Is Your Fireplace Ready for Winter?

As Autumn closes in, the nights get colder and darker and you begin to dread those miserable mornings and dreary commutes home from work! But, at least you can look forward to getting home, shutting the door and relaxing on those wintery evenings tucked up cosily with your loved ones in front of the fire.

So, it’s absolutely essential you make sure your fireplace and chimney are ready for action! You don’t want those cosy, comforting evenings ruined because you forget to get your chimney swept, or haven’t had a boiler service, so follow these simple steps below. And remember, if you think there might be a problem, make sure you call in a professional to check it out!

#1 Adjust Settings for a Cleaner Burn

If you have a glass-fronted fireplace and it’s collecting soot, adjust the settings on your fire so that it burns more cleanly. It’s a good idea to make sure it is cleaned at the beginning of winter, or when it starts to get colder, so you can see if there is a problem. You can buy special cleaning solutions, but a simple mixture of water and vinegar works just as well.

#2 Clean the Grille

The grille on the front of your fireplace is designed to pull air into the fire. But by doing this it also means that dust and dirt will also be pulled in, begin to build up and affect the function. This is easy enough to solve, simply vacuum the grille regularly and it will stop it getting clogged up helping your fire to burn more efficiently.

#3 Sweep the Chimney

If you burn solid fuel you’ll need to have your chimney professionally swept at least once a year to ensure it continues to extract the fumes from your fireplace safely and doesn’t drop soot into your living room! Make sure get an experienced company, like the team at our sister company,The London Chimney Sweeps, who can also provide repairs if any problems become apparent.

#4 Gas Fire Pilot Light

Many gas fireplaces have a standing pilot light that is always lit, and if this is the case you will need to ensure it is serviced more regularly. For safety reasons all modern gas fireplaces are built with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor pilot that will cut out if your pilot orifice gets clogged up, but this can be easily cleaned out with a can of compressed air.

#5 Replace Bulbs on Electric Fires

Electric fireplaces are renowned for needing very little maintenance, but if you want to avoid annoying breakdowns mid-winter, replace your bulbs before the cold sets in. That way you know they’ll last throughout the holiday season and won’t let you down when you want it the most.

#6 Stock Up On Fuel

Whether you need coal, logs or eco-logs, make sure you remember to stock up on your solid fuel supplies well before the cold weather begins! The last thing you want is to find yourself in the middle of winter with no coal and discover you have to wait a week for a delivery!

#7 Service Gas Fires

If you have a gas fire, one of the most important preparations you can do in the run up to winter is have it serviced. You should ensure your gas fire and boiler are properly serviced by a Gas Safe registered plumber at least once a year to keep it working efficiently, safely and properly. If you do it at the beginning of autumn you can rest assured any problems will be found with plenty of time to fix them and you can be sure it will make it through the colder months with no trouble!

#8 Upgrade Fireplace if Needed

If you think your fireplace is on its last legs, perhaps it’s the same one that was in when you bought the house, or you’re trying to be more eco-friendly, look at upgrading to a more efficient, attractive and functional fireplace. With many technological advances, investing in a new fireplace could be the best thing you do this winter. Most come with a long guarantee so you can be confident it will keep you cosy throughout the colder months and with hundreds of styles and designs to choose from, you’re sure to find one to complement your home. Check out the range at Enviro-Flame to find out more!