With spring still a few weeks away, many people are still relying on their home heating systems for warmth. If your primary source of heat is a wood stove, there are a few maintenance tips you should enlist. The following will keep the system running efficiently and safely. 

Do:

Clean the stove pipe frequently.

To prevent accidental fires, the stove pipe should be cleaned on a regular basis, as soon as you see a layer of soot forming on the surface. It should only be an eighth of an inch thick. Otherwise, excessive amounts of creosote will build up. Highly combustible and corrosive, this chemical byproduct is created by inefficient fires that don't fully burn up. When too much of it accumulates, a chimney fire could spontaneously break out.

Schedule a professional chimney inspection.

At least once a year, have a professional chimney and fireplace contractor inspect your wood stove and chimney. They’ll look for any cracks, abnormal staining, or structural damage to ensure everything is safe. They can also help you determine how often you should be cleaning your stove pipe.

Don’t:

Store any ashes indoors.

To fully avoid the possibility of a fire starting up again, always keep the ashes in a non-flammable container and store it outdoors. Wait at least a complete day after a fire has gone out, so that the ashes are cold, and carefully shovel the ashes into something like a metal bucket with a lid. Then, wait another three days before disposing of it.

Ignore smoke that puffs back toward you.

Smoke should always go upwards into the chimney. When it’s going back into your home, it could be caused by a number of things; including, but not limited to cold air, a poor pipe layout, creosote build up, cold air in the chimney, and obstructions. The next time it happens, have a chimney contractor inspect the situation ASAP.

If you’re in the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area and need to have your wood stove inspected or the pipe cleaned, call Charlie’s Chimney Sweeps at (513) 553-0229. Experienced, reliable, and always courteous, they offer thorough inspections, cleaning, and repairs at reasonable rates. To learn more about these services, visit their website.