The new year presents a fresh start, and many people tackle January with a home refresh — cleaning out closets, scrubbing baseboards and catching up on their home maintenance to-do lists. As part of your new year’s cleanup, don’t forget your fireplace and chimney! If you’re overdue for your annual chimney sweeping and inspection, make chimney maintenance part of your new year’s resolution!
Resolving to start the year with a clean chimney
A clean chimney keeps your family and property safe from the dangers of a chimney fire. Each time you burn a fire, the smoke that billows up the chimney leave creosote deposits along the chimney walls. Any measurable buildup of creosote, a highly flammable substance, poses a fire risk. Creosote buildup also can prevent the proper venting of your fireplace or cause a unpleasant smell during warm summer months. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys be swept and inspected at least once per year.
Another important element of your annual chimney sweeping is the annual inspection. After your chimney has been thoroughly cleaned, your certified chimney sweep will examine the chimney for any damage or blockages. If a problem is detected, your chimney sweep can help you come up with a strategy to address it before it becomes a major problem or poses a major fire hazard.
The new year is the perfect time to have your chimney swept!
If you have not yet had your chimney swept for the burning season, January is the perfect time to catch up on your home maintenance. The new year can serve as your reminder for your annual inspection; schedule it each January, and you’re sure to remember this important service. January often marks our shift in the deep freeze of winter, so it’s ideal to have your fireplace ready to help keep your family warm.
If you did have your fireplace cleaned and inspected at the beginning of the burning season, the new year can be the perfect midway point to have your chimney swept and inspected again. There are several considerations that may cause creosote to build up faster in your flue, meaning it’s ideal to have your chimney swept more than once per year. If you burn a lot of fires, if you’ve burned wet wood, or if you’ve burned a lot of soft woods, especially pine, you likely need an additional cleaning to keep creosote at bay.
Call the certified chimney sweeps at Environmental Chimney Sweeps today to schedule your chimney cleaning and maintenance today! Add a chimney sweeping to your new year’s cleaning to be confident that your chimney is clean and safe for the remainder of the fire-burning season. Make it resolution to keep your home and family safe from the dangers of a dirty chimney!