Kingsman Fireplaces adds to the comfort, aesthetics, and coziness of your house, especially during winters. To ensure that these fireplaces are running smoothly, they need to be well maintained. Proper maintenance of them will ensure that it heats the room efficiently and that it is safe. Here are some of the maintenance tips that you should always keep in mind.
Use good quality firewood.
Knowing the kind of wood used in the fireplace is very important. Don’t always opt for the cheapest firewood that is available. However, the price isn’t always helpful in determining whether the wood is of good quality or not. Woods like oak, birch, and ash burn longer and produce more heat. They are an excellent option for really cold days. Ensure that the wood you are choosing is cleaner and easier to handle. Otherwise, it can cause high levels of creosote build-up. Ensure that the wood hasn’t been exposed to any kind of insects before you get it back home and then store it in a dry place.
Clean the fireplace bricks
The fireplace bricks need to be cleaned. You can either buy a commercial cleaner from the store or use products available in your pantry. The grease build-up can be removed with the help of a mixture of warm water, dishwashing detergent, and some table salt. If you want, you can also add some ammonia and pumice to the solution. This will help to cut through the grease, which is more potent. But if the bricks have been wholly blackened, then you would need an even heavier solution. You can use a combination of hot water with tri-sodium phosphate solution. Cleaning the bricks can get messy. Make sure that you clean them from time to time.
Check for Gaps
Older fireplaces tend to develop some gaps in the brick mortar with time. Carry out an inspection to check for any gaps which might have developed. The gaps occur because of the high levels of heat produced by the fireplace that causes the materials to expand and contract. This, in turn, can cause the mortar to start to loosen and fall, leaving behind gaps. These gaps need to be fixed as soon as possible as they expose the structural elements of the building to fire. When you notice a crack, reach out to the expert. They will fill in the gap with a mineral-based filler. You can also repair it on your own. All you need to do is to procure fireplace mortar from the fireplace store. With the help of a putty knife, you should clean out the loose mortar before chalking the joints.
Reach out to the experts
It is always best to get the experts to carry out a maintenance check now and then. They will be able to examine things which you might miss out on. Hiring the expert to fill in the gap will help ensure that the task has been done correctly.
