The winter months are coming, and that brings a big change in the weather. We all know that aside from the mercury dipping, the moisture in the air is going to cause some issues to our home, especially the chimney. You have gone through the winter months before without a hitch, many people have. Nothing to worry about, right? Well, for the most part, nothing goes awry. However, that isn’t always going to be the case, especially if you have a chimney that you are going to plan to use on a regular basis. The winter months bring about some issues that really wreak havoc on the chimney, and if you don’t get ready now you may end up seeing them first hand.
The Burning Fire
When the fall months hit, you are going to want to start more frequent fires in your fireplace. Most homeowners build a fire to knock the early morning chill out of the home or to get the house nice and toasty at bedtime. Curled up in front of the fireplace is the perfect spot to spend your late evening hours winding down from a stressful day and preparing for bed.
If you haven’t had your home’s chimney and fireplace inspected before building that first fire, you could end up with a serious problem. The chimney has an interior lining that needs sweeping, clearance, and maintenance. It’s very important that you should look into this and have an inspection done. Do not assume that you can just go through the winter months without at least one chimney inspection or cleaning.
Creosote buildup is one of the biggest dangers lurking in your chimney. Burning fires and continuing with the use of your chimney is good as long as you get a professional cleaning and inspection once per year. In fact, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the company that certifies and educates chimney sweeps, recommends that a regularly used chimney be swept and inspected at least twice per year to prevent buildup.
The Outer Edges Matter Too
Ok, the next thing that you need to look into is whether or not your chimney’s masonry and flashing are in place properly. It’s imperative that you get any damaged masonry repaired and sealed before winter weather sets in. The chimney will be more susceptible to issues such as water penetration and the vicious freeze-thaw process if it is not properly protected. It’s not imperative that you have a professional clean the chimney, but a clear professional inspection will offer you the peace of mind in knowing that your chimney is ready to face the winter.
The Cost Issue
Some may think that this all is going to cost a lot of money. The truth of the matter is simple; it’s not going to cost you a great deal. If you have annual checkups, and you fix minor issues down the line, you’ll end up with a positive experience, and the winter months will be easy to transition through. Ask about our monthly deals when you call for service. We are currently offering $20 off of a chimney cleaning and we’ll have another great money-saving offer for September.