Winter means cranking up the fireplace for so many Minnesotans! Nothing provides an earthier or more meaningful way to keep warm than the sentimental wood-burning chimney effort! The odor, the crackle, the trance-inducing fire, all of it adds up to you and yours frequently sitting around the fireplace to enjoy family time.
The fireplace is not all roses, sunshine and warmth. Often that and the overall chimney network can be hazards if not properly cared for and maintained from the cold to warm to cold parts of the year in an annual cycle. As public insurance adjusters in the Twin Cities, so many of your acquaintances, colleagues, family and friends have been assisted in the event of their home being victim to damage in the form of beyond desired chimney fire.
Being that the fireplace is something that is annually shut down only to be reawakened at a later date, you need to, once a year, right before or right after winter, have that chimney professionally inspected and cleaned. When a standard house-warming fire burns in your fireplace, creosote begins to form. It accumulates and builds up with each subsequent fire. This black and sticky flammable substance should be cleaned regularly to prevent it from igniting and causing a fire at a place with your chimney that you do not want it to be.
Make sure that the wood you are burning is dried and cured (Your logs need to be split, dried for 8 to 12 months). Stack these logs so that it has a cover on top of it, leaving openings on their sides to accomplish proper air flow. Do not utilize lumber scraps, construction scraps, painted wood or other pieces of treated wood. These types of wood could release harmful chemicals into your home, and it could affect the indoor air quality at your house. You can use starter logs to start the fire if you need to, but just be sure to use only one of them at a time since they burn very hot.
Always utilize the damper when your fireplace is not in use. This will help keep the warm air currently occupying your home from getting out. When actively burning a fire in the fireplace, make sure you keep the doors of the fireplace open to allow the heat of the fire to get into the room.
These helpful tips can eliminate a worst case scenario from unfolding within your home. No disaster equals not having to call on your insurance company. If you do find yourself in the undesirable position of having to deal with your insurance company alone, hire some public insurance adjusters in the Twin Cities area. Call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677), or you can contact us to set up your Free Consultation.
