To-Do #3: Inspect and Clean Fireplace and Chimney
Cold weather’s coming, which means warming up next to a cozy fireplace is on the way! Before lighting a fire in your fireplace, it’s a good idea to have a chimney sweep inspect the fireplace and chimney and clean it if needed.
Make sure the chimney sweep is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Even better, look for someone who’s a F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Repair, and Education) Certified Inspector. That way you can feel confident the person is qualified to assess and repair both chimney and fireplace problems and also to spot potential fire dangers in and around the unit.
Fireplace inspections should be done every year, as well as when purchasing a home, especially if you don’t know the condition of the fireplace.
After performing the inspection, the chimney sweep will make recommendations for repair or cleaning. Generally, chimneys should be cleaned when the creosote buildup reaches 1/4″ or more.
The ends of our concrete walks are breaking apart and crumbling. How can this be repaired? Thank you.
Once again Danny provides solid advice on how to prepare your home for the new season. Cosmetic changes are always nice, but solid advice for safety and security in your home are top notch! Sharon, HomeMD Inspection Services
Enjoy show very much.
Always enjoy Danny’s projects
I saw you installing a laminate floor that was like vinyl, was i seeing that right, if so, where can i get it?
Had a metal roof installed next to the back of my house over a wooden deck. It’s great sitting out with my coffee & enjoying mother nature. However it leaks under roof & the facial boards.. Help.
Thanks,
Jim
I just saw your show on Morning Blend and I didn’t catch all that you said about the door sweeps. Where could I see that again? Thank you.
Mary Lu
Hi Mary Lu,
You can find information about the door sweeps Danny talked about in our article on Smart Home Maintenance at https://todayshomeowner.com/smart-home-maintenance-and-improvement-tips-for-fall/
Thank you for your interest!
I would like to know more about lubricating your garage doors with engine oil. I have used white lithium grease, but they still seem loud.
I enjoy watching your show, information is so very helpful and informative.
Hi Eleanor,
Glad to hear you enjoy our show, thanks for the feedback!
I’ve only got two more things to do on the list!
We enjoy your show so much, even though it airs very early on our local cbs channel! We love the monthly updates and the info you provide both on the show and on the website. Printed out the fall list, even though we have lived in this house many years, it’s always good to have a reminder list of things that should be attended to. Might I mention one other: have your pest control company do a thorough check inside your home for evidence of insects/rodents. Even with the best pest control, things do happen, and can be overlooked if in an unused space.
I saw a episode as I was preparing for the day early one morning. I saw your checklist which reminded me of the one I had from several years back. I liked your list and wanted to get a copy of it; not only to compare with mine but to put to use what I may have missed.
Patrena, you can find our 4 Seasons of Home Ownership checklists for each season here: https://todayshomeowner.com/4seasons/
It’s also a good idea to grease up your snow shovel.
I’m getting black ceiling stains around my ceiling vent. Why and how do I stop it?
what is the best way to touch up baseboard that has been scuffed up and scratched?
Hi, Maxine!
This video should help: https://todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-clean-baseboards-with-fabric-softener/
Good luck!