How to Maintain Your Wood Fireplace in MB for Optimal Performance

Fireplaces fueled by wood are an elegant and effective means of heating a home and everyone knows that extended periods of cold weather is a reality of life in Manitoba. However, in order to make the most out of your wood fireplace during the season, then maintenance is mandatory. Proper care not only enhances heat output of the fireplace, but also adds to the furniture’s longevity and prevent home disasters. Here are some important maintenance best practices that can assist you get the best out of your wood fireplace in MB.

 

1. Regular Cleaning and Ash Removal

Perhaps the easiest of all the maintenance tasks is clearing the ashes from the fireplace where the fire is regularly used. In the course of usage, ash gathers at the base of the firebox, thus narrowing the vent for air and recorded combustion efficiency. During colder climate in Manitoba, this can result to poor combustion and high emissions of smoke which affects the warmth in your home.

 

However do not rake this ash to the middle as some amount of ash or around one inch should remain on the bottom for use in relighting the fire. If one wants a thorough cleaning then one has to get rid of all ashes and cinders in the firebox at least once in two weeks or one month if you are a frequent user of the fireplace.

 

A very important note for this should be to always dispose ashes in a metal bin that has a well-fitting lid. The container should be placed outside and well clear of any flammable material, embers can remain hot for several hours after use.

 

2. Inspect and Clean the Chimney Regularly

However, for a wood fireplace to work as it should, your chimney is a very essential component. There are dangers of accumulation of soot, creosote and even other products of burning wood within the chimney. This build up cannot only restrict air flow but also cause chimney fires, which can be hazardous in climates of higher frequency such as Manitoba due to colder climate causing frequent usage of fire.

 

The best way to ensure you get the best performance and safety from the chimney is to hire a chimney sweep to come and clean and inspect the chimney at least once every year. Such checkups will also help diagnose a blockage, like a nest, that may hinder the necessary airflow into the chimney.

 

However, if you own a fireplace that you often need to use, then, you need to clean it more often. As a general recommendation, a chimney should be cleaned whenever the buildup of creosote has reached 1/8 inch on the walls of the chimney flue.

 

3. Check the Damper

The damper helps regulate the flow of air for the fire in the fireplace and out of it, so it must always be in good working order. It should be checked on periodically for correct function due to the fact that a stuck or wrong closed damper lets smoke into your living area or it slows down your fire place.

 

When planning to light a fire, ensure the damper is open, at least fully opened. Finally, be sure to shut it when not in use to avoid releasing heat each time the fireplace is not operational. It is therefore advisable to replace the damper if it is rusty or is in a bad state.

 

4. Ensure Proper Ventilation

If you are going to have a wood fireplace, it is high time that you understand ways on how to let fresh air into the room. Your fire is likely to lack enough oxygen to burn well and this may also result to a billow of smoke into your room. There should always be a straight-through system of how fresh air would get into the fireplace. Occasionally, it is necessary to collect additional vents or make some changes in the inhabitants’ fireplace system to regulate air flow.

 

It should be noted that if your fireplace is connected to your home’s heating system, then a carbon monoxide detector should be placed near to it, as a sign that dangerous levels of gases may be circulating within the home due to a lack of ventilation. Due to sealed homes during Manitoba winters it may become particularly important for air to circulate through a home.

 

5. Use Dry, Seasoned Wood

The type of wood burnt in the fire place also matters just as the maintenance of this important item does. Burning wet or green wood gives more smoke, increases creosote, and makes for inefficient burning of the wood. It is recommended that this wood be used seasoned and well dried for at least six Months. This makes it so that it burns properly and to the best of its ability and is useful in that you don’t have to clean the chimney as often because it doesn’t produce as many creosote deposits that build up in there and interfere with heating.

 

Also do not use burning of treated wood, painted wood or any material which has not been designated for use in the fireplace as this releases dangerous chemicals into the home and environment.

 

6. Inspect the Firebox and Surrounding Areas

Check the firebox and the fireplace surround and the hearth for some aspects of deterioration periodically. Some signs that a repair may be needed include: They smell, they are cracks, they are warped, or there are loose bricks to help the structure remain safe for use. In the case that the firebox lining is worn or corroded it will hamper the distribution of heat as well as combustion qualities. If you find large problems you should really call a professional to inspect the fireplace as well as repair it.

 

Final Thoughts

The following are simple but efficient ways which will help in the maintenance of the wood fireplaces in MB so as to continue serving in giving the much needed warm during the cold periods. Cleaning, chimney, type of wood, correct working of all the components of the fireplace are all essential to get the maximum performance and safety in relation to fireplaces. Not only will this allow you to get more use out of your wood fireplace, providing your home with safety and warmth for many a winter, but it will also help to improve the comfort of these proceedings.

 

Even if you often fire up your fire and often or once in a while, you need to practice consistent maintenance. Thus, you have to be on the lookout for one and make sure that your wood fireplace is ready for the chilly winters of Manitoba.