Best Ways to Maintain Your Outdoor Fireplace
Any home appliance involving a live flame requires a certain level of maintenance and care. Even though an outdoor fireplace is often maintenance-free, you still need to make sure your fire pit, fireplace or chiminea is in proper working order. Check out the details below.
Keep the Undergrowth Down
Keep all foliage and plants around the fireplace well-maintained and cut back. Overgrowth can be a fire hazard. Avoid planting right next to the fireplace structure. Shrubs and any other plant can attach to the fireplace itself cracks or joints causing materials to deteriorate.
Clean Your Chimney
Check for creosote buildup. Creosote is the residue left over from burning wood. Looking at the creosote can tell, based upon the buildup in the fireplace, if a cleaning is required. Here is how:
- Normally, if you chip some off and it is 1/8th of an inch thick, it is time for a cleaning.
- Less than 1/8th of an inch thick is alright.
- When it is 1/4th-inch or more, you need to refrain from using the unit until you are able to have it cleaned properly.
Grab a broom and sweep out any debris, like leftover burned wood or leaves. Dust debris and ashes off the mantle and hearth. If you have an outdoor shop vacuum, this is a great place to utilize it to remove ash and soot.
Use warm, soapy water and a stiff-bristled brush to clean the outside fireplace surfaces, the mantel, and the hearth. The inside of the fireplace will be harder to clean and may require stronger cleaners to remove buildup. Professional fireplace maintenance is best for difficult spots.
To prevent possible fire hazards, the fireplace flue and chimney should be cleaned and maintained by a professional contractor.
Both of these tasks can easily be completed by an individual with a “do it yourself” mentality. However, if that is not your cup of tea, both can easily be contracted out to your local landscapers and chimney sweeps.
For more information on outdoor fireplaces, feel free to reach out Hi-Tech Appliance at 303-665-0951. We will happily answer any question you may have regarding the design, installation, or maintenance of an outdoor fireplace in Colorado.
