Spring Cleaning for Your Wood Burning Fireplace

Spring is finally here, and that means you need to be ready to give your wood stoves a good spring clean. Now that the weather is warming up, you won't need to use your fireplace as much making it the best time to give it a good cleanout. Here's how to clean your stove out to make it sparkle and ready for when you next need it.

Why Clean Out Your Stove?

Cleaning your wood stove is probably not high on your list of priorities. After all, you're burning wood in it every time you use it, so isn't cleaning it rather futile?

It might seem that way, but it's actually essential to give your fireplace an annual cleaning. Soot and dust build up and decrease the effectiveness of your fireplace. It's amazing how much warmer your fireplace will be even after a quick clean. As well as increasing efficiency, cleaning your fireplace gives you the chance to check the whole thing over. You'll be able to look for any issues that have arisen over the last year and get them corrected if you do find anything. Leaving problems over time allows them to get worse, and will likely incur a higher repair bill. Do the check now and nip small problems in the bud now before they become big problems.

Clean Out the Firebox

The first thing to do when cleaning wood pellet stoves is to clean out all the ash that's collected in the firebox. This is fairly simple. At first, you'll just need your trusty dustpan and brush. Sweep up as much ash as you can and dispose of it safely. You might be surprised at how much has collected. Once you've got up everything you can with the brush, it's time to break out the vacuum cleaner. Use a brush attachment and get into every nook and cranny, cleaning up all the ash that was left behind.

Remove the Soot Build Up

Next, you're going to need to remove the soot that's built up on the fireplace over the last year. There are several different methods you can use to do this, depending on what cleaning solutions you like to use in your home.

If you prefer to use regular cleaning products, one cup of bleach and six tablespoons of TSP in a gallon of warm water will do the trick. Use a soft brush to scrub this mixture on the surfaces of your fireplace. Pay close attention to the glass doors. Scrubbing the soot off enables heat to better radiate out of the fireplace. If you want a more natural cleaner, use 50% warm water and 50% white vinegar. This will require more elbow grease but will work just as well. Spray the mixture in the fireplace, and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, scrub it off with a nylon brush. Keep repeating this process until you're satisfied with how the fireplace looks.

Check the Glass And Seals

Now that the fireplace is clean, you can check out the glass and seals to make sure they're still in good condition. Check the glass first. Has it cracked at all? If so, it will need replacing before you use the fireplace again. Next, check your seals. If they're loose, they'll need to be replaced. If you're not sure, place a piece of paper in the fireplace and shut the door. If the seals are in good condition, the paper should not move when you shut the door.

Hire A Chimney Sweeper

Now you need to look at hiring a chimney sweeper who can help clean out the chimney stacks and flues of your wood burning stove. They'll take good care of the surroundings of the fireplace, and won't send dirt and soot tumbling down onto your carpets or soft furnishings. Additionally, they'll inspect the chimney stack, to ensure that everything is in good working order. Now's the time to give your fireplace a good spring cleaning. Sweep out all the ashes, clean off the soot, and inspect the fireplace to ensure it's in good working condition. Finally, hire a chimney sweeper to clean out the chimney and get your fireplace ready for next winter when you'll need it again.