Signs your Fireplace or Woodstove Needs Maintenance

The Property Manager in Durango, CO would like to see you have a safe and warm winter. A fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove can be an integral part of your cold weather heating system as well as a comfortable place to cuddle up to. For some of our property owners and tenants, this may be the only heat source. To keep them working properly, they require some regular maintenance.

Signs of Problems

In addition to weekly (or more often if this is your only heat source) cleaning, a yearly cleaning and inspection will keep your system working properly and protect you from problems. This is best done during warmer months when it isn’t in daily use. Some signs to watch for that could indicate problems include:
• Oily spots on the walls of the fireplace
• Odors coming from the fireplace
• Black creosote buildup on the damper
• Smoke that won’t rise up the chimney
• Soot falling down the chimney
• Restricted airflow up the chimney
• Animals are inside the chimney

Creosote Concerns

Black oily spots on the walls of the fireplace are a buildup known as creosote. This substance can hinder proper air flow. Creosote has a campfire like odor that you can smell around the fireplace. It may smell good but its flammable and can start chimney fires. Some creosote is easily removed with a chimney brush but once it solidifies into a glazed, glassy texture, it must be chemically removed. There are creosote burning logs or you can get an Anti-Creo-Soot spray or ACS powder that can be added to the fire or to pretreat the wood or pellets. The vapor created attaches to the glazed creosote and converts it to a harmless ash that is easily swept away.

Air Flow Issues

Proper air flow is vital to keeping a fireplace or wood stove working well. If you notice fires are hard to get started or aren’t burning well, or smoke isn’t completely rising up the chimney, first check the damper for creosote build-up. If you hear soot particles falling down the chimney or smoke isn’t rising properly, this is an indication that there is creosote in the chimney. These are all indications that it is time to get the chimney or wood stove serviced. You may also need to increase regular creosote removal efforts during burn season.

Critter Control

Before seasonal use, check to make sure you don’t have birds, mice, squirrels, or other critters nesting in the chimney. You may hear them scurrying inside the chimney or see signs of them or their droppings when inspecting the top of the chimney or flu where the smoke usually comes out. While on the roof, this is a good time to run a chimney brush through the top portion of the chimney. Make sure you prepare first for any soot or nesting material that may fall into the fireplace or stove so you don’t come down to a big mess.

Maintenance and More

For our tenants who are renting, weekly maintenance and cleaning may be all that is required. Check your rental agreement or speak with The Property Manager to see who manages yearly chimney sweeping and servicing. It is in everyone’s interest to keep chimney fires from happening. There are many videos available online to learn how to clean your specific appliance. You may find there are easier ways to complete this task than what you’ve been doing.

Preparing for the Cold

With average mid-winter temperatures for Durango between 11 and 39-degrees Fahrenheit (Dec-Jan)3, a nice cozy fire will keep you warm and comfortable. Prepare in advance to make sure you have seasoned (not wet) wood or pellets on hand to last you throughout the season. Make sure to treat for creosote and clean regularly so your fireplace, woodstove, or pellet stove will keep you comfortable throughout the season.

The Property Manager wishes you a warm winter and would love to help you professionally manage and advise you on your rentals. We’ve been established here in Durango, Colorado for nearly 35 years. Give us a call to set up a time to talk, (970) 259-0222 or you can also send an email to rentalinfo@rentdurango.com.

Footnotes:

1. https://askthechimneysweep.com/2009/03/removing-creosote/
2. https://experthomereport.com/signs-your-chimney-needs-cleaning/
3. https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/usa/durango/climate