A warm fireplace on a chilly day is quite inviting to many. However, just lighting the hearth can have a lot more risks than you may think.
When a fire burns, it produces smoke that exits through a chimney, where the residue, creosote, collects on the inside. This substance, after becoming too thick, is a serious fire hazard and should be removed immediately. Lack of use can also allow birds and other creatures to build nests in a chimney, another fire risk.
So what’s involved in cleaning a chimney? Proper inspection is a first step to determine how much creosote has accumulated in the flue. An array of brushes and extension pipes that are made for chimney cleaning are pivotal in ensuring a safe and effective cleaning.
Alongside cleaning, inspection of your chimney’s stature is important as well. Nothing lasts forever, and that goes for chimneys as well. A thorough evaluation of the chimney and its state of deterioration will tell the homeowner if their fireplace is a fire hazard or at risk of collapse. There are also codes chimneys must meet to be considered safe to use, including local building codes specific to your city or town. These inspections should ideally be conducted every one to three years.
Cleaning a chimney can be done by the owner, but it’s highly recommended that a professional chimney company, such as Fiddler on the Roof, complete your chimney maintenance and inspections when that time comes around. Experts who are accustomed to fireplaces and chimneys are able to give the best recommendations to ensure a fireplace does not present a hazard to a home.
So before you light your chimney again, consider the last time it was cleaned or inspected. If you can’t recall, it’s a safe bet that it’s time to let Fiddler on the Roof evaluate and clean your chimney.
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