Electric Fireplace Maintenance: Keeping Your Fireplace As Good As New
The fireplace is consistently ranked as one of the top furnishings desired by most homeowners. Due to this, such fixture is regarded as an essential investment that could be placed at home. However, as a traditional wood burning fireplace could truly be hard to maintain, most homeowners nowadays prefer to use an electric fireplace because it is the most cost-effective alternative for natural gas or wood burning fireplace. Although an electric powered fireplace is not truly complicated to clean, it still requires proper attention when it comes to maintenance so that it could work properly.
An electric fireplace does not demand for chimney ventilation, which is often used for a wood burning fireplace to control the level of fire it produces. It does not require a homeowner to clean up any soot or ashes, which are often emitted by a wood burning fireplace. Nevertheless, such fixture do not need logs to fuel its fire, making it safer to use. By using an electric powered fireplace, a homeowner spends less cleaning time.
To properly maintain your electric fireplace in good condition, regularly check if the wires and other electric components are functioning appropriately. If the wires are already frayed or damage, do not use the fixture; instead replace the damaged wires first before using so as to avoid fires and other electric-related accidents. When the ember bed of your fireplace is dark on one side, make sure that you replace its bulbs with new ones. For the heater system on the other hand, consult with professionals if problems arise to extend the cooling and heating life of your fireplace.
If your fireplace is enclosed in glass surrounds, the easiest way to clean it is to use a commercial glass cleaner and lint-free cloth. Turn the unit off hours before you clean it to avoid unwanted incidents. If you can’t find a glass cleaner, you can always use a more eco-friendly alternative like vinegar, which works amazing on glass materials. Meanwhile, if your fireplace has wood materials on it, just like the wood fireplace surrounds, instead of using water use an oil soap to make the wood look more shiny.
Your fireplace mantel shelf is also a valuable part of your fireplace as it is where you place photographs and other decorative materials. As wood is the most common material utilized for a mantel shelf, it is more likely too catch dirt and other particles, which in turn requires regular cleaning. To remove the dust from the surface of your mantle shelf and to prevent dirt from building up, use a vacuum with a dusting brush attachment when you clean it. However, if you have no vacuum cleaner, make use of a soft clean cloth or soft paper towels.
Since your fireplace mantel shelf holds some of the decorative pieces inside your living space, it is subject to wear and tear, so make sure that you limit the things that you place on it and never make it a storage area. To protect your mantel shelf from damage, stains and spills, use pads, mats or felts under the objects that are set on top of the shelf. By following these simple guidelines you can actually maintain the function of your electric powered fireplace. With good maintenance you can definitely enjoy your fireplace for the years to come.
An electric fireplace may come in different finishes. Some are made from wood; others are constructed from chrome and glass materials. By properly identifying the materials used for your fireplace, you can easily choose the right cleaning products appropriate for such fixture. For instance, if you have a fireplace that has wood fireplace surrounds and wood fireplace mantel shelf, make sure that you use cleaning products that are specially made for wood furniture.
- Wyatt Fisk
