How To Prepare My Fireplace For The Off-Season

Whether you use your fireplace, stove, or insert every day or occasionally, end-of-season maintenance items should be done.  Doesn’t matter if it’s wood, gas, or pellets; you’re wise to follow through with these preparations sooner rather than later.

Here’s why.

INTERESTING STATISTICS

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), about two-thirds of house fires are related to electrical problems and cooking incidents. One in ten is related to heating with wood. However, seasonally adjusted, heating with wood accounts for over 40% of house fires.

Since so many people choose to heat with wood, here’s a checklist of items that should be done every year to your wood burner as the heating season ends.

WOOD BURNING

Schedule a chimney inspection and cleaning.

Schedule a chimney inspection

There’s a reason this is number one on the list. An experienced, trained eye must inspect your chimney at least once every year. In fact, it’s an NFPA 211 code requirement. With a thorough inspection and cleaning, any repairs can be identified and corrected before becoming a serious, dangerous, and expensive problem.

Creosote buildup in your fireplace chimney

A comprehensive cleaning will avoid any serious buildup of creosote. Keep in mind that professional chimney sweeps are very popular in the summer and fall! So, schedule an appointment with them early.

Close the damper.

This may sound elementary, but you would be surprised by the number of fireplace dampers that are seldom closed. If there is no fire in the fireplace, make sure the damper is in the fully closed position to prevent heat loss.

Clean the catalytic combustor.

Many stoves, inserts, and fireplaces use a catalytic combustor as part of the appliance’s reburn system. If your appliance has one, it must be cleaned regularly during the burning season.

It should definitely be on your “don’t forget to-do this” list in the spring, right after your last fire. The procedure for cleaning the combustor will be outlined in your owner’s manual.

Install a cap and/or spark screen.

Every fireplace, stove, and insert should have a stainless steel cap to keep out snow and rain.

Depending on the wood moisture, a spark screen can build with creosote. If left unchecked, this will seriously restrict the fire draft.

Side note: Here’s another use for a spark screen on your chimney cap. If you have problems with furry uninvited guests who prefer nesting in your chimney instead of a hollow tree, in that case, you might want to consider one. This author actually removes the spark screen during the burning season and replaces it during the off-season. It’s been affectionately renamed the ‘critter screen’!

Remove the ashes from the firebox.

Remove ash for off season cleaning in your fireplace

Sweep up any ashes and bits of wood coals after the last fire of the year.

Clean the glass and inspect the gasket material.

How to clean your fireplace glass

It just takes a couple minutes to clean up the glass. Be sure to use a glass cleaner from your WE LOVE FIRE dealer. If the gasket is getting brittle or pieces are starting to chip off, it’s time to replace it. We don’t want any air infiltrating around the glass.

Install glass doors or consider an insert.

If you still have a fireplace without a set of doors, you are wasting a lot of money, losing heat.

Ask your WE LOVE FIRE expert about installing a set of doors to control heat loss and improve safety. Better yet, consider installing an insert into the fireplace opening. Efficiencies will improve up to 75%!

First Fire, Fresh Batteries in Fire detectorF-F-F-B!

How about a new acronym? “First Fire, Fresh Batteries”! This is just a friendly reminder and something to keep in mind in the fall as you plan for that first fire. Make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are operational with new batteries as you head into the heating season.

 

Consider trimming overhanging trees.

If you have a situation where tree limbs are getting too close and beginning to interfere with the chimney, then the off-season is the time to cut them back.

NATURAL OR LP GAS

Pilot light on gas fireplaceGetting prepared for the off-season with a gas fireplace easy. Normally the biggest question is, “Should I shut off the pilot light”? Read the link. It boils down to personal preference as there are pros and cons for either choice.

You will definitely want to clean the inside of the glass with a gas fireplace glass cleaner from your WE LOVE FIRE dealer. Do not use a regular window glass cleaner. The gasketing should also be inspected with the glass removed.

If you are not able or simply not interested in doing this sort of chore, this is something your local WE LOVE FIRE dealer can do for you. Among other things, this should be part of the maintenance routine:

  • Checking gas pressure
  • Adjusting the air/fuel ratio
  • Enhancing the ember bed
  • Electronically sniffing for gas leaks
  • Cleaning the inside of the glass

PELLET EQUIPMENT

If you are burning pellets, you should already be keenly aware of the regular, routine maintenance that must be done on the equipment. Because of their low moisture content, burning pellets will produce an extremely fine, powdery ash. Since this ash accumulates on the interior surfaces and heat exchange area. It must be removed regularly during the heating season and after the last fire in the spring.

Additionally, many manufacturers recommend running a pellet vent brush through the exhaust system to get rid of any fly ash build-up. It’s important to ensure all venting connections are tightly resealed with a gasketing material (typically designed in the vent pipe) or silicone.

Another good idea is to intentionally let the pellet stove run out of fuel in the springtime. Keeping pellets for any time in the storage bin, especially in humid conditions, is not a good idea. It’s been known to clog up the drive and feed system.

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service ()

Auburn, AL

Top Hat Chimney Sweeps
1280 Financial Ct.
Auburn, AL 36830

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Elk Grove, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
9097 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Sacramento, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
5455 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

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Durango, CO

Durango Outdoor Living
140 Rock Point Drive
Durango, CO 81301

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Durango, CO

Four Corner Stoves & Spas
3001 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301

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Grand Junction, CO

Stove Depot and Chimney Works
330 North Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81501

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New London, CT

Family Hearth and Patio LLC
571 Broad Street
New London, CT 06320

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Ridgefield, CT

Yankee Doodle, Inc.
71 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877

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Dover, DE

Byler's Stove Shoppe Inc.
1368b Rose Valley School Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

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Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Bettendorf, IA

Fireplaces Plus, Inc.
1745 State Street
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Post Falls, ID

Quality Stoves & Home Furnishings
569 N Syringa St
Post Falls, ID 83854

Rockford, IL

Advanced Chimney Systems, Inc.
3486 Lonergan Drive
Rockford, IL 61109

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Wauconda, IL

Grass Roots Energy, Inc.
28751 N Route 12
Wauconda, IL 60084

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Evansville, IN

Firemaster, Inc.
5300 E Morgan Avenue
Evansville, IN 47715

Jeffersonville, IN

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales
915 Nachand Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales LogoVisit Store Page

Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Fireplace Center
10470 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212

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Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

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Littleton, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
60 White Street
Littleton, MA 01460

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Seekonk, MA

The Fireplace Showcase
775 Fall River Ave
Seekonk, MA 02771

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Sudbury, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
348 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776

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Duluth, MN

Duluth Stove & Fireplace
2431 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

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Minneapolis, MN

Woodland Stoves & Fireplaces
2901 Franklin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Oakdale, MN

Energy Savers of Minnesota
6298 Highway 36 Blvd N
Oakdale, MN 55128

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Rochester, MN

Brekke Fireplace Shoppe
1904 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

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Walker, MN

Wilkening Fireplace Company
9608 State 371 NW
Walker, MN 56484

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Fargo, ND

Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc.
701 28th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

Omaha, NE

Fireplace By Design
13913 R Plaza
Omaha, NE 68137

Epping, NH

The Stove Shoppe
285, Calef Highway Rte. 125
Epping, NH 03042

Windham, NH

The Stove Shoppe
25 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087

Hamilton, NJ

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home
1731 Nottingham Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home LogoVisit Store Page

Voorhees, NJ

Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.
476 Centennial Blvd
Voorhees, NJ 08043

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St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

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Media, PA

Chimney Cricket
101 State Road
Media, PA 19063

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Rapid City, SD

Hebron Brick Company
1543 Deadwood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57709

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Sioux Falls, SD

Hebron Brick Company
2211 W. 50th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525

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Vermillion, SD

Kalin's Indoor Comfort Inc.
710 Cottage Avenue
Vermillion, SD 57069

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Manassas, VA

Winston's Chimney Service
11301 Industrial Road
Manassas, VA 20109

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Barre, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10
Barre, VT 05641-2317

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Bennington, VT

Friends of The Sun
126 Hicks Avenue
Bennington, VT 05201

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Manchester, VT

Friends of The Sun
159 Depot Street
Manchester, VT 05255

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Shelburne, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
3113 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482

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White River Jnct, VT

Home Comfort of New England
1255 VA Cut Off Road
White River Jnct, VT 05001

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Burlington, WI

Burlington Fireplace & Heating LLC
857 Milwaukee Ave.
Burlington, WI 53105

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Madison, WI

Top Hat
5117 Verona Rd
Madison, WI 53711

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Morgantown, WV

Rustic By Design
709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15
Morgantown, WV 26505

Laramie, WY

High Country Stoves & Fireplaces
860 N. 3rd Street
Laramie, WY 82072


For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

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