Having a fireplace in your home is usually seen as a perk, especially when you live in an area with particularly harsh winters, but it also comes with an added responsibility of taking care of a chimney.
Stoves and fireplaces are top causes of carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires in the USA. In many situations, these accidents could be prevented just by investing in professional inspections and cleaning services for the chimney each year.
Here are five reasons why it is so important to have your chimney inspected and cleaned before winter, and how this service can help protect your safety and save you money:
1. Keeps Your Home Safe From Chimney Fires
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) states that 1/8” of sooty buildup is considered enough fuel buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging your chimney and possibly spreading to the home. Creosote buildup, the substance left behind from wood burning in your fireplace, is highly flammable and may be a cause for concern in your chimney – especially if you have a system that isn’t working up to par.
2. Improves Efficiency
When a fire burns fuel efficiently it means you’ll be able to keep your home at a comfortable temperature without overloading the firebox. The cleaning process removes any obstructions that might limit or cut off the supply of oxygen that the fire needs to burn well. Fixing small problems discovered through an inspection, like a warped damper, can also improve fireplace efficiency by ensuring the chimney system is fully functioning.
3. Keeps Your Chimney Critter-free
It is easy for animals like birds, squirrels, and raccoons to get into your chimney and nest in there. While the animals get into the chimney, they may not always get out, and this causes trouble when you next try to light a fire in your fireplace because of the accumulated debris pile-up that occurs with their nesting activity.
4. Prevent Bad Smells In The Summer
One effect of too much creosote deposits in your chimney can be an unpleasant odor. Without removing these build-ups and letting a professional chimney sweep address any other underlying issues that may be causing the scent, you will be left with this bad smell in your house during humid summer months.
5. Find Any Structural Problems Or Hidden Damage
Each part of your chimney – the crown, flue, damper system, bricks, and mortar – need to remain in good condition to help protect your home from water damage, fire, and even carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you want to enjoy fires in your fireplace or stove this winter, you must make sure your fireplace is properly maintained. Fortunately, most of these problems can be found and solved during a professional inspection done by the professionals at Rusty’s Fireplace and Chimney.
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