Ahhhhhh, summer. It’s a beautiful time of year filled with sunny days and hot weather. And, as a result, it’s also a time you rarely — if ever — use your fireplace.

But now is the time to ensure that your fireplace and chimney are in proper working order, so that when cooler weather returns, your fireplace is ready to go with no issues. There is maintenance that should be performed this time of year, including:

– Having a professional chimney cleaning service inspect and clean your chimney. If problems are discovered in an inspection, there is still time to have them fixed before you use your fireplace in the fall. And a professional fireplace service will remove creosote from your chimney. Creosote is a dangerous by-product of fires that sticks to the inside of your chimney and can catch on fire in intense heat.

– Thoroughly clean the fireplace, removing all of the ash and soot. Use a wet-dry vacuum and a fireplace shovel to ensure all ash is removed. Furthermore, clean the hearth and the area around the fireplace. A clean hearth will make your fireplace that much more attractive.

– Checking or installing a chimney cap to prevent rain water, animals and other summertime debris from lodging in your chimney. (We can perform chimney cap repair and installation.)

Preparation is key when it comes to your fireplace. Summertime truly is a great time to perform routine maintenance on your fireplace and chimney. Without it, you could find yourself without the use of your fireplace in the fall.

Rooftop Chimney Sweeps Inc. provides all the necessary services you need to maintain your fireplace and chimney this summer, as well as help with any of the masonry around the fireplace or hardscaping. And we service Falls Church, Alexandria, McLean, Washington, D.C., and beyond.

For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment to have your fireplace and chimney cleaned this summer, contact us today.