Last Updated on May 23, 2022 by Maria James
When it comes to cleaning your home, most people focus only on the inside portion. It’s easy to overlook remaining fixtures, especially if they are present on the outer part of your home. So, if you have missed chimney service in the past and need a professional for chimney sweeping in Houston, contact Brushers Chimneys. In the meantime, please read this blog to understand the importance of chimney cleaning and learn the frequency of its cleaning.
Why should you regularly clean your chimney?
Before we talk about how often you should clean your chimney, let’s talk about its importance first. It would be best to clean your chimney or have it regularly cleaned by professionals as a safety precaution. That’s because the uncleansed chimney is the leading factor that causes home heating fires. If you don’t clean your chimneys, it can cause blockage and toxic gasses buildup in your home. These gasses are by-products of the combustion process. If inhaled, these gases can create a lot of respiratory problems.
Creosote, an oily substance, builds up inside the chimney, leading to fires. You can avoid this tragedy by cleaning your chimney. Besides preventing fires, cleaning the chimney also prevents blockages that can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
How often should you service your chimney?
As per the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), you should clean fireplaces once there is creosote or soot buildup inside the liner. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also says that we should clean all chimneys at least once every year.
Chimney Sweeping Importance
A typical chimney sweeping service removes soot, creosote, and blockages from your chimney liners, dampers, smoke chambers, and fireboxes. Keeping the system free of obstructions is important. The reasons behind its importance are:
- Safety precaution
- Efficient operation
- The improved lifespan of the chimney system
On the other hand, chimneys that are not properly maintained can result in costly repairs and become a fire hazard. Burning wood in the fireplace deposits some amount of creosote in the flue lining. It’s even worse with certain types of wood. For example, burning pine results in excessive creosote buildup, making it difficult to burn wood. Untreated wood also doesn’t burn clean due to the high amount of moisture.
If your chimney has creosote buildup, there’s a chance that the flammable material will catch fire, spreading from the chimney to the entire house. You notice a glaze in the flue, it’s a sign of having a highly flammable substance in the fireplace. If that’s the case for you, immediately hire a professional chimney cleaning service.
What is involved in Chimney Cleaning?
A professional chimney cleaning involves sweeping the fireplace and inspecting liners, firebox, chimney exterior, smoke chamber, and flue. It also involves proper inspection of appliances for clearances. Then the service providers will give you recommendations for adequate operation, repairs, and replacement if necessary.
Types of damages commonly spotted during inspection
- Moisture damage, which can cause several prob
- lems for chimney operation.
- Cracks in the flue lining that are difficult to detect without the specialized camera used by the professionals.
- Defective stove systems that cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which is the number one cause of fatalities due to poisoning in the United States. An annual inspection of stove systems to ensure they have no defects.
What if I rarely use my Fireplace?
Even if you don’t use your fireplace too frequently, it should still be inspected each year according to the NFPA recommendations.
When Should a Chimney be inspected?
It would be best if you inspect and clean the chimney at least annually. However, you should call your local chimney service right away if you notice any visible signs of damage, cracks, or deterioration. It’s best to take precautionary measures and not risk your life.
The best time to schedule a chimney inspection is in spring or summer. Most people wait until winter to get it checked, which isn’t the smartest thing to do. That’s because winters are a busy season for the repair teams and might result in delays or increase the risk of fire hazards.
To schedule an annual inspection, call Brushes Chimneys today. Our team is ready to give you the best service available.
