Can I Use My Fireplace this Summer?

You know that in summer you can do things like swim, soak up the sun, go camping, and crank up your air conditioner. Every year, there are some who ask, “Can I use my fireplace this summer?” In the Richmond VA area, it’s probably too hot all season to use the fireplace.

Even if you are willing to risk freezing up your air conditioning unit to sit by a fire in summer, it may not work. The principle of heat rising is affected by hot outdoor temperatures. So, the chimney draft may not work, which means the fumes would go into your home instead of outside. That’s never a good thing because fires produce toxic gases! There are two ways you can, in a way, use your fireplace in summer, though, as follows.

Schedule Chimney Cleaning

An outstanding way to use your fireplace in summer is to schedule a chimney cleaning. This will help make sure your fireplace is ready come winter. But it can also make your home more pleasant in summer. The humidity and heat of the season can result in bad odors that come down through the chimney.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it’s possible that layers of creosote are obstructing the chimney flue. You will avoid a potentially dangerous chimney fire or worse by getting qualified chimney sweeps to clean your chimney in summer.

Schedule a Chimney Inspection

You can use your fireplace in summer to get ready for winter! Fire safety experts agree that everyone with a chimney should schedule an annual inspection, even if the fireplace is never used! Just one of the reasons for that is that masonry is subject to moisture damage. It can be very costly to ignore chimney maintenance.

For example, during the past winter season, moisture may have infiltrated some of your masonry. Moisture damage is a common issue because there are so many ways water can get into a chimney system. The chimney crown may be deteriorating, which means water could enter the masonry through a crack at the top of the chimney. The chimney flashing may no longer have a watertight seal, resulting in moisture intrusion. The mortar may have started flaking and breaking off, which leaves masonry vulnerable when it rains.

The big problem with moisture is this: In freezing and thawing cycles in winter, water inside masonry expands and contracts. This movement eventually destroys the bricks. They go flat, and a partial or complete chimney rebuild will be necessary. By the way, summer is the best time for chimney masonry repairs.

Call Chimney Pros in Richmond VA for a Chimney Inspection this Summer

Be sure not to forget your chimney this summer because, at the very least, a chimney inspection should be scheduled. For a chimney sweep in Richmond VA, the best you can do is call Chimney Saver Solutions. Our chimney experts are CSIA-certified, which means that their qualifications are second to none. Chimney maintenance is so important because it saves you money in the long run. If you need chimney cleaning, masonry repair, chimney flashing repair, chimney crown repair, damper replacement, fireplace installation, or help with a leaky chimney, contact Chimney Saver Solutions.

Call us at 804-440-5000. Our chimney experts are happy to answer any questions you may have, like, “Can I use my fireplace this summer?” You can also fill out our online form to schedule an appointment today.