Your chimney is an integral part of your home’s ventilation system, yet most people often neglect it. Today we will discuss chimney cleaning, how often you need to clean your chimney, what you will need to look for, and why regular cleaning sessions are vital.
Your chimney provides you with a supply of good quality air to breathe. If your chimney is not cleaned regularly; it may become clogged, causing harmful gases such as carbon monoxide to enter your home instead of leaving through the chimney. Such gases can cause harm to your mind, heart, and lungs.
If there is any problem with the ventilation, smoke from the firebox may not be able to exit through the flue. Hence, you may have to sit in a smog-filled room. However, regular cleaning sessions can give you a chance to evaluate if there is any problem with the ventilation system or not. If the exit has become clogged, it will provide you with an opportunity to unclog it.
When you light a fire, a thick black oily substance is left as a residue, and you can find it on the walls of your flue. This substance also goes by the name of creosote and is highly flammable. A recent study suggests that 25% of fires take place because homeowners do not regularly clean their chimneys; hence they do not learn of the creosote buildup. While cleaning your chimney, keep a lookout for creosote buildup. Because of its highly volatile nature, we recommend that you not remove the creosote yourself but call in professionals for help. Brushers Chimneys is good at removing creosote buildup, and our experts would be happy to assist you.
Your chimney can often become home to birds and pests. It is possible that if you neglect your chimney, a bird may build its nest and lay its eggs in your chimney. When dealing with bird nests; it is best to act early on and break the nest before the bird lays any eggs. Regularly cleaning your chimney will help you keep a lookout for any birds building their nests in your chimney.
Now that we have discussed the benefits of regularly cleaning your chimney let us discuss how often you should schedule a cleaning session.
We recommend that you have your chimney cleaned once every eight to ten months. While you can clean your chimney on your own, hiring professionals to help you with the cleaning process is best.
There are multiple reasons why you should hire professional cleaners. Firstly expert cleaners will be able to identify minor problems that may cause you difficulty in the future, such as:
- crumbling bricks or mortar,
- drafting issues,
- inefficient operation
Chimney professionals will also have the equipment necessary to perform routine inspections. They can help you determine if there is a creosote buildup in your chimney and can efficiently remove the creosote. Such professionals adhere to safety guidelines and protocols and ensure that they do not damage your chimney; home or furniture during the procedure.
Now that you know all there is to know about chimney cleaning; how often you should clean your chimney and the benefits of keeping your chimney clean if you need any help with getting your chimney cleaned; Brushers Chimneys is here to assist you. You can call us at (346) 803-2981.