Chimney maintenance and repair is incredibly important. You need to complete certain tasks to ensure that your fireplace is working safely and effectively. There’s no better time than the off season to get these tasks in order. 

Remember that you should only burn dry wood in your fireplace. Although fireplaces aren’t high on the technology spectrum, they do require some effort to keep in working order. Failure to do so can result in smoke and even a chimney fire. Soot build up can put a damper on the proper ventilation of the chimney. The soot is partly a result of creosote- a combustible, tar-like substance. It’s a natural by-product of wood that has been burned. With reduced ventilation, the creosote will cause potentially dangerous build up.

While creosote itself is not flammable, it can cause the chimney to clog and structural damage could result. It’s important to properly maintain your chimney in order to prevent dangerous oil build-up that can cause a chimney fire.

Inspections

A professional can come and inspect your fireplace and chimney. They can check for damage, obstructions, build-up, or soot. The inspector will be able to determine if you need a sweep of your chimney. The inspector will be able to do the sweep on the spot in most cases. An inspection of your chimney should take place every year.   

There are different levels of chimney inspections that occur. Basic inspections are a visual look at anything that could be in your chimney from soot to a bird’s nest. More complex inspections could involve taking the chimney apart and physically reconstructing the structure. This would occur after some kind of a natural disaster like a hurricane or a tornado. The cost of these inspections depends on how extensive they become.

Other Maintenance

You can improve your fireplace’s functioning with a few basic steps. Fist, you should only burn dry wood. Logs should be split and dried for 8-12 months. You should also burn certain types of wood especially hardwoods like hickory, oak, beech, maple and ash. These woods burn the longest. The most important thing about wood to be burned in the fireplace is that it is dry.       

Burn Only Wood

It can be tempting to throw things into your fireplace to burn, but you should keep away from burning construction wood, plastics, or other things that could let off odors. Even burning paper can be dangerous because of the embers that result as the fire burns.

If you keep on top of your scheduled chimney maintenance and replace parts as needed, you’ll be able to have lovely fires all winter long with peace of mind.

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Since they see a lot more traffic than their inset counterparts, homes on the corner lot receive a lot of flak. As a result of these rumors, homebuyers might feel their hopes fall as they encounter the otherwise perfect house situated on these open properties. Much to their relief, however, many find that there is actually a lot to love about homes on the corner. To help you see if this is the right property for you, here’s a rundown of all the benefits of living on a corner lot.

More Parking for Your Guests

Upon buying a corner property, you may have access to two long stretches of road for parking. With that, you can have plenty of guests over at any given time, knowing you have all the space in the world for them to park their vehicles. You can also cozy your own cars up to the curb as needed to clear out the driveway for other activities.

Bigger Side Yards Along the Street

Everyone loves more yard space and corner lots come with plenty extra at the side to abide by the city code. Many city’s setback rules often require that the side of the house sit between 10 to 25 feet from the road. This provides much more room to run and play, not only at the side of your house but along the front and back as well.  

Better Views of the Neighborhood

Without another house to the side, homes on the corner often have a much wider view from both the front and back porches. They also tend to have more light coming from all sides, making the space look and feel much larger. This creates a better view for those who love to observe all the action in their neighborhood and gaze upon the surrounding landscape.  

Ample Chances to Meet Your Neighbors

There is no doubt that corner houses have a lot more traffic breezing by at all hours of the day. People on foot, bicycles, and in cars constantly putter by on their way to all the day’s activities. As they cruise on by, you can meet quite a few by giving a wave and a quick hello. When time allows, they may stop for a brief chat, giving you a chance to make connections with your neighbors and even gain a few friends along the way.

If you love having more room all around, enjoying excellent views, and meeting new people, then a home on a corner lot might be right up your alley. So, keep your options open as you look for the perfect residence because you never know what type of lot your dream home will come on.

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