Preparing Your Chimney for Cozy Thanksgiving Gatherings

Using your fireplace at Thanksgiving often makes you feel like you are living in a Norman Rockwell painting. Being surrounded by loved ones with a crackling fire dutifully burning away in your fireplace is something to be treasured. Preparing your chimney for cozy Thanksgiving gatherings is a wise thing to do. Read on to learn how to go about it.

Have Your Chimney Inspected Before Thanksgiving

Creosote Buildup in Your Chimney

If it’s been a long time since you used your fireplace, it’s wise to have it inspected before you use it at Thanksgiving. There could be a buildup of a substance called Creosote in your chimney from all the wood you burned in your fireplace last winter. Creosote is a concern because it is a highly flammable substance that can easily cause a chimney fire or worse. If you have a creosote buildup in your chimney, then a professional sweep service will have to clean it. They will use specialized brushes and cleaning solutions to remove the creosote and protect your chimney.

Blockages in Your Chimney

Another reason to have your chimney inspected is due to blockages. Why are blockages hazardous? Because if you have a blockage in your chimney, it will force smoke and dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide back into your house. It could be fatal if your family and pets breathe in any of these gases.

Over the summer, when you were not using your chimney, you may have had debris enter your chimney, such as leaves, pine needles, and trash; all of these can cause a blockage. If your chimney does not have a cap, consider installing one to prevent debris from getting into it.

A raccoon or family of birds may have chosen to make your chimney their home during the warmer months and will have the chimney completely blocked by Thanksgiving. A qualified chimney sweep service can remove nests so they won’t block your chimney. 

Chimney Safety at Thanksgiving

Having family and friends gathered around your fireplace makes safety of the utmost importance. After your chimney is inspected and free of blockages, you should install a fire detector and a carbon monoxide detector fifteen feet from your fireplace. Ensuring the safety of your loved ones and pets should always be your top priority.

Use Seasoned Wood at Thanksgiving

You should use seasoned wood in your fireplace this Thanksgiving; if not, there will be a smoke issue. Use wood that has been dried for six months; it will burn more efficiently and produce less smoke, thereby producing less creosote.

Don’t Overdo It

We have all heard the term “relaxing by a roaring fire,” but a roaring fire is a safety hazard. Not only will a smaller fire burn longer, it will produce less smoke and creosote. Use smaller amounts of seasoned wood for the best results in your fireplace.

Clear the Space Around Your Fireplace

Thanksgiving decorations, furniture, curtains, and the like can cause a significant fire hazard. Move any possibly flammable items at least three feet away from your fireplace. With space between your fireplace, furniture, and curtains, hot embers are less likely to reach them and start a fire.

Let Burlington Fireplace Prepare Your Fireplace for Thanksgiving

In the wider Burlington area, to have your fireplace inspected before Thanksgiving, get in contact today. We will schedule our experienced and knowledgeable chimney sweeps to inspect and repair your fireplace. You can trust us to take care of any issues with your chimney quickly and without disrupting your household. So, if you want a cozy Thanksgiving by your fireplace, no one is better than Burlington Fireplace to help you.