If you have a fireplace, you are used to you and your family sitting near it in the winter months to enjoy its warmth and the brilliant flames inside. You probably don’t think about your fireplace the rest of the year, but you should. Why? Because your fireplace, or more specifically its chimney, can develop multiple problems if left alone year after year. To ensure your chimney is safe and for financial reasons, you should have your chimney inspected on at least an annual basis. Here are some issues that could arise from an uninspected chimney.
FireEvery time you burn logs in your fireplace, a substance called creosote is released. Creosote can coat the entire inside of your chimney, and as it builds up, it creates a strong unpleasant smell, but that is only a secondary concern. Creosote is a highly flammable substance and can cause a chimney fire that could damage your chimney and possibly cause a house fire by setting rafters on fire or entering your home through the fireplace.
Having your chimney inspected by our chimney inspectors will tell you how badly your chimney needs to be cleaned. Our licensed and insured chimney sweeps have the experience and training to ensure that your chimney is free of creosote. We will know if anything inside your chimney promotes the buildup of creosote and will remove the components in question.
If you have not had a chimney inspection in quite some time, there is a chance that you have an obstruction in your chimney. The obstruction could be from a buildup of leaves or a nest that an animal has constructed or even from a damaged pipe. If an obstruction is present, there is nowhere for the toxic gases produced by the fire to escape.
Carbon Monoxide is the most dangerous of these gases because it is a colorless and odorless gas known as “The Silent Killer.” Our chimney sweeps will be able to detect and remove obstructions from your chimney, making it safer for your family.
Water damage is a chimney’s biggest opponent. Over time your chimney’s bricks are baked by the son and become more porous because of the process. What does that mean? When it rains or snows, you’re the bricks in your chimney absorb the precipitation and hold it. When the freeze-thaw cycle starts, it can cause your bricks to crack from expansion and contraction, which means more water inside your chimney, and the cycle repeats itself until your chimney starts to fall apart.
Our chimney sweeps can spot water damage and take the steps needed to repair and protect your chimney. Rebuilding a collapsed chimney is both expensive and disruptive, so it is better to eliminate the problem before it starts.
If you are planning to put your home on the market, having a report in hand from National Chimney Cleaners stating your chimney is in good shape will be invaluable. Not only are many realtors requiring a chimney inspection prior to a home’s sale, but it also protects you from lawsuits if damage to the chimney occurs after the sale of the house. Having a chimney inspection before a home sale is a sound financial practice.
Let National Chimney Cleaners Inspect Your ChimneyDon’t put your family and house at risk by neglecting your chimney. We can inspect your chimney, clean it and perform any necessary repairs.
Call us today about a chimney inspection; one of our chimney experts will be happy to discuss inspecting your chimney. Don’t wait until a dangerous problem occurs with your chimney; get in touch right away.
