Winter is ending, and you’re relying on your fireplace less with each passing week. However, now that the birds are flocking back, that doesn’t mean you should forget about chimney and fireplace maintenance. Getting your chimney cleaned and inspected in the spring is a great idea, and here’s why.
Control OdorNow that the weather is getting warmer and spring showers are on the way, cleaning your chimney is a good idea to prevent the odors a well-used chimney can give off. Creosote is the most common culprit of chimney odor, but can also be animals or debris. Put chimney cleaning at the top of your spring-cleaning checklist to ensure a fresh-smelling home.
Wet weather and freezing temperatures are harsh on your chimney. A chimney’s masonry materials are porous and absorb water. Once saturated, the water in the bricks and mortar freeze during winter and expands, leading to cracks. If you don’t fix minor cracks early, they’ll worsen, leading to structural issues that could cause the chimney to collapse. Spring and early summer are the best times to find and repair cracks and other minor damage because the warm weather is better for masonry repairs.
When people think of a chimney fire, they think of flames spewing from the chimney and roof, but the fact is that most chimney fires go unnoticed. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, not all chimney fires are obvious.
If you have a slow-burning chimney fire, you may not know anything is happening. These types of chimney fires don’t get enough air or have enough fuel to be dramatic or visible. That’s why they often go undetected until a chimney inspection. Failing to repair the damage after a chimney fire could put you at risk for a more destructive fire next season. The warm weather months are ideal for inspecting the chimney for evidence of a fire and making repairs before using your fireplace again.
Soot and creosote buildup aren’t the only things that can build up in your chimney and cause problems; animal nests, leaves, and other debris can get in, causing a blockage, especially if you don’t have a chimney cap. It’s easy to get busy once warm weather arrives and forget about your chimney until you need your fireplace again, and the last thing you want is to use a dirty chimney.
When warm weather arrives, families get busier with vacations, activities for the kids, and enjoying the outdoors, so it’s easy to put off household chores like chimney cleaning until later. Because most people wait until late spring or early winter to schedule chimney maintenance, they find the chimney service companies are booked and making a convenient appointment becomes increasingly difficult the later it gets.
Scheduling chimney cleaning and maintenance during spring or early summer ensures you get an appointment that fits your schedule and helps you avoid long wait times.
Plus, you get peace of mind knowing your fireplace and chimney are ready to go and safe once cold weather returns.
With more than 20 years of experience, National Chimney Cleaners is the go-to full-service chimney and fireplace company in Connecticut and New Jersey. Unlike other companies, we’re fully licensed, insured, and certified. Our technicians undergo continuous training to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and technologies to provide fast, effective service. Call us today to schedule your spring chimney cleaning and maintenance, and remember us when you need additional services like chimney cap replacement, masonry repair, or chimney restoration. Reach us online or call us at 800-631-6177.
