HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR FIREPLACE

There is nothing quite like this time of year when the weather turns colder and you remember you have a fireplace that you have not used all year. Imagine having a glass of wine and some fancy cheese as you put up your feet and let your worries melt away.

But first, you have to take care of some business.

If you have a fireplace, there is maintenance that needs to take place before you assemble the charcuterie board.

Here’s a look at how to maintain a fireplace.

HOW TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN A GAS FIREPLACE

One of the first things to do to maintain a gas fireplace is to clean hazy glass—after all, it most likely didn’t come that way!

1.     Turn off the fireplace and make sure it has cooled over the course of several hours.

2.     Use eye protection and gloves.

3.     If your pilot light is near the glass you may need to turn this off.

4.     Remover your glass front and look at an owner’s manual or online to see how to do this.

5.     Once removed, use a soft cloth and fireplace cleaner on both sides of the glass. Do not use a standard window cleaner.

6.     If you have no pilot light on, make sure to clean any parts of the unit that need cleaning.

7.     Wipe the unit and inspect everything.

8.     If you turned off the pilot light this will need to be lit again.

9.     Replace the glass and you are ready.

Now, you are ready to enjoy a Napa Valley fireplace, and of course that wine and cheese.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE

With each use of your fireplace you will have soot, creosote and ash buildup. And before you use your fireplace for the first time in months, you need to clean it out.

So, what do you do?

You should clean your fireplace once a week if you are using it all the time.

It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.

You will need a drop cloth, dust mask, a small bucket, rubber gloves, goggles, hand broom and shovel.

• Scoop the debris out from the fireplace, then use a shop-vac or broom to remove the rest.

• Create a mixing solution with a gallon of water and one cup of bleach; pour that into a spray bottle and spray the area. Use a stiff brush to clean while the mixture is wet.

• Let the area dry.

• Don’t forget to clean the fireplace doors. Use a soft towel and some water for this.

HIRE A CHIMNEY SWEEP

There are many things you can do to maintain your fireplace, but once a year you should hire a chimney sweep.

There are many to choose from if you look online. Start by Googling California chimney sweep service. Some local chimney sweeps you should check out are: Napa Valley Chimney Sweepers, Cyclone Air Systems and Chimney Kings.

Whomever you use, make sure they are the best chimney sweep Napa has to offer—any good chimney sweep will walk you through best practices for maintaining your fireplace. The cost of a professional is about $200—money well-spent!

REMEMBER TO BE SAFE

Make sure any décor items, pets and clutter are far enough away from your fireplace. Also, install a smoke detector in the same room as the fireplace if you don’t have one there already.

NOW HIRE THE BEST

If you are moving to or from the Napa area, give Belfor Moving a call at 707-224-0102, or get your free moving quote online!

Are you considering a move to Goodyear, AZ? If so, don’t miss this Goodyear, AZ city guide by our partners at Premier Van & Storage!