A fireplace can make your home feel warm and cozy. That said, you need to make sure that your chimney is in good working order, and it’s wise to keep it clean. Not sure how to do that? Let’s dig in.

Schedule Chimney Services Regularly

A well-maintained chimney is a safe chimney. Poorly maintained chimneys are one of the leading causes of house fires in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 30% of house fires are caused by dirty chimneys. This is because of the creosote. Creosote is a greasy liquid that smoke leaves behind when it travels up your chimney. It’s incredibly flammable and can put your home and family at risk if it builds up. To keep creosote at bay, make sure to schedule chimney services regularly. A professional chimney sweep will remove this dangerous residue and leave your chimney safe and secure.

Work With Professionals

A chimney sweep has years of experience and knows what to look for when it comes to ensuring your chimney is in good working condition. When you bring in the pros for a sweep, they can keep an eye out for problems, such as cracking brick or stones, poor ventilation, and more. If these problems are uncovered, they should be addressed before you use your chimney again. Addressing smaller problems early on can help to keep them from becoming bigger issues later down the road.

Book Out Your Chimney Services

As we’ve established, it’s a good idea to hire a professional chimney sweep to keep your chimney clean. However, regular maintenance and inspections may not be at the top of your mind throughout the year. To help keep your chimney in good shape year-round, consider booking out your chimney services in advance. This is a great way to ensure that your chimney is serviced at a time that works best for you, and you won’t need to worry about when to schedule your next service to be ready for the season.

If you’re looking for an experienced chimney sweep you can rely on, you’ve come to the right place. WNC Chimney Solutions provides high-quality chimney services to keep your home safe and your chimney clean. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a chimney sweep, contact our team today.

It’s easy to forget about your fireplace chimney if you only use it a few times per year. However, like every other part of your home, you need to keep a close eye on your chimney and may need to bring in professionals to repair and maintain it. Let’s go over some key considerations.

The Stakes Are High

The most important thing to remember with chimney fireplaces is that a malfunctioning or improperly maintained chimney can be dangerous. If your chimney is not in good repair, the risks of a fire starting or carbon monoxide poisoning occurring are much higher. Keep in mind, that fires produce carbon monoxide, and in some cases, the gases could flow into your home. It’s wise to set up carbon monoxide detectors.

Each year, roughly 80,000 fires are linked in some way to chimneys according to the National Chimney Safety Institute. That said, don’t let these warnings scare you. If you have your fireplace and chimney regularly cleaned and inspected, the risks are low. If a problem does emerge, the right repairs can restore safety.

Prevention is the Best Route

In medicine, they say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That can certainly prove true with maintenance around the home. Regularly cleaning your fireplace chimney and using it correctly can reduce the risk of serious problems. Angi’s List also notes preventive cleaning can help delay chimney repair and keep your chimney in good condition. In the long run, this can help you keep costs low.

Repair Can Be a Necessity

First, if you don’t clean your chimney, creosote can build up inside it. This material is a dark tar and is highly flammable. It can start fires. Soot build-ups can also cause problems and material build-ups can increase the risks of exposure to toxic fumes. Another problem is water. Often, the stones and mortar used to create a chimney can act like a sponge, soaking up water. This can encourage the formation of cracks that can expand with time. This could result in your chimney no longer functioning correctly.

Many other factors could come into play if you have a fireplace chimney. Fortunately, by working with professional chimney sweeps and repair providers, you can greatly reduce the risks. If you need assistance with your fireplace, contact WNC Chimney Solutions.