Completing all of those tasks on your Spring Cleaning Checklist? Don’t forget your chimney! When you’re finished using the fireplace for the summer, your chimney needs some attention. Otherwise, while the rest of your house is squeaky clean, your chimney can become a pain.
What’s That Smell?
A common problem with chimney systems when spring turns to summer is an unpleasant odor. The humidity of summer seeps into the chimney naturally and the moisture mingles with soot and creosote. This creates a strong, smoky odor that can settle over your house. Fortunately, this is preventable and simply means your chimney needs to be cleaned!
Chimney Maintenance
Your chimney sweep is not a major ordeal. It’s not a repair or inspection. A sweep is just a cleaning that will save you some nasty odors and keep your chimney in good condition longer. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends regular chimney sweeps and annual inspections for the safest and most efficient systems. These services help your chimney system to last longer by taking care of the parts that you can’t see – from the inside out.
Scheduling now can help you avoid the fall rush. This is the time from October to January when chimney sweep companies are busy with service and emergency calls. You don’t want to be caught in the cold without a fireplace, or worse–a dangerous fireplace. Scheduling now and cleaning your dirty chimney can help you avoid common chimney problems, including:
- Inefficiency – If you forget your chimney sweep and light a fire this fall, your appliance could be burning twice as much fuel as it should. Airflow can be obstructed, becoming a fire hazard.
- Chimney Fire – When the airflow is slowed or obstructed completely, the high temperatures linger in the dirty chimney. Creosote is highly flammable and can ignite inside the chimney.
- Liner and Damper Damage – When summer humidity mingles with soot and creosote, it becomes corrosive and can damage the liner and masonry.
- More Buildup – When your chimney system is less efficient, the problem gets worse. More buildup accumulates until there is a complete blockage.
Many homeowners want to forget their fireplace and chimney during the summer. However, this is how routine maintenance is forgotten and accidents happen!
Call a Professional
Put your chimney and fireplace on your Spring Cleaning To Do’s, but don’t do the work yourself. Northwest Fireplace & Chimney delivers mess-free chimney sweeps throughout Portar, LaPorte, and Lake Counties. Our technicians use special tools to brush and vacuum away debris from your chimney. It can be completed in one visit, and may be the first time your chimney system has been cleaned. With this visit behind you, your chimney system will be ready for burn season this fall. Scheduling now also means you have the summer to prepare for burn season. That means cutting or gathering firewood and making updates or repairs to the system.
Northwest Fireplace & Chimney inspects chimneys and completes masonry repairs that can restore even a poorly maintained chimney!
Call Northwest Fireplace & Chimney today at (219) 413-2349.