The ambiance of your fireplace is often the focal point of your home. The inviting warmth of the radiating hearth cannot be replicated. To keep that welcoming atmosphere alive, you will want to clean your fireplace insert at least once a year or more often if you frequently light fires. By cleaning your
fireplace insert, you will be protecting your home from creosote build-up. Creosote contains fuel that can ignite without direct exposure to flames. This is the leading cause of fireplace insert house fires.
Cleaning your fireplace insert in Pittsburgh is certainly a dirty job which is why many people opt to have professionals do it for them. However, it is rather expensive. Each time you clean your fireplace insert if gets easier! Ed’s Woodshed offers this step-by-step guide to cleaning your fireplace insert:
What You’ll Need:
- Newspaper/Tarp
- Small Shovel
- Vacuum
- Small Wire Brush/Toothbrush
- Heavy Duty Brush
- Dishwashing Soap (1 tsp)
- Baking Soda (1/2 cup)
- Warm Water (1 gal)
- 2 buckets
- Rags
- White Vinegar/Window Cleaner
What’s Next?
Before you begin collecting the above items, make sure you keep your workspace well ventilated!
Once you have all of your necessary items, you will want to begin by laying out a tarp of layers of newspaper in front of your fireplace area to protect the floor from any grime or dirt. After that, make sure to remove everything (wood/grates/tools) from inside and around the fireplace.
Next, use your small shovel and scoop out any debris and ash. If you don’t have any large piles of dirt, you can use the vacuum to clean out the area in and around the fireplace. Essentially, you want to remove all loose materials.
Using a heavy-duty brush, scrub away at the inside of the fireplace. Make sure you are paying close attention to the baked-on creosote. To remove dirt from the door of the fireplace insert and hinges, you can use either a small wire brush or toothbrush. Then, suck up all loosened dirt or creosote with the vacuum.
After all of the dislodged dirt and grime is swept up, mix the dishwashing soap, baking soda, and warm water in a bucket before grabbing a rag to clean the fireplace insert. With a clean bucket of water, rinse the insert after scrubbing it with the solution. You will want to dry everything thoroughly with a clean rag.
Generously spray either white vinegar or window cleaner on the glass features of your fireplace inserts to wipe away any built-up dirt. You may need to use a brush if any of it appears to be caked on.
To wrap up, clean up your work area and replace the grate, logs, and tools!
For more tips and tricks about cleaning your fireplace inserts in Pittsburgh, contact
Ed’s Woodshed in Bridgeville to receive full-service assistance on your fireplace needs. Ed’s Woodshed has been serving the Pittsburgh area its high-quality fireplaces for over 35 years. Call Ed’s Woodshed at 412-257-0492 for your fireplace insert needs!
Since opening our doors in 1983, Ed’s Woodshed has added many more gas and wood fireplace products in Pittsburgh, including linear outdoor fireplaces. Products are only purchased from the best quality manufacturers, keeping standards high and customers always satisfied. The six manufacturers we partner with include Vermont Castings, Regency, Hampton, Majestic, Mendota, and Valor. Known for their excellence and proven durability,
Latest posts by Eds Woodshed
(see all)
