Should I Hire A Chimney Sweep Before Winter?
Posted on: 5 October 2021
Unwinding before a warm wood fireplace is a perfect way to cap the events of a cold winter day. Indeed, your fireplace becomes the idyllic family spot throughout the freezing season. To prevent your cozy evenings from turning into health and safety hazards, you must engage a chimney sweep, preferably in the fall. Even if it's been a while since you've had a fire in your fireplace, getting the chimney cleaned before re-lighting improves efficiency and home safety.
Neglecting the soot and creosote buildup can trigger fire when you light up the fireplace. But a chimney sweep can inspect the accumulation and other obstacles that hamper the chimney's performance. Not only does a chimney cleanup eliminate hazards, but it extends the life of the protective flue.
Here are reasons to hire a chimney sweep before winter.
Remove Obstructions
Fireplace usage is at an all-time high after winter sets in, but a rarely lit fireplace in fall can attract small animals or get clogged with leaves, dust, and bat nests. If you forget to clean your chimney, such obstacles could cause a fire and send harmful smoke back to your living area. Luckily, clearing a blocked flue is a task that a chimney sweep can handle professionally. You mustn't light a fire to clear the way through the chimney, given the deadly risk it poses. Instead, call a chimney cleaning service to handle the problem before the cold weather takes over.
Discover Unseen Structural Problems
Chimney components aren't like plumbing appliances that you see every day. The bricks, flue lining, or chimney cap take in a lot of abuse during winter. They're prone to damage, wear, and tear.
When you schedule a chimney cleanup, professional cleaners inspect the mechanism for signs of deterioration and corrosion. Combusting chemicals and extreme temperatures cause untold damage, and a trained eye detects such issues. This allows you to make prompt fireplace and chimney repairs in good time.
Prevent Fire
Continued wood burning in your fireplace leads to creosote buildup inside the chimney's flue. The tar-like byproduct is highly flammable. A chimney sweep will know how to get rid of the hazardous buildup. Trying to clear creosote the DIY way isn't advised. Professional chimney cleaners leave no trace, meaning your fireplace operates safely through the winter.
If you have a gas fireplace, chimney sweeps check the gas lines for defects and repair them to prevent carbon monoxide exposure. Scheduling an annual chimney sweep ensures compliance with insurance regulations.
For more information, reach out to a chimney cleaning service in your area.
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