House & Yard
Things we do around the house and yard will show up here. Thanks for visiting.
Fireplace Repair & Maintenance
This year, I cleaned and serviced the fireplace and chimney. I purchased a chimney sweep online on Amazon. During the service of the fireplace, I discovered that the baffle plate had warped from overheating (see pics). I was able to order a replacement after tracking down the model number of our unit from the store where we purchased it in 2015, Custom Fireside.
I replaced the part, cleaned the chimney, and tidied up the inside of the fireplace. The condition of the chimney was good and not overly dirty, considering it hadn’t been cleaned since 2016. I should inspect it every year, but I believe I only need to clean it every five years, unlike what you hear from others. I guess it all depends on the type of wood you burn and how you burn it.
Our unit: Large Flush Wood Insert (Rectangular) with Hybrid-Fyre™ Technology
First two pics are of what was in the fireplace, clearly warped from over heated, last pic is the new one.
Mimosa Tree Removal
This tree was a volunteer. It lasted 6 years and died last summer. We’re not sure why it died, but our arborists said it’s common for this type of tree to die off, especially the volunteers. I’m digging around the tree to cut roots, and then will likely pull the tree out with my truck.
After cutting all exposed roots, I pulled out the tree with my truck using a heavy chain.
Our Garden 2024
There isn’t much to report about the garden this year. We planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini. As usual, the zucchini is thriving the most. The garden now receives much more sunlight than last year due to the removal of some very large trees in November 2023.
