Most folks consider their fireplaces and chimneys to be indestructible parts of their home that require little or no maintenance. However, chimneys are a part of your home’s heating system, which must effectively exhaust fumes from your fireplace.
Relatively minor but regular maintenance efforts can help your chimney operate safely for an indefinite period of time. In the U.S., many people are poorly informed about the importance of basic chimney maintenance. This lack of understanding causes a substantial number of preventable deaths and injuries each year.
Beyond the safety issue, neglect of chimneys leads to very expensive major repairs that would not be necessary if the chimney were properly maintained.
Chimney Inspection
The Chimney Safety Institute recommends that homeowners who light fires in their fireplaces during the heating season should have their chimneys inspected and cleaned once a year. If unseasoned wood is burned in the fireplace, twice-a-year cleaning and inspection may be necessary.
One way to tell if your chimney needs cleaning is if soot rains down when you open or close your damper. You can also measure. If you have one-eighth of an inch of creosote buildup you should have your chimney and fireplace inspected and cleaned.
References:
1. www.csia.org
For more info, contact Keith “Skip” Pollman at (775)825-2548, specializing in chimney inspections, cleaning and repair.
