Has your chimney sweep told you that you need to clean your chimney but aren’t sure why you should do it? Here are some of the top reasons you should:
You have peace of mind
There are plenty of dangers that come with a dirty chimney. One of the dangers is chimney fires. When you clean your chimney, you don’t worry about this. This is because you know that your clean chimney won’t start a fire.
A clean chimney also has minimal chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. This, too, gives you peace of mind that your family is safe.
You get to inspect the chimney.
When you are cleaning, you can see the inside of the chimney. It’s during this time that you can tell whether your unit is damaged or not. If it is, you should fix it as soon as possible.
During this time, you also get to see if there are any rats, squirrels, or any other animals inside the chimney and remove them. A telltale sign there are animals in your unit are nests. If you see them, find the animals and get rid of them.
You increase the efficiency of the chimney.
A clean, clear chimney improves airflow and combustion, increasing heating efficiency.
Removing the blockages and impediments allows the fireplace to perform properly, optimizing heat production while minimizing energy waste.
You make your home safer.
A well-maintained chimney increases the value of a home when it is being sold, so if you are looking to sell your home later down the line, keeping your chimney clean and in good shape ensures that you sell it at a higher price.
When should you clean your chimney?
Winter is the busiest season for chimney cleaning firms. It could be weeks before they can fit you in if you order their services at this time. That means you won’t be able to use your fireplace whenever you want or risk endangering your family’s safety.
To avoid all this, you should clean your chimney as early as possible. A good rule of thumb is to do it a few weeks to winter.
How often should you clean your chimney?
For the best outcome, you should clean your chimney once a year. You can do the cleaning yourself, but let a professional help you for the best outcome.
While you should engage a professional to clean and inspect your chimney once a year, you also should follow best practices to keep it in good working order all year.
To do this, keep your firebox clean, ensure your damper is open before using your fireplace, and invest in a chimney cover or crown, which will prohibit debris and even small animals from entering your chimney and home.
It is always wise to have your chimney have a stainless steel liner to ensure it meets code.
How do you know your chimney needs cleaning?
As mentioned, you should clean your chimney at least once a year. In some cases, you can do it early than planned or clean the chimney more than once. Some of the reasons you should consider doing it is if the chimney shows signs of it.
These signs include:
Poorly burning fire: If you’re having problems starting a fire in your fireplace, this might be because the chimney is clogged. Both of these issues can prohibit a fire from getting enough oxygen to burn properly.
What you need to do is to clean the chimney and get rid of the clogging materials.
The chimney is smelly: The stink of creosote is comparable to that of a bonfire, and if your chimney is ripe for cleaning, you can detect it. This stench may be pleasant to the senses, but it signifies that the pile in your chimney is about to catch fire, causing significant damage to your home and its belongings.
The airflow is obstructed: Creosote buildup obstructs airflow. This debris can accumulate to the top of your chimney, impeding airflow and causing fires to burn cooler and more sporadically.
There are birds and animals in your chimney: Bird nests can clog your chimney’s ventilation system and catch fire when you burn wood in your fireplace. If you haven’t cleaned your chimney for a long time, you will have nests covering the vents at the top of your chimney. Squirrels are also common in chimneys.
If your chimney shows any of these signs, you should move with haste and hire a chimney cleaning professional to clean the unit for you.
Who is a good chimney cleaning professional?
To get the best chimney cleaning services, you must hire the right contractor. Some of the things you should look out for when hiring include:
Training
Is your technician properly trained? You need to find this out.
A good rule of thumb is to ensure the technician has the relevant CSIA training. If you are working with a chimney cleaning company, your company should only send out a maintenance person with adequate expertise and has been trained by a Master Chimney Sweep.
Understanding the many types of fireplaces and venting systems is not a simple task. The position requires a knowledgeable expert constantly seeking new knowledge as the industry advances.
Insurance
Working on fireplaces and chimneys is a hazardous and messy job. The chimney cleaning professional must take extra precautions to keep themselves and the home safe from any unexpected mess or catastrophe.
A chimney cleaning firm goes above and above to protect staff and customers by properly educating crew members and maintaining liability insurance. Make sure the chimney company employs many technicians with certificates and liability insurance.
Experience
Is the expert well-versed in the varieties of chimneys found in your area? Look for reputable service providers who have worked on homes in your region.
When you find the right specialist, ask them a few additional questions. Perhaps the company was founded long ago, but how long have they served your area? It may seem like an unusual question to ask, but chimneys are distinctive, as are their challenges. Different regions are susceptible to different types of problems.
To be on the safe side, work with experienced chimney contractors Bowie who are conversant with your unit.
