here’s nothing greater than a night spent ahead of the fireside as storms undergo. And its nights like that which make it worthwhile to require care of your home’s hearth. For the foremost part, taking care of your chimney and hearth is straightforward, especially once you’ve lit a couple of fires.In this article I have outlined the best practices for Chimney Cleaning in Kenya
But just in case this is often your first time owning a home with a hearth, we’ve cataloged some “best practices” that you simply can utilize to make sure that your fires are safe. Grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, pull your laptop over to the rocker by the hearth, and follow the following pointers as you light a fireplace the proper way, in order that you get the foremost out of your fireplace.
Read: best microwave repair in Nairobi
Safety Precautions
First thing’s first, you ought to confirm that you simply have all of the tools that you’ll need within arm’s reach, in order that you’ll manage your fire easily. Here are a couple of safety tools that you simply should invest in:
- Fireplace tools and holder: you’ll find fireplace tool sets that have all of the essential tools that you’ll got to move wood and ash, without making a multitude or a hazard. Find a group that features a shovel (for ash), a poker (to help move wood around), tongs (for an equivalent purpose), and a brush (to pack up any remaining ash). Most sets accompany a dangling rack which will be placed near the fireside for convenience.
- Mesh screen: Embers are often a hazard, which is why you would like to stay them contained. For the foremost part, your fireplace will keep its embers from flying out into your home. However, a backdraft through the chimney or air moving through your home can send embers flying. A mesh screen helps to contain those embers, especially larger embers which can find yourself starting a fireplace. Get a mesh screen that matches the dimensions and shape of your fireplace, and keep the screen in situ when a fireplace is lit and you aren’t actively maintaining the hearth.
- Ash bucket: After every fire, you’ll be left with a pile of soot. Keep an ash bucket handy to scoop all of the ash that is still after your fires. Make certain to let the embers, ash, and leftover wood cool to the touch before you eliminate any ash. Cool ash are often utilized in compost (be sure to not use too much!), and it are often used as an ice melt, among other things!
- Andirons: Andirons (or firedogs) are fireplace brackets that delay the wood of a fireplace. This easy device enables better air circulation, in order that your fire burns hotter and with less smoke. Additionally, andirons can help to stay the hearth contained and in-place while wood rests on the brackets. You’ll find andirons of all kinds of designs.
- Wood holder: If you don’t have an area to store wood that’s near your fire, you’ll invest during a holder to stay dry wood handy. Just make certain to stay your wood holder well far away from the fireside itself, since a loose ember may ignite the wood within the holder. You’ll find fire boxes, fire carriers, and other furnishings to carry your firewood.
- Fire gloves: Protect your hands with a pair of fireside gloves. These gloves are designed to handle high heat, so you’ll adjust the logs in your fire without fear about embers scalding your hands. We propose extra-long gloves, since they supply protection for your wrist and a part of your arm, also as your hand.
- Hearth rug: If you’ve got hardwood or carpet flooring near your fireplace, then it’s susceptible to ignite, or it’s going to be damaged by hot embers that choose the surface, leaving their mark. You’ll invest during a hearth rug that’s designed to securely catch any flying embers. These rugs are flame-resistant, in order that they shouldn’t ignite because of those embers. Plus, you’ll find a spread of rugs altogether kinds of designs, so you’ll match the aesthetic of your home.
Read: best fridge repair in Nairobi
Use the proper Wood
Now that you simply have all of the tools and equipment that you simply got to make the foremost of your fireplace, it’s time to create a fireplace. Take note, however, that you simply can’t use any wood that you simply determine there. you ought to be picky with the wood that you simply use in your fireplace, since certain sorts of wood are often toxic, and that they can leave soot build up in your chimney (which may result during a chimney fire if you don’t have your chimney regularly cleaned!). So let’s re-evaluate good wood that you simply should use for your fireplace, also as an inventory of bad wood sources which will be damaging and dangerous.
Read : Best cooker and electrical oven repair in nairobi
The Good Stuff
In general, you would like to seek out dry hardwoods to form your fires safe and pleasant. Plus, hardwoods tend to burn longer than softwoods, and that they may produce more heat, counting on the wood species. We recommend the subsequent hardwoods, which are prized for his or her fire-producing characteristics:
- Birch: Birch is a superb burning material, and its bark is a natural Firestarter. Simply peel off a couple of strips, place it at the bottom of your fire alongside some kindling, strike a match, and voilà!
- Oak: Oak is very dense, and it’s an incredible hardwood for lengthy fires. You’ll sit ahead of a couple of logs of oak for an hour or more before the logs peter out. Oak could also be harder than birch to start out, but once it’s rolling it’ll last and last.
- Ash: Ash produces a uniform flame, and it’s fairly easy to ignite. Plus, ash is filled with energy, so it produces a warmer flame.
- Wood bricks: Nowadays, you’ll find fireplace-safe wood bricks that are designed to supply a uniform flame with little smoke.
Read: best office chair repair in Nairobi
The Bad Stuff
- Softwoods: As we mentioned, softwoods produce more soot. These smokier woods also burn quickly, which may make a fireplace more of a chore. Reserve your softwoods for outdoor fires (they make great fire starters, as long as you’re outdoors!).
- Wet wood: Wet wood will resist burning. Plus, it’ll produce more smoke because it ignites. Wet wood simply isn’t ideal, whether you’re inside by the fireside, or outside by the firepit.
- Endangered wood species: Be mindful that some species of wood are endangered. Search local restrictions before lowering any trees for firewood.
- Bushes, leaves, and other junk: Keep trash, leaves, and bushes out of your fireplace. These things and objects are often smoky, or downright toxic. You ought to never burn trash, indoors or outdoors.
Clean Your Chimney Regularly
This one’s big: Clean your chimney! Your chimney will inevitably build up soot, and this soot can actually ignite if enough buildup is stuck to the flue. When that happens, your chimney will light ablaze, which may easily spread to the remainder of your home. We recommend cleaning your chimney flue once per annum for those that use their chimneys regularly. you ought to even have your chimney inspected a minimum of once per annum — if not cleaned — to make sure that soot and creosote don’t build up excessively along the flue, and to make sure that no other blockages have occurred (e.g. bird nests, leaves, etc.).
Count on Nextgen Solutions Chimney Services
For your yearly cleanings and inspections, you’ll can can count the chimney care professionals her at Nextgen Solutions. We work throughout Nairobi, and the surrounding Counties. Give us a call on 0729150253 to schedule your chimney service and your fireplace.
Best sofa refurbishment services