Tips for Maintaining Your Quality Custom Fireplace

custom fireplace

Having a custom fireplace can change the way that you enjoy your home. It adds ambiance and creates a perfect gathering place for friends and family. It can also reduce your reliance on central heating, lowering your utility bills in the winter.

However, three in ten house fires are caused by poorly maintained fireplaces. Plus, your fire place may start to work with less efficiency if you don’t take good care of it.

Today, we’re going to talk about the basic fireplace maintenance you should commit to once you have your new custom fireplace. We’ll discuss cleaning tips, inspections, and signs that you need professional intervention.

Read on for easy-to-follow tips to maintain your quality custom fireplace.

Wood-Burning Custom Fireplace Maintenance

Wood-burning fireplaces tend to require the most maintenance. That’s because when you burn wood to produce heat, you’re left with materials like creosote and soot. Let’s take a look at some regular cleaning tips for your wood-burning fireplace as well as the professional maintenance you’ll need to invest in.

Cleaning

To keep your home clean and your fireplace safe to use, you’ll want to clean the firebox and hearth between each use. Cover the surrounding floor with a drop cloth while you sweep the ash from the firebox into a container. You can throw this ash away in an outdoor trash can or add it to your soil for an influx of nutrients.

Always wait at least 12 hours before you start cleaning out your firebox. After removing ash from the firebox, you can sweep up the hearth and scrub it with a gentle solution of water and dish soap. 

Professional Maintenance

Once a year, request a professional inspection to ensure that your chimney is intact and ventilating properly. We also urge you to hire a professional chimney sweep to deep clean your chimney and fireplace, particularly if you use your fireplace often.

Professional cleaning will remove a dangerous substance called creosote. Creosote is a buildup of smoke residue that can release toxic fumes and catch fire. By removing the creosote once a year, you can drastically reduce the chances of a chimney fire while protecting your indoor air quality. 

Gas Custom Fireplace Maintenance

A gas fireplace can last up to 15 years before you’ll want to invest in a replacement. The best way to make sure you get the most out of your gas fireplace is to stay on top of maintenance. While gas fireplaces don’t need nearly as much attention as a wood-burning fireplace, there are still steps you’ll want to take from time to time to keep it clean and efficient.

Cleaning

Gas fireplaces can start to develop of a film of dust and grime that you’ll want to remove once or twice a year. Before you start cleaning your gas fireplace, turn it off and let it cool down. The glass cover on a gas fireplace can become very hot, and this is where you’ll focus much of your cleaning efforts.

Don’t reach for your regular glass cleaning products for this one. Get a fireplace glass cleaner and spray the glass before wiping it down with a clean cloth. Then, vacuum the decorative rocks or logs inside of the firebox and wipe down the fireplace trim and mantle.

Professional Maintenance

When you’re cleaning your gas fireplace, you’re bound to notice issues like deteriorating gas rocks or logs. Replace these as needed or when the manufacturer says that it’s time. 

Some gas fireplace maintenance issues aren’t easy to spot. Hire a professional gas fireplace inspector to make sure that all of the connectors, valves, vents, and other components are working efficiently. 

Electric Custom Fireplace Maintenance

An electric fireplace is the most low-maintenance option of all. Without a real flame, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any residue from smoke. However, there are still a few tips worth sharing so that you can get the most out of your custom electric fireplace.

Cleaning

The biggest issue you’ll face with an electric fireplace is dust. Before you get started removing dust from your electric fireplace, turn it off, unplug it, and let it cool down. Then, grab a clean, dry microfiber cloth and a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.

First, open or remove the glass cover and wipe away dust from either side. If you need to remove smudges from the glass, use fireplace glass cleaning products, specifically. Then, use your soft brush attachment and gently vacuum away dust from the heating vents and any decorative components like logs.

Professional Maintenance 

Electric fireplaces don’t require an annual inspection. In fact, you’ll know if you need to schedule professional maintenance. The fireplace will stop producing heat or start driving up your energy bill, indicating that there’s an efficiency issue.

Keep in mind that the more you use your electric fireplace, the sooner it will need maintenance. If you keep if running for hours at a time all winter long, you may need to replace a few parts in the first few years. However, most people don’t need to do anything to enjoy their electric fireplace for years at a time.

Come to Dreifuss for Your New Fireplace

Your custom fireplace can transform your home, making it the coziest place on the block. To get the most out of your new fireplace, you’ll need to commit to some basic fireplace maintenance. Use this guide to make sure that you’re giving your fireplace the TLC it needs.

Are you ready to get a new custom fireplace of your own? Now that you know what it takes to maintain one, it’s time to start coming up with your design. Contact us at Dreifuss Fireplaces to start your custom fireplace project.

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