Winter Chimney Upgrades for Improved Efficiency

What better way to enjoy a cozy winter night than sitting by the fireplace with your family and friends? The crackle of the wood puts you in that relaxed mood. Fireplaces appeal to many for their ambiance, but they can bring a second source of warmth to the home.  The efficiency of your fireplace is important. You don’t want to throw money up the chimney. 

Let us talk about how you can assure yourself that you are doing the best at running an efficient fireplace. A burning fireplace can cost a homeowner a large amount of money.

Annual Chimney Cleaning

A most efficient fireplace is a clean one. Soot and creosote will build up on your chimney every time you burn a fire. Throughout the spring and summer months, debris and leaves can fall into your chimney. Small animals love to find their way into your chimney to nest. To a small animal, an open chimney looks like a hollow tree trunk. A clean chimney free of all these things will allow your fire to burn better.

Chimney Inspection

Now is the time to get your chimney inspected. You will want to have done everything you can for a safe fire-burning season. Call Felgemacher Masonry and Chimney to have your chimney inspected. It is a good idea to get a chimney inspection before your burning season, this is great for safety’s sake. If there are issues found, it’s best to know about them before you start to light a fire.  We will be happy to help you make the best decisions for your budget. 

Closing your damper

As you can imagine, there are many places where the heat can escape. Be sure to close the damper when you are not burning a fire. Cold air will find a way to get in. Also, be sure your damper is sealed. It won’t cost much to seal your damper. Ask your technician when they are there for the inspection. Many people choose to add a top mounting damper for a better seal. If you are not sure whether there is a draft or not, do this simple test. Take a match, blow it out, and put it up the chimney near the damper. If the smoke doesn’t go up the chimney you have a draft, and it should be looked at. 

Wood vs Gas

You can replace your wood-burning fireplace with a gas insert. Contact us at FMC and we will discuss the options with you. Having a gas insert not only is more efficient and will save you money, but it is also cleaner. You won’t have to worry about running out of wood and it is as easy as turning a switch. 

Call us for your chimney inspection or chimney sweep. Felgemacher Masonry and Chimney can help you with all your chimney needs. 

You can also call us directly at 716-907-4914 (Buffalo) or 585-308-4914 (Rochester) or contact us with our simple online contact form.

A clean chimney is a safe chimney, and we’ll keep yours as safe and efficient as it can be.