions Fireplace, we’re proud to not only offer a huge range of fireplace options for our Utah clients, but also to provide high-quality fireplace repair and service to ensure your fireplace is in great shape year-round. This two-part blog series will look into why spring fireplace maintenance matters, plus some basic tips to consider for the various fireplace types out there — whether you do so on your own or with help from our fireplace service professionals.

Why Spring Fireplace Maintenance Matters

As we noted above, your fireplace doesn’t necessarily fall into the same category as other vital home components like the air conditioner or water heater when it comes to maintenance. However, there are a few key reasons why spring fireplace maintenance can be important as you look ahead to using your fireplace less and less in the coming months.

For one, this is a great time of year to assess any damage that may have occurred to your fireplace during the winter season. This might include cracks in the fireplace itself, damage to the chimney or flue, or any other areas where water or debris may have gotten in and caused problems. Spring is also a good time to check for any animals that may have made their way into your fireplace over the winter months and take steps to remove them and repair any damage they may have caused.

Wood Fireplace Spring Upkeep

Here are some basic tips on areas to look at when you’re performing spring upkeep on your wood fireplace:

• Chimney sweep: This is one of the most important things you can do for your wood fireplace, and it’s best to do it at least once a year. This will help remove any soot, creosote or debris that has built up over the past year and could potentially cause problems down the road.
• Inspect the firebox: Take a look at the firebox itself to check for any cracks, gaps or other damage. These areas can let heat escape and also allow water and debris to enter, so it’s important to repair them as soon as possible.
• Inspect the flue: The flue is the pipe that carries smoke and fumes up and out of your fireplace, and it’s important to make sure it’s in good working condition. Check for any cracks, blockages or other damage and repair or replace as necessary.
• Basic cleaning: In addition to the above, you’ll also want to do some basic cleaning of your fireplace. This includes sweeping the hearth, removing any debris from the firebox and wiping down the outside of the fireplace.

In part two of our series, we’ll go over some tips for gas and electric fireplaces and their springtime maintenance. For more on this, or to learn about any of our fireplace products or services in Utah, speak to the team at Comfort Solutions Fireplace today.