The chimney to your fireplace is only one of the vents that you need to make sure are not blocked with ice and snow during the winter months. Heating systems, water heaters, and stoves all have vents that go to the outside of your home, and if they become blocked by snow or ice, you could find yourself with a major problem.
Here are 4 reasons you should keep all snow and ice away from your outdoor vents:
Properly Working Systems
If a vent is blocked on a heating system or something else, that system may stop working. The reason for that is a safety switch may kick in and shut off the system. If that happens with your furnace, you may be without heat until you can get a repair person out to fix everything.
Fire Hazard
The snow and ice that blocks the vents could end up being a major fire hazard, because the stove or furnace could become overheated. Once they get too hot, a fire could ignite and that could quickly spread throughout your home.
Carbon Monoxide Buildup
The blockage of any of these vents could result in carbon monoxide buildup inside your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. In fact, you may not even know that it is in your home until it is too late. Therefore, we also recommend that you install carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
Protect Chimneys
The masonry on your chimney will begin to crumble and fall apart if too much snow and ice gets inside it. Not only will your chimney have potential structural damage, it will also be more prone to a chimney fire.
Fireplace Safety and Chimney Inspections in Drexel Hill
All this can happen if you do not remove the snow and ice from around all your vents. If you are unable to complete this task or believe that any of your vents have been compromised, it is time to call a professional. They can inspect everything and make recommendations according to what they see.
We have two CSIA Certified chimney sweeps standing by to assist you with your chimney needs. Give us a call at 610-626-2439 to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection or cleaning. We provide chimney services throughout the Main Line region.