You can get through the gloomy winter days by warming yourself and relaxing by a blazing fire at the end of the day. If you have not had the chimney of your stove or fireplace cleaned and examined before starting a fire on the fireplace, your peaceful ritual could become a major health or safety hazard. Two of the main causes of home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States are fireplaces and stoves. If the homeowners spend money on chimney cleaning and inspection, these accidents simply will not occur.
Get a Chimney Cleaning and Inspection Before Winter for These Six Reasons:
Get Rid of Pests and Obstacles
Similar to gutters, animal nests, and grass waste, such as sticks and leaves, can block chimneys. In the spring and summer, a variety of animals, including squirrels, bats, and birds, like to build their homes in chimneys. You run the risk of starting a fire if you start a fire in your stove or fireplace when an animal, nest, or another thing is blocking the exit. Carbon monoxide exposure is another possibility. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases when smoke cannot fully exit through the chimney and returns to your house.
An extremely risky approach is to build a large fire to smoke out animals or burn away obstacles. When they try this method, many homeowners accidentally start a house fire. The best approach to get your chimney ready for a new fire season is to hire a professional chimney sweeper with experience clearing out animals, nests, and grass debris.
Avoid a Fire
Have you seen a dark substance on the chimney walls that looks like tar or glass? Creosote is what that is. It is a chemical compound that is extremely burning and formed in chimneys when wood is burned. Creosote is especially common in softwoods and unseasoned wood. It is the main cause of home and chimney fires. It is quickly sparked by high heat or an accidental fire. At very high temperatures, large creosote collections can burn for a long amount of time. Your chimney and the surrounding area can suffer serious harm even if the fire remains in the chimney.
It is difficult to get rid of this hazardous chemical mix on your own without the use of professional cleaning supplies and equipment. The best method for making sure that all of the creosote in your chimney is removed is to hire a certified professional to clean it.
Find Hidden Damage or Issues with the Structure
To keep your house safe from fire, water damage, and carbon monoxide poisoning, every part of a chimney—the flue, crown, damper system, mortar, and bricks—needs to be in good shape. Because they are exposed to great heat, toxic substances, and severe weather, chimney systems are at risk for damage.
If the chimney is not regularly examined by an expert, many issues go undetected until they become serious and expensive. It is difficult to figure out what is happening inside a chimney without the proper tools and a trained eye.
Fulfill the Needs for Insurance
Are you aware of whether an annual chimney inspection and cleaning are required by your insurance policy? This is a common requirement for homeowner’s insurance. A lot of people are unaware of it until it is too late. If you do not have proof that the chimney has been cleaned and inspected at least once a year, the majority of insurance companies will not pay for damage from a woodstove or fireplace.
Checking your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if this is required is a smart move. If so, be sure that you get the correct paperwork following chimney repair and keep it.
Boost the Flue Liner’s Lifespan
The first line of defense for the chimney system against carbon monoxide poisoning and a home fire is the flue liner. It protects the remaining part of the chimney from the harmful substances in smoke and the high heat of the fire. It also keeps carbon monoxide and sparks from entering your house through brick-and-mortar breaks.
Flue liners are damaged by huge buildups of smoke and creosote because they absorb moisture. Cleaning the flue at least once a year keeps it in excellent shape and extends its lifespan.
Increase Productivity
Whether you care about the surroundings or want to lower your heating expenses, the productivity of your stove or fireplace is important. Whether you care about the surroundings or want to lower your heating expenses, the efficiency of your stove or fireplace is important. A fire that burns fuel effectively generates less smoke and more heat. This means the fire will produce less toxic pollutants and that you can maintain a pleasant temperature in your house without overloading the firebox.
Conclusion
Not only is it more comfortable to have your chimney ready for winter, but it is also an essential safety precaution for your family and house. Maintaining ideal heating efficiency, removing debris and nests, increasing the life of your flue liner, and preventing the buildup of hazardous creosote are all made possible by routine chimney cleaning and inspection. These preventative measures can satisfy insurance requirements, lower the risk of fire and carbon monoxide exposure, and protect the value of your house. To enjoy a cozy, secure, and worry-free season by the fire, hire a professional chimney service as winter approaches.
If you are looking for a qualified chimney sweep in Levittown, PA, that you can trust, give us a call at (223) 777-0093.
