4 Reasons Regular Chimney Sweep Services are So Important
For home safety, it is important to give attention to chimney maintenance every year. Professional chimney sweeps provide crucial services that help to prevent life-threatening hazards. Spring and summer are ideal times to schedule chimney sweep services such as chimney cleaning, chimney inspections, and chimney repairs. By taking care of these vital matters when it’s hot outside, you will be ready to safely enjoy the warmth of blazing fires indoors and outdoors in fall and winter. The following are four reasons chimney sweeps and the services they provide are essential.
Fire Hazards
When chimney sweeps perform chimney cleaning services, they do the important task of removing creosote from the chimney flue. Creosote is deposited in the chimney lining each time there is a wood fire in your fireplace. It has three different forms, and each is highly flammable and dangerous.
Creosote in your chimney creates an increased risk of a chimney fire. Once a chimney fire ignites from floating hot embers coming into contact with creosote, it is also fueled by the creosote in the lining. The more creosote there is, the more dangerous the chimney fire is likely to be. Oftentimes, blazing chimney fires destroy chimney linings and then spread into the home, causing devastation, including lost lives.
Deadly Toxic Fumes
Toxic fumes are also hazardous by-product of fires that can threaten the lives of a home’s occupants. If, for instance, creosote has built up to the point it causes a chimney obstruction, the chimney draft won’t operate as it needs to for safe operation. When there is chimney blockage, instead of going outside, toxic fumes go into the home. Among those toxic gases is deadly, highly dangerous carbon monoxide (CO).
It is extremely important to have an operational carbon monoxide detector in your home when you burn home fires because CO is a stealth killer. It cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. Those who are being exposed to carbon monoxide don’t experience any symptoms, either, until it is often too late to escape.
Chimney Blockage from Debris and Nature’s Creatures
Excessive creosote buildup isn’t the only way a chimney becomes obstructed. Leaves, branches, and other debris can also get inside a chimney. It is normal, as well, for creatures to go into chimneys. Birds, bats, snakes, raccoons, and squirrels are among the critters commonly discovered in chimneys.
Some birds prefer chimneys for nest-building. Raccoons are drawn to chimneys, as well, often choosing them as the place to bring their kits, also known as baby raccoons, into the world. Contact chimney sweep experts for animal removal services because it can be dangerous to come into contact with these undomesticated birds, mammals, and reptiles.
Masonry Destruction
It can be difficult to identify signs of moisture damage, but water is the number one enemy to masonry chimneys. Chimney sweeps can identify signs of moisture in masonry that homeowners often miss. Moisture intrusion can occur in a variety of ways. With routine annual chimney inspections, problems can be identified before a chimney rebuild becomes necessary. A neglected chimney can be destroyed due to the effects of moisture in brick masonry.
Contact Northeastern Chimney Today!
For qualified CSIA-certified chimney sweeps in West Hartford CT, Northeastern Chimney LLC is the place to call. Enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your chimney is safe. Contact us for reliable chimney sweep services, including chimney inspections, chimney cleaning, chimney maintenance, chimney repair, masonry rebuilds, flashing repair, outside-mount chimney cap installation, and more. Call Northeastern Chimney today at 860-233-5770.