With autumn and winter approaching but not yet in full swing, now is the perfect time to get your fireplace up and running. Autumn is a busy season for fireplace professionals, so book cleaning and servicing in advance.
CLEAR CLUTTER
Your possessions accumulate around the fireplace when you are not using it during summer: magazines, new decor you just haven't found a home for, and other odds and ends that tend to clutter an unused space over time. Before using your fireplace again, clear all these items away. The same goes for rugs or furnishings you may have picked up over the summer. It is also important to ensure anything flammable is clear of the hearth before you start using your fireplace again.
CLEAN THE CHIMNEY
Before lighting the first fire of the season, a thorough inspection of your chimney is recommended. Depending on what materials you burn, creosote and soot can build up over time, requiring cleaning to keep the fireplace in good condition. GC Fires recommends cleaning once a year for regularly used fireplaces and every two years when rarely used. It's best to hire a professional cleaning service to avoid safety issues.
CLEAN THE HEARTH
Any solid-fuel fireplace (in other words, wood or coal) must have a hearth as per National Building Regulations. For the hearth to do its job, it needs to be completely free of combustible materials. When cleaning, clear away ashes and debris from previous fires and make sure your firewood is stored in a safe area.
DO GAS MAINTENANCE
Gas fireplaces don't need the same level of cleaning as woodburning fireplaces. However, they do need to be serviced annually and checked for leaks and safety concerns. You'll need a professional for this task a gas installer certified by the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPG...
CLEAR CLUTTER
Your possessions accumulate around the fireplace when you are not using it during summer: magazines, new decor you just haven't found a home for, and other odds and ends that tend to clutter an unused space over time. Before using your fireplace again, clear all these items away. The same goes for rugs or furnishings you may have picked up over the summer. It is also important to ensure anything flammable is clear of the hearth before you start using your fireplace again.
CLEAN THE CHIMNEY
Before lighting the first fire of the season, a thorough inspection of your chimney is recommended. Depending on what materials you burn, creosote and soot can build up over time, requiring cleaning to keep the fireplace in good condition. GC Fires recommends cleaning once a year for regularly used fireplaces and every two years when rarely used. It's best to hire a professional cleaning service to avoid safety issues.
CLEAN THE HEARTH
Any solid-fuel fireplace (in other words, wood or coal) must have a hearth as per National Building Regulations. For the hearth to do its job, it needs to be completely free of combustible materials. When cleaning, clear away ashes and debris from previous fires and make sure your firewood is stored in a safe area.
DO GAS MAINTENANCE
Gas fireplaces don't need the same level of cleaning as woodburning fireplaces. However, they do need to be serviced annually and checked for leaks and safety concerns. You'll need a professional for this task a gas installer certified by the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPG...
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South African Garden And Home (Digital) - 1 Issue, Garden&Home; March 2024