A well-maintained fireplace is safer, cheaper to run, and often lasts 20+ years. Skipping the annual service is the fastest way to shorten its life and void the manufacturer's warranty.
Monthly during burning season (20 minutes)
- Empty ash into a metal container once cold; leave a thin bed of ash to protect the base.
- Clean the glass with a dedicated stove-glass cleaner or a damp newspaper dipped in ash.
- Check the door seal (rope gasket) for gaps or hardening — replace annually.
- Inspect the flue collar and joints for soot leaks or discolouration.
Annual professional service
Book a full service in early autumn before you fire up. A qualified technician will sweep the flue, inspect the baffle plate and firebricks, replace the door rope if needed, and test draft. Cost is typically R900–R1,800 for wood, R1,200–R2,200 for gas including a leak test.
Gas-specific checks
- Inspect the burner ports for blockage from spider webs (a common Cape summer problem).
- Test the flame failure device by turning off the gas and confirming the valve closes.
- Renew the Certificate of Compliance when selling the property.
Warning signs to act on immediately
- Smoke entering the room during startup — likely flue blockage or downdraught.
- Yellow, lazy flames on a gas unit — indicates incomplete combustion; shut down and call a technician.
- Cracked firebricks or a warped baffle plate — replace before the next season.
Written by
Progress Group
Fireplace, braai and gas specialists since 1990 — showroom in Bellville, installations across Cape Town and the Western Cape.
