New Year’s resolutions are always different for everyone but for repairs, they stay the same. As the year is coming to an end, it is time to think about what needs to be inspected and improved on going forward in the new year. One important resolution to keep is to have an annual routine of professional sweeps of your chimney.
Throughout the year, mainly the winter months, your chimney collects build-up of creosote. This build-up can lead to chimney fires. Choosing to have your chimney cleaned by a professional can make it serve you efficiently throughout the year to come. Starting the year off with a clean and safe chimney will give you peace of mind prior to the first fire to ensure there are no issues. Due to the nature of burning wood in a fireplace causing ash and creosote buildup within a chimney, it is often recommended that you schedule an annual chimney and fireplace cleanings and inspections.
Not only does having a clean and well-maintained fireplace help keep your family and home safe but it also helps boost the efficiency of the fireplace resulting in a lower cost of heating the home.
Logical Reasons for Fireplace Cleaning
Our professional chimney sweeps are trained with the knowledge to properly clean your chimney. With their background knowledge, there is no need for second-guessing the quality of work. You will rest assured knowing you’re receiving top-quality chimney maintenance and professional fireplace cleaning.
- Hiring a reputed sweep will save you hours or even days of work (typically will only take 45 minutes to an hour for a cleaning)
- The cleaning process will leave soot, dust, and ash everywhere. Our technicians are equipped with the proper vacuums that are designed for quick and efficient cleaning of residue.
- Sweeps are also equipped with the latest professional-grade tools that ensure a thorough sweep of the chimney walls. Their equipment is designed to effectively complete fireplace cleaning and remove creosote from the wall.
- Cleaning a chimney will require the dangers of being on a roof. It is best to leave this to the professionals.
- Trained sweeps are able to identify signs of damage to the fireplace, chimney, and other components of the heating and venting system. If diagnosed early, the damages can be repaired promptly and efficiently to avoid further deterioration.
Fireplace Cleaning Tips
- Only burn seasoned wood in order to reduce the amount of hazardous creosote buildup in the fireplace and chimney
- Avoid using household cleaners when cleaning the fireplace due to the flammable residue they leave behind. Only use cleaners designed for strictly cleaning the fireplace.
- Remove ashes routinely to allow plenty of air to get to the firewood on the grate. This will help the fire burn efficiently and consequently reduce heating costs.
- Sprinkle used tea leaves or damp coffee ground over cooled ashes to reduce the amount of dust when removing the ashes.
Level of Inspection
It is important to have your chimney inspected by a professional. There are three levels of chimney inspections established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Level 1:
The most common of the three inspections and recommended if you have been using your fireplace regularly. This level is where the fireplace cleaning contractor examines accessible portions of the chimney using a flashlight and without any special tools.
Level 2:
This level is recommended if you are planning on making changes in the use of your chimney (change in the type of fuel used, relining the flue, or if there was an accident or damage). This level is required before selling your property. This type of inspection uses a video camera is used to examine the flue and check for cracks or damage to the joints in the structure.
Level 3:
This inspection is the most detailed. This level will also examine the concealed areas of the chimney by removing certain parts of the building or structure if deemed necessary.