As summer goes away and we begin looking toward cooler temperatures, one thing that should be on the mind of every homeowner with a fireplace is having the chimney swept and inspected.
There are several important reasons that chimney cleaning and maintenance should be done before fall and winter take hold. National Chimney Cleaners of Fairfield County, CT, and Morris County, NJ, would like to share five of them with you.
The chimney sweep processChimney sweeping involves the use of specialized brushes, rods, vacuums and other equipment to remove creosote and debris from chimney flues. Most chimney companies include a Level 1 basic chimney inspection with sweeping jobs.
Why should you have this work done before the fall?
Chimney crews often become super-busy as fall progresses, making it more difficult for you to schedule maintenance work (and possibly needed repair work) at a convenient time for you. If you wait too late, you might not be able to get the work done at all.
Creosote is a highly flammable substance that forms when smoke condenses in a chimney flue. As little as one-eight of an inch of built-up creosote can ignite into a destructive chimney fire. According to statistics, most chimney fires in New Jersey and Connecticut are started by burning creosote. Chimney sweeping removes creosote in all its forms and restores safety to your chimney.
If you operate your chimney without a chimney cap or flue cover, the flue is open to tree debris and small animals that build nests and sometimes die in chimneys. All this clutter can lead to a drafting blockage and cause smoke and deadly carbon monoxide to move into the living areas of your home. Chimney sweeping removes the obstructions.
Chimneys that don’t get cleaned regularly tend to smell bad and can send these odors into your home. Creosote and soot mixed with naturally occurring flue moisture can cause some pretty unpleasant smells.
Along with sweeping your chimney, your technician should be able to perform a basic safety inspection of all readily accessible areas of your chimney structure.
Chimney inspections will alert you to early signs of trouble that you may not notice, letting you get the problems repaired before they become major and expensive.
During a year of use, chimneys can end up with a variety of problems, such as:
It’s important to note that many insurance companies won’t cover chimney damage if the chimney system hasn’t been cleaned, serviced and maintained by qualified professionals.
For more than 20 years, National Chimney Cleaners has helped homeowners keep their chimneys clean, safe and operating at peak efficiency. It starts with annual chimney sweeping and inspections performed by our experienced technicians. We can fix any problem uncovered during an inspection. Don’t wait for winter before having your chimney serviced. Call us today, or get in touch with our contact form.
