Warm, cozy fires and cold winter months go hand in hand, but have you taken the time to get your chimney cleaned this year? If you haven’t, don’t worry, it’s not too late, but you might want to schedule an appointment sooner than later to prevent scheduling issues. Chimney fires can happen easily if there is a build-up of creosote or a blockage in the chimney and these fires can spread to the rest of the house quickly.

Here are 4 things that you need to know about getting your chimney cleaned:

  1. We always recommend that people have their chimney cleaned and inspected once a year. This is a great way to remove any soot and creosote build-up from not only the chimney, but the firebox as well.
  2. Small animals and debris can find their way into chimneys easily and it will cause a blockage where air will not be able to flow up and out of the chimney. This can lead to smoke filling up inside the house.
  3. When you have your chimney inspected every year, you will find any damage before it becomes dangerous. Bricks and mortar that is chipping will need to be fixed, so that the chimney does not shift and possibly collapse.
  4. The flue should be inspected as well, because if it is not opening or closing properly it can be a problem. A fully open flue will allow the smoke from the fire to exit through the roof, while a completely closed flue will keep all of the cold air out of the house when there is not a fire going. There is nothing worse than a flue that won’t close all of the way and having cold air pouring into the house and increasing the heating bill.

When you take the time to do preventative cleaning and maintenance on your chimney, you are ensuring that it will stay in good condition for many years in the future. You are also keeping your family safe from the potential danger of a chimney fire that could have been prevented.

The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) Certified chimney sweeps here at Lou Curley’s Chimney Service are highly trained to inspect, clean, and repair chimneys. Give us a call at 610-626-2439 to schedule an appointment for a consultation. Please remember that chimney fires can usually be avoided with a chimney inspection and cleaning.