To prevent chimney fires and to ensure your fireplace works properly, follow these chimney cleaning tips.
Chimneys are a great addition to any home. They are a sought-after luxury that enhances any space. In order to keep your chimney working properly, it needs regular cleanings and inspections to ensure your chimney is safe to use. When burning logs in a wood-burning fireplace or a wood stove, creosote and soot gradually accumulate in your chimney.
This buildup could lead to issues if left unchecked. A creosote buildup can cause a blockage that reduces the draw of the fireplace and its heating and burning ability. Also, since creosote is highly flammable, any buildup increases the risk of a chimney fire. To prevent chimney fires and to ensure your fireplace works properly, follow these chimney cleaning tips.
When Should You Clean Your Chimney
It is recommended that you get your chimney inspected at least once a year. It is best to schedule your chimney inspection before or after the heating season, either during the spring or fall. Fall may be a better time because you also get a chance to remove any wild animals like squirrels or raccoons that may have made a nest in your unused chimney during summer. You should hire a certified chimney sweep to perform the inspection. The chimney sweep will also advise you on how often the chimney should be cleaned, depending on the usage. For example, if you use your stove or fireplace as a main heat source for your home, you may need to have your chimney cleaned monthly during the winter.
Why is Chimney Cleaning Important
Removing soot, blockages, and creosote from your chimney is vital to a safer operation during the heating season. The important benefits of having a chimney inspection and regular cleaning are protecting your family’s safety and your home against damage. It only takes a small amount of creosote glazing and a spark to create the potential for a chimney fire. Regular cleaning and inspections also prevent performance issues with your chimney. These issues include the chimney blowing smoke back into the living area or a distinct “sooty” smell in the home, even when the fire is not lit. Even if your family does not use the fireplace very often, it is still necessary to inspect it regularly. In addition, animals and pests can make nests in your chimney, and thawing ice can leak water into your home.
Reach out to us today to schedule your annual chimney inspection!
Call the Experts at Champion Chimneys Today!
Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded and insured chimney service company that has served customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). Courteous service is our trademark, and our crews arrive on time in uniform, driving fully equipped trucks. We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.