Written by: Chimney Solutions
A chimney that never or only occasionally gets cleaned can lead to some very serious problems. Some of these problems are expensive to remedy, while others can pose risks to the health and safety of everyone in your home. Let’s look at how to avoid all this and discover five important benefits of a clean chimney.
- Easier to inspect
A chimney that’s free from large soot and creosote buildups makes it easier for a chimney sweep to perform an accurate and thorough inspection. In addition to the chimney liner, soot and creosote can attach to the smoke shelf and damper, obscuring these areas and making it difficult to spot problems in their early stages when repairs would be minor and less expensive.
- Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
A buildup of smoke byproducts as well as other obstructions such as twigs, leaves, animal nests and the animals themselves will hinder airflow through the chimney. When this happens, dangerous carbon monoxide may be pushed into the home. This gas is invisible and odorless, and it can be deadly at high levels.
- Decrease the likelihood of smoke reversing its direction
While you can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, you most definitely can see and smell smoke that’s backing up into the room. An obstructed chimney can easily cause this to happen. Nobody wants to inhale smoke, and nobody wants smoke and ash getting all over rugs, furnishings and clothing.
- Prevent a chimney fire
Every time a wood fire is started in a fireplace, creosote is created. This substance is sticky, concentrated and highly flammable. It doesn’t take a lot of creosote to start a small chimney fire, and every little fire causes progressive damage to the inside of the chimney. A large chimney fire can be a catastrophic event.
- Increased burn efficiency
In order for wood to burn thoroughly and efficiently, there needs to be a clean channel for air coming into the firebox to get out of the firebox. When airflow is compromised, insufficient oxygen will reach the burning wood, decreasing the heat of the burn. Fires will burn at peak efficiency only in an environment that allows for proper ventilation of air.
What happens during a chimney inspection and cleaning?
When you have a professional out to your home to perform inspection and cleaning of your fireplace and chimney, many important tasks will take place including:
- Thorough inspection of the chimney’s bricks and mortar to detect signs of chipping or cracking
- Complete cleaning of the inside of the chimney, followed by inspection to determine if there’s any internal damage
- Inspection of the chimney crown and chimney cap to look for deterioration
- Inspection of the flashing that seals the gap between the chimney and the roof
- Evaluation of any discoloration that may appear on the chimney bricks
- Inspection of the damper to make sure it opens and closes correctly
For safe and reliable fireplace and chimney services, count on the experts at Elite Fireplace. To schedule an appointment or know more about our services, call us at (610) 489-4274 or contact us online