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Fireplace Maintenance QUESTIONS ANSWERED
With more people lighting their fireplaces in the winter, we often hear questions about fireplace safety and fireplace maintenance. You may even have a few questions of your own. This month, let’s look at three of those questions.
• If you use your fireplace frequently during the chilly season • When you use a cord of wood (4’ x 4’ x 8’) • After 100 uses
This is the first year I have smoke coming into my home when I light a fire. What happened?
How are chimneys and fireplaces cleaned?
When was the last time you had your chimney cleaned? Creosote, a tar-like substance, builds up in the flue and may suppress the proper upward flow of the smoke. Whenever our skilled fireplace and chimney technicians clean a chimney, we also have a certified chimney inspector do a complete inspection of the fireplace and chimney. This way, you know exactly what the problem is and we can recommend a solution.
Our technicians start in the house, covering up the opening of the
fireplace with heavy plastic. They also cover any furniture situated near the fireplace. Then, they go up to the roof and sweep the inside of the chimney twice from the top down. After that, the technicians come back into the house, carefully open the plastic, and vacuum out the fireplace. They sweep the inside of the fireplace and vacuum the remaining debris. Finally, they carefully remove the plastic and work hard to avoid letting any of the chimney dust into the home.
How often should I clean my fireplace?
It comes down to how often you use your fireplace. Here are a few good rules of thumb to use to determine when you get your fireplace and chimney cleaned:
MEME CORNER
Slow Cooker Raspberry White Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
• 1 cup white chocolate chips • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups heavy cream, divided • 3 cups milk (any variety will do)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
Directions
1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. 3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
(Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.)
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